Vaamana Jayanthi

Vaamana Jayanthi

Vamana Jayanti celebrates the birth of Lord Vishnu's Vamana Avatar. It is observed on the Dwadashi Tithi of Bhadrapada Shukla Paksha. According to the Bhagwat Purana, Vamana is the fifth Avatar of Vishnu and His first human incarnation in Treta Yuga. After the animal forms of Matsya (fish), Kurma (tortoise), Varaha (boar), and Narasimha (lion), Vamana was the first human form of Vishnu. He was born to Goddess Aditi and Rishi Kashyapa on the Dwadashi Tithi of Bhadrapada Shukla Paksha during the Abhijit Muhurat when the Shravana Nakshatra was prevailing.

Vamana Avatar

Lord Vishnu took the form of Vamana to restore Indra's reign in Swarga Loka. King Bali, a devoted follower of Vishnu, had overthrown Indra and become the ruler of Swarga Loka. Though a devotee, Bali became proud and cruel, using his power to threaten the Gods and Brahmins. He expanded his rule to include Swarga Loka, Bhu Loka, and Patala Loka.

Indra, having been deposed, along with other Devas, appealed to Vishnu for help. Vishnu promised to incarnate as the son of Aditi and Kashyapa in the form of a dwarf Brahmin to save the worlds from Bali's tyranny.

To fulfill His promise, Vishnu appeared as Vamana, a dwarf monk, during Bali's Ashvamedha Yagya. Vamana asked for three steps of land as alms, and Bali agreed. Vamana then grew to a gigantic size, covering the entire earth in one stride and the heavens in another. Realizing that the dwarf was Vishnu, Bali offered his own head for the third stride. Instead of harming Bali, Vishnu sent him to Patala Loka but granted him the boon to visit his subjects on Earth once a year. Bali's annual visit is celebrated as Onam in Kerala and Bali Pratipada elsewhere.