Celebrating Onam

Onam marks the annual homecoming of King Mahabali, who once ruled the three worlds. Though he was an asur, but by virtue of his noble deeds and qualities, he became the ruler of heaven and earth. This made the devas, gods of the celestial world, very insecure. According to the Bhagavat Puran, as a result, Aditi, their mother, prayed to Bhagwan Vishnu for help. In response, he manifested as her son, Vaman, a dwarf.

As Mahabali was performing sacrificial rituals and offering gifts, Vaman appeared and asked for some land, only as much as he could measure in three steps. Mahabali agreed. Vamana then began to grow in size and measured the heaven in one step, the earth in another and asked the king where to take his third step. Unperturbed, the generous asur king offered his head for the third step. Pleased by his sense of surrender and sacrifice, Vamana blessed him.

Despite being from the clan of demons, Mahabali was hailed for his noble and generous qualities; a master of the three worlds, he did not consider himself as their possessor…

Ramana Maharshi says, “When you find it difficult to pursue the Jnan Marg, path of knowledge, that involves introspection, contemplation and self-enquiry, just detach yourself, renounce and surrender.” This is what we learn from the abject surrender that Mahabali displayed before Vishnu, whom he venerated.