The story you are referring to is that of Lord Vishnu protecting King Mahabali, who was actually his enemy, during a festival called Onam.
According to Hindu mythology, King Mahabali was a righteous and powerful ruler of the ancient kingdom of Kerala. He was so beloved by his people that they considered him to be like a god. However, he was also ambitious and sought to conquer the three worlds - heaven, earth, and the underworld - and become the ruler of the universe. This ambition threatened the gods, including Lord Vishnu, who saw him as a potential threat.
In order to curb King Mahabali's power, Lord Vishnu decided to take on a different form - that of a dwarf named Vamana. Vamana approached King Mahabali during a grand sacrifice that he was performing and asked for a small amount of land, enough to cover his three steps. King Mahabali, who was known for his generosity, granted the request.
However, as soon as King Mahabali granted the wish, Vamana grew in size and covered the earth and the skies in his first two steps. For his third step, he asked King Mahabali where he should place it. The king realized that Vamana was actually Lord Vishnu in disguise, and offered his own head as the third step. Vamana placed his foot on the king's head and sent him to the underworld.
However, Lord Vishnu was so impressed with King Mahabali's devotion and generosity that he granted him a boon - the king could return to earth once a year to be with his people and celebrate Onam. Lord Vishnu also promised to protect King Mahabali and his kingdom from any harm during the festival. This is why Onam is celebrated as a time of joy and celebration in Kerala, and why Lord Vishnu is seen as a protector of his former enemy
No comments:
Post a Comment