Avatar 5 of 10 · Treta Yuga
Vamana
The fifth avatar: Vishnu as a dwarf, a young brahmin boy who asked the king Bali for three steps of land and then covered the universe in two.
- His form
- The dwarf
- Treta Yuga
- His day
- Vamana Jayanti
- Bhadrapada Shukla Dwadashi
The story
King Bali, grandson of Prahlada, was generous and devout, but he had conquered the three worlds and driven out the gods. Their mother Aditi prayed to Vishnu, and he was born to her as Vamana, a small boy.
Vamana came to Bali’s great sacrifice with an umbrella and a water pot, and asked only for as much land as he could cover in three steps. Bali’s guru, Shukracharya, warned him, but Bali would not go back on a gift.
Then Vamana grew into Trivikrama, vast beyond measure. With one step he covered the earth, with the second the heavens. There was nowhere left, and Bali bowed his head for the third. Pleased by his devotion, Vishnu made him king of the netherworld, Sutala, and promised to be his guard.
Why he came
To give the heavens back to the gods without war, and to honour a king who would not break his word.
How he is shown
As a young brahmin boy with a parasol and a water pot (kamandalu); or as Trivikrama, his giant form, one leg raised to the sky.
His verse
छलयसि विक्रमणे बलिमद्भुतवामन पदनखनीरजनितजनपावन।
केशव धृतवामनरूप जय जगदीश हरे॥
Chhalayasi vikramane balim adbhuta vamana, pada nakha nira janita jana pavana;
Keshava dhrita vamana rupa, jaya Jagadisha Hare.
Wondrous dwarf, with your strides you outwit Bali, and the water from the nails of your feet makes all people pure, in the form of the dwarf. O Keshava, glory to you, Lord of the world, Hari!
हे अद्भुत वामन, अपने पगों से आप बलि को छलते हैं, और आपके पैरों के नाख़ूनों से निकला जल सब लोगों को पवित्र करता है, वामन के रूप में। हे केशव, आपकी जय, जगत के स्वामी हरि!
His day
Vamana Jayanti
Bhadrapada Shukla Dwadashi, the twelfth day of the bright half of Bhadrapada (August or September)
Where he is worshipped
- Thrikkakara Vamanamoorthy TempleKochi, Kerala
- Ulagalantha Perumal TempleKanchipuram, Tamil Nadu
- Vamana TempleKhajuraho, Madhya Pradesh
Questions
How is Vamana connected to Onam?
In Kerala, Onam welcomes King Bali, Mahabali, who returns each year to visit his people, a gift Vamana gave him for his devotion.
Who is Trivikrama?
Vamana in his giant form, “he of the three strides”, who covered the earth and the heavens.