In the serial , Vamana avatar is shown after Kurma Avtaar , so I also decided to post it here before Varaha and Narasimha Avtaar .
As we already know from the story of Kurma Avtaar that the king of Asuras - Raja Baali , was a pious devotee and a valiant warrior . he was also the grandson of the great devotee -- Prahlad .
To avenge the defeat of the ‘Dev-Asur Sangram’ – Daitya Guru Shukracharya suggested Baali to perform 100 yagnas. According to the Guru - unhindered completion of the yagnas was necessary for Baali to take over the throne of Indra . Guru Shukracharya also said- in this way, the reign of gods in the heaven would be over and the asuras would start ruling over the three worlds .
Knowing about this , all the gods came to Lord Vishnu and asked HIM to stop Bali from being successful in his attempt .the LORD said – ‘penance’ will definitely reap its fruit . it is the ‘ law of nature ’. But if that rule starts to destroy the creation itself and power goes to wrong hands ( who start misusing their power to destroy Dharma, virtues, righteousness ), then the ‘Divine Law’ ( which is superior to Nature’s Law ) , starts playing its part to snatch the power from the tyrant’s hands . Lord Vishnu assured the gods that HE would discharge HIS responsibility .
To maintain a balance in the creation and to help the gods , Vishnu appeared as Vamana avatar (as a son of rishi Kashyap and his wife Aditi ) .
When Baali was nearly at the last stage of performing 100 yagnas successfully , HE went to Baali’s ’yagnashala’ (as a mendicant ) . HE decided to receive alms only from the king Baali . The king never allowed a single mendicant dissatisfied at his door , so went himself to the Vamana avatar .
Baali offered him cows, horses, palaces, riches, villages etc . but the LORD, after praising his (Baali’s) lineage as well as his virtues and humility, asked for enough land ( to be measured with HIS three steps ) to make a sacrificial alter . Baali was astonished and also, somewhat blinded with pride, he made fun of the Vaman, hearing HIS simple request. He offered to fulfill all the 'Desires' of the Vaman.
Now the LORD said – “ No person can ever fulfil all his desires. both desire and greed grow the more you try to satisfy them. only satisfaction gives you peace. he who is happy by reigning his desires and senses, he alone will find joy and contentment “ .
Hearing all this , Guru Shukracharya came and told king Baali to be cautious; that this Dwarf was none other than LORD VISHNU, and He was planning to acquire all the possessions of the king. But Baali said that if a generous person, while trying to fulfill a mendicant’s desire, comes to grief , then that must be considered as a ‘glory’ of that compassionate/generous person. He would consider himself honoured to be able to give anything to the LORD, if HE Himself has come to his (Baali’s ) ‘yagnashala‘ . As he (Baali ) has already made a promise of giving alms, so he could not refuse now. Taking back his words would make him a liar and because of his lie, Mother Earth would also suffer.
then , Shuchracharya became angry and cursed Baali that he would lose all his wealth. Baali accepted the curse, he said – ‘Mortal body does not live for eve , death destroys it. But fame and glory can make a man live for ever in history. Thus one can conquer death '.
After Baali made the ‘sankalp‘ of ‘daan’ , the LORD started to increase HIS size and gradually reached the sky . Baali and all the other persons of the yagna ceremony were astonished at this sight. With HIS first step HE took over the earth and the lower world , with the second step HE took over the heaven (‘swarg lok’) .
when one of HIS foot reached the heaven, Lord Brahma sprinkled water on it to show his respect. That water came to earth as the river ‘Ganga ‘ , here we have a prayer of Ganga –“ Hari pad pankaj ki prakshalan se prakat hui ma ganga “ .
In this way , the LORD . as Vamana Avatar , acquired the whole creation (all the three worlds with HIS first two steps ) . Now HE said that - Bali’s promise has proved to be false , because there is no place left to keep HIS third foot. But Baali wanted his word to be true, so he offered his head to the LORD to keep his third foot.
Watching Bali kneeling down before HIM, the LORD was very much pleased and appeared in front of him . He praised Bali that he was truly a noble person and was firm to keep his oath. As he (Baali ) was not afraid in spite of Guru Shukracharya’s curse and even after witnessing the LORD’S maya/power. Thus he lost everything but still kept his word. The LORD also gave him the boon that he (Baali) will receive Indra’s place , in golden aeon ( / following yuga) . Until then, he will live in 'celestial bliss' with his grandfather Prahlad. there he would be able to find the LORD always by his side. Here ends the story of Vaamana Avtaar of Shri Hari.
After narrating the story of Vamana Avatar , Shukdev told king Parikshit that - All beings are equal to the LORD. HE does not hate even those persons who nurture enmity towards HIM . HIS merciful nature is evident from HIS boon given to Baali - to become Indra in golden aeon .
This post on Vamana Avtaar is really long , but there are so much wisdom in this episode , that I decided to post it as shown in the serial without much editing.
Watch this story in all these continuous links-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51oKlIMGDR4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmvRf8jzEjM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZhqHw6o3zg
or
(from another uploader, as the prev link does not have some scenes)-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsHQbmzKcro
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwYjeUT4VvI
Next we will have the story of Varaha Avtaar of the Lord.
Jai Shri Krishna!
Next Post-
Ramanand Sagar's 'Shri Krishna' (8):- Varaha Avataar
Prev Post-
Very nice I was searching for the shlok said by the Brahma that "Hari Pad Pankaj Prakshalan Se..."
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Prasad, for your response. These songs are true treasure for us.
Delete