Vishnu Avatar |
The fourth lineal
descendant of Hiranyakashyap, named Bali, through his devotion and penance defeated Indra,
the god of firmament, humbled other gods and extended his authority over the three worlds.
In VAMANA Avatar, Lord Vishnu incarnates himself
as a dwarf priest in this world. BALI, the grandson of Prahlada was a very valorous
and mighty asura. By his penance and might, he conquered the whole world.
Indra and other gods fearing that he and asuras would conquer all the three
worlds, went to Lord Vishnu for help. Lord Vishnu was then born as a dwarf
Vamana in the household of a brahmana(priest). He went to Bali on growing
up and asked for alms. Bali was delighted to offer him anything he requested
even though his priest warned him that it was Lord Vishnu. Vamana then requested for the amount of land that
could come under his three feet. Bali gracefully agreed. Lord Vishnu then
grew in size and covered the earth and heaven in two stride. And due to
lack of space, he put his third leg on Bali himself and crushed Bali to
the nether or the Patala loka(underground world), thus helping the Gods
out. |