Vamana Avatar
(Trivikraman)
As we all know Lord Narayana decided to manifest himself in ten avatars for the benefit of mankind. Vamana avatar is the fifth in the series.
The divine descent of the Lord ad Vamana is detailed in chapters 17th to 20th in books of Bhagavata Purana (also known as Paramahamsa Samhita). The divine incarnation is stated to have taken place on the day of sravana Dwadesi (also known as Vijaya Dwadesi) in the hour of Abhijit (sun at the Meridian reached by it at mid-day). The Lord chose to be born to Sage Kashyapa and wife Aditi. Aditi was performing a penance for 12 days to get back the lost glory and kingdom to her sons whose wealth was usurped by the Asuras. The Lord promised to be born as her son. When the lotus eyed Lord clad in yellow cloth with conch, mace, lotus and discus in his four arms descended Sage Kashyapa watched in wonder at this form and Aditi prostrated before him. As the couple stood gazing at him, he took the form of a short statured Brahmin Boy.
The sacred thread ceremony was performed in the hermitage of Sage Kashyapa. The sun god taught him the Gayatri Mantra, Brishaspti gave him the sacred thread, Dyuah an umbrella, Mother Karth (Bhoomadevi) a deer skin and sacred staff. Kubera gave the Lord a golden “Kamandala” to ask for alms. Mother Aditi was at a loss to decide what to give him when everything was given by everybody. She gave him a “Kanpeenam” (Langoti) made of red cloth. Even today during “Nirmalya Seva” at Guruvayoor, Guruvaryoorappan gives darshan with the Kanpeenam made of red cloth shorn of all other ornaments/accessories.
Now the Lord looked at himself in thought satisfaction but was surprised to see Goddess Lakshmi comfortably seated in his “Vakshasthala”. As this would be a hindrance to the purpose for which the avatar was being taken, he entreated Goddess Lakshmi to step down and remain aloof until his purpose for which he took the avatar got achieved. But she refused; hence he put a deer skin across and covered his chest, so that Sri Lakshmi is not seen by others/ anyone.
Thus dressed the Lord proceeded to the sacrificial hall of Mahabali Chakravarthy where the Brugus were performing Aswamedha Yagna on the northern bank of the sacred river Narmada.
Normally the Lord has to be invoked before any yagna is performed. But here he himself comes uninvited.
As the handsome Brahmachari entered the hall, everyone present got up forgetting themselves bewitched by the boy’s Tejas. The sound “Indraya Swaha, Sanaya Swaha” stopped on the entry of this dwarf sized handsome boy.
The avatar can be concluded by simply stating “HE CAME, HE ASKED and HE CONQUERED” Mahabali. But as we go into the sequence of events, it is very interesting. Sukrachariar had performed Vishwajit yagna keeping Bali Chakravarthy in the forefront. The weapons that came out of this yagna were given to Mahabali which the chakravarthy used against the devathas. Hence the Lord had to take this avatar to quell Mahabali.
First the conversation between the Lord and Mahabali is very interesting as seen below:
Mahabali : Who are you?
Bhagavan : I am Apoorvali; you could not have seen me.
Mahabali : Ok, to which city do you belong?
Bhagavan : Whatever, and all that Brahma has created belongs to me.
Mahabali is saddened and feels Oh, is he so poor? Conversation continues thus,
Mahabali : What is your father doing? Whose son are you?
Bhagavan : I am an orphan. I have nobody.
Where upon Mahabali Chakravarthy feels all the more generous and decide to donate profusely to this child.
Mahabali : What do you want? I shall give what all you ask.
Bhagavan : (Pointing to his little feet) I need only three measures of land with this foot.
Mahabali : Don’t you want more?
Bhagavan : No more. I will be satisfied with this it.
The Kula guru Sukracharya who was listening to this conversation tried to stop Bali Chakravarthy from granting the wish of this dwarf Brahmachari (Vamana), But Bali, though belonged to the Asura race was a bhagavodathama and would not go back on his promise even it was true that Lord Narayana has come to take away his kingdom etc. as predicted by his guru Sukracharya.
In keeping with his promise Mahabali took the water pot to wash the feet of the Brahmachari. As he lifted the water pot his wife Vindyavalli came running towards him crying “Stop! Stop!” Her idea was not to stop Bali from granting the wishes but to make it meaningful as when “dana” is given, the Grihalakshmi of the house should join her husband while doing so.
In this context, we are reminded of the conversation between Guruvayoorappan and Narayana Bhattadri. Bhattadri who asks the Lord – Is it not because you could not give your lotus feet to Bali’s grandfather Prahaladan that you gave it his grandson now? To that the Lord nods his head in assent.
Coming back to the scene, Vindyavalli lifts the water pot and both of them want to pour the water. But Sukracharya transforms himself into a bee and blocks the eye of the water pot so that water does not flow on to the lotus feet of the Lord. The Lord knowing this, took the viswamitra / Kushal grass and with the help of it poked into the eye of the water pot. It was thus that Sukracharya lost his one eye. When the water started flowing on to the feet of the Lord, he took a huge gigantic form the first step that he took went on stretching to measure the entire earth and proceeded to satyaloka of Brahma. His feet tore the ‘Avarna Jalam’ that surrounds the universe. When Brahma saw the feet of Lord he washes with water poured from the water pot which came to be the Holy Ganga.
When the Lord asked Bali where to measure the third piece of land, he asked for as the second step measured heaven and no atom of space was left for the third step. Namveli, the son of Bali in the meanwhile protested as the Lord cheated by taking a different form and did not take 3 measures with his tiny feet. Whereupon Lord took Namveli by his hand and threw him. Bali offered his head for the third step of the Lord, which he did.
These three steps of the Lord can be seen in the following places / temples. First step at Cheerkazhi, 2nd step at Thirukovaloor and the third at Kanchipuram.
Prahalada, the grandfather with folded hand bowed in front of Trivikraman. The Lord wished them well and asked them to return to their subterraian sthula and rejoice there. The Lord promised to stand guard with his mace out of his daya (kindness) to Prahalada and Mahabali.
Close Link between Vamana Avatar and Krishna Avatar
All the Vaishnava saints called Azhvars were deeply in love with this incarnation. They enjoyed this avatar as can be seen by / in the pasurams sung by them. A few examples are given below:
Periazhvar:
Periazhvar had enjoyed the growth of Lord Krishna from his cradle to boyhood. He was the only Azhvar who sang to the Lord (Pallandu), while others sang in praise of him. In his Thirumozhi verses 44, 45 when he sings ‘lullaby’ to infant Krishna in the cradle the azhvars refers to Vamana avatar. In verse 104, while referring to the pranks of Lord Krishna the Azhvar refers to Vamana taking gigantic steps and swirling of Namveli, the son of King Mahabali.
Andal (Godha):
The maiden goes about inviting her friends to take bath in the early hours of the day (bath in the river of devotion to Sri Krishna). Her compendium of 30 songs could be divided into 3 stages of 10 verses each. In verses 3, 17 & 24 of Tiruppavai, she refers to Vamanan.
Poigai Azhvar:
In his Mudal Tiruvandadhi, 21st verse he refers to the act of the Lord measuring 3 steps.
Bhoothathazhvar:
In his 5th verse of “Erandavdu Tiruvandadhi”, the reference is to the Lord’s act asking for 3 measures of Land. “Adi Moonril…”
Peyazhvar:
In “Moonram Tiruvandadhi” in 4th verse the azhvar refers to act of the Lord measuring with 3 steps.
Nammazhvar:
In the azhvar’s “Periya Tiruvandadhi” in 16th verse, he refers to Vamana …. Per vamanan…agakall….In 51st verse the reference is both to Vamana and Krishna avatars in the same verse.
Thirumangai:
His reference to Vamana avatar is abundant.
Alavandar
Alavandar requested the Lord to place his foot on his head as he does not know in what form the saint existed at the time of his previous when Trivikrama avatar took place.
While the Brahmachari boy Vaman entered the sacrificial hall of Mahabali, Ratnamala the daughter of the chakravarthi was so much taken in by the handsomeness of the boy that she wished she had a son like this and that she could breast feed him. But when Vamana grew and became a Trivikrama, she felt that her father was cheated she ran to beat Trivikrama. (Since she was from a family of Rakshas). IT was this Ratnamala who took the form of Poothana during Krishna avatar who came to breast feed infant Krishna. Krishna not only drank milk and poison she had anointed on her breasts but also Poothana’s life. Thus Poothana was given moksha.
It is believed that those who either speak of / listen to the story of Poothana will surely not have the occasion to drink milk from their mother’s breast, meaning that they will have no rebirth.
Link between Yogeswara Krishna & Trivikrama Avatar
As stated earlier in this article as the water poured from the water pot of Mahabali / Vindyavalli, the Lord’s feet grew into gigantic proportions. Vamana took the form of Trivikrama.
In Krishna avatar, on the battlefield (Kurukshetra) Arjuna requests Yogeswara Krishna to show his universal form (Viswaroopam),
Manyasee…..Dharsayat manaonavyayam. (Ch.11, V.4 of Bhagavat Gita)
Sri Krishna obliges his friend and devotee Arjuna. From verse 9 onwards till V 45 of the same chapter a detailed description of the universal form is depicted.
Conclusion:
Viswaparamatana who took giant strides tested Mahabali to see whether he would give himself up before the Lord. It is only in this avatar that he asks and takes what he wanted (the Jivatma). Out of his daya, he waits for Jivatma to join him; this is what Vamana avatar teaches us.