Bali was a renowned Asura king known for his valor, devotion, and steadfast commitment to righteousness, despite his lineage as a demon. His rule extended over the heavens, earth, and the netherworld, a feat he achieved through dedication and conquest. This made the Devas fearful, as Bali’s devotion and strength threatened their power. To reclaim the heavens for the Devas, Lord Vishnu took his fifth avatar as Vamana, the dwarf, born as a Brahmin boy in the womb of Aditi, the mother of the Devas. This incarnation is celebrated as the Vamana Avatar, representing humility and the cosmic balance of power.
Upon Vamana’s arrival at the grand sacrificial arena where Bali was performing a ritual, Bali immediately recognized the sanctity of this little Brahmin boy, who glowed with divine radiance. Despite his guru Shukracharya’s warning that the boy was none other than Vishnu himself in disguise, Bali refused to turn away a supplicant. His unwavering commitment to generosity led him to pledge that he would fulfill whatever the Brahmin boy requested. Vamana humbly asked for three paces of land, which Bali, confident in his earthly riches, readily agreed to grant.
Before Bali could pour the sanctifying water to complete the gift, Shukracharya, aware of Vishnu’s intent, transformed himself into an insect and blocked the spout of the water vessel. Vamana, realizing Shukracharya’s interference, used a blade of grass to dislodge the insect, inadvertently injuring Shukracharya’s eye and rendering him blind in one eye. With the sanctifying ritual completed, Vamana’s humble form expanded into the awe-inspiring Vishwaroopa (Universal Form), growing to cosmic dimensions. With his first step, he covered the entire earth; with his second, he stretched over the heavens, reclaiming all that Bali had conquered.
Vishnu then turned to Bali and asked, “Where shall I place my third step?” Recognizing the divine play and with profound humility, Bali bowed his head and offered it for the final step. Accepting this ultimate act of surrender, Vishnu placed his foot on Bali’s head, symbolically pressing Bali into the netherworld and granting him liberation through his humility and devotion. By this act, Vishnu established Bali as the eternal king of the netherworld (Patala), blessing him to rule with honor and prosperity.
Bali’s devotion and virtue were so esteemed that Vishnu granted him a boon: he could return to earth once a year to visit his people. This event is celebrated as Onam in Kerala, a festival that honors Bali’s benevolence, just rule, and the promise of his annual return to bless his people.
Through the Vamana Avatar, Vishnu restored the cosmic balance by reclaiming the heavens for the Devas, while honoring Bali’s devotion. This story exemplifies the values of humility, devotion, and the importance of surrender to the divine, themes that run deep in Hindu mythology, and reiterates the concept of Dharma and the cyclic nature of cosmic balance.