Anupama Nair
Onam celebrates the homecoming of the great asura King Maha Bali from Patala Loka. Maha Bali, who was the grandson of Prahalada (one of the greatest bhakta of Narayana), was a strong and learned king who greatly respected knowledge. Maha Bali was famous for his dana. Once, Maha Bali was performing a yajna, when a short, young, radiant boy entered their ‘yagna shala’. Maha Bali welcomed this radiant teenager and asked him what he wanted. The young boy requested for “that much space, as could be measured by three footsteps of his”.
Maha Bali agreed to the request. However, his Guru Shukracharya requested him to refuse the request and that the guest was none other than Lord Vishnu Himself. However, knowing his fate, he agreed to honour the request. No sooner were the three footsteps granted, the young Vamana assumed a gigantic form known as ‘Trivikrama’ and with the first step, measured the whole earth. Then with the second step, he measured the whole sky. These two steps covered the whole of Mahabali’s kingdom, the earth and the sky. Vamana then asked the king where he should place his third step. King Maha Bali the grandson of the greatest of the Lord’s devotees, Prahlada joyfully offered his head for the third step in utter devotion and surrender.
The Lord recognizing his attitude of surrender blessed him and sent him to Pathala with a promise of making him Indra in the next ‘Manvanthara’ and that He would guard the gates of Pathala. However, acceding to the request of Maha Bali’s Praja or subjects, Lord Vishnu permitted Maha Bali to return to his kingdom from Pathala, once every year, to be in the midst of his people. This day is celebrated as the Onam festival.
This legend of the Vamana avatar is Puranic, i.e., an expression of a deeper truth, a moral lesson from historical or scientific incidents, veiled in a story. Maha Bali was a great asura king. He was haughty because ‘he owned all that he could see on land and was considered invincible’. Knowledge and humility are the qualities that help one transcend the ego which can grow as huge as the earth and sky. We can conquer ego in the three steps Vamana took. The three steps signify:
Measuring the earth: “Look around and be humbled by the sheer number of other living beings on the earth”.
Measuring the skies: “Look up into the sky and be humbled by the sheer vastness and the multitude of other worlds in the universe and how insignificantly small we are”.
Placing your hand on your head:
We need to realize that in “the cycle of births and deaths not only of living beings but the universe itself, the period of each of our lives is very small and the role we play in the larger picture of the order of the universe, is even smaller”.
The star Shravana is the set of stars known in western astronomy as Altair, the bright star in the constellation of Aquilla along with Beta and Gamma Aquilae that forms a border on either side. According to Hindu astronomy, these three stars are visualized as the three footprints of Vamana in his Trivikrama form. You may ask what does the legend of Maha Bali and Vamana, have to do with astronomy and the name Shravana for the star? The word Shravana in Sanskrit means to listen. The three stars which depict the outcome of Maha Bali’s disobedience stand as a constant reminder in the sky ‘to caution people to listen and pay heed to good counsel’.
Onam is celebrated as a harvest festival and celebrations in Kerala include Sadhya, Thiruvathira Kali, Pookalam, Ona-thallus, Pulikali, Onavillu, and welcome songs for King Mahabali. Onam festival lasts for ten days, and during these ten days, it represents a remarkable display of the culture and beauty of Kerala. Intricately designed Pookalam, aromatic Onasadya, spectacular Snake-boat Race, and enticing Kaikottikali Dance are the most prominent and remarkable festivities at Onam.
Since 2018, Onam has not been celebrated properly, the first two years due to floods and 2020 due to Corona. 2021 also seems to be heading the same way. Since social distancing is the norm, we will celebrate at our home.
This year Shravana or Thiruvonam falls on Saturday 21st August 2021. The Shravan nakshatra begins on 20th August at 9.05 PM and ends at 8.22 PM on 21st August. I wish you all a very happy Onam. May this Onam usher in a year of peace, good health and prosperity.
We wish you all a very happy Onam!