Onam is the biggest festival in Kerala and falls during the Malayali month of Chingam (Aug – Sep). Celebrations of Onam marks the homecoming of legendary King Mahabali.
Onam brings out the best of Kerala culture and tradition and lasts for ten days. Intricately decorated Pookalam, ambrosial Onasadya, breathtaking Snake Boat Race and exotic Kaikottikali dance are some of the most remarkable features of Onam – the harvest festival in Kerala.
Here is the legend of Mahabali the demon emperor who is remembered every year with Onam
Emperor Mahabali & Onam
The legend of Emperor Mahabali is the most popular and the most fascinating of all legends behind Onam and Onam is celebrated to welcome the visit of Emperor Mahabali to the state of Kerala every year. The festival is celebrated with fervour as Emperor Mahabali is greatly respected by his subjects. Emperor Mahabali is also popularly called Maveli and Onathappan.
Reign of Emperor Mahabali
The story goes that the beautiful state of Kerala was once ruled by an Asura (Dravidian) emperor, Mahabali. The Emperor was greatly respected in his empire and was considered to be wise, judicious and extremely generous. It is said that Kerala witnessed its golden era in the reign of Emperor Mahabali. Everybody was happy in the empire, there was no discrimination on the basis of caste or class. Rich and poor were equally treated. There was neither crime, nor corruption. People did not even lock their doors, as there were no thieves in that empire. There was no poverty, sorrow or disease in the reign of Emperor Mahabali and everybody was happy and content.
Brief Sketch of Emperor Mahabali
It may be noted Mahabali was the son of Veerochana and grandson of Prahlad, the devout son of demon King Hiranyakashyap. Mahabali had a son called Bana, who became a legendary king in his own right and became popular as Banraj in central Assam. Mahabali belonged to the Asura (Demon) dynasty but was an ardent worshiper of Lord Vishnu. His bravery and strength of character earned him the title of “Mahabali Chakravathy” or Mahabali – the King of Kings.
Challenge for Gods
Looking at the growing popularity and fame of Emperor Mahabali Gods became extremely concerned and jealous. They felt threatened about their own supremacy and began to think of a strategy to get rid of the dilemma.To curb the growing reign of Mahabali and maintain their own supremacy, Aditi, the mother of Gods sought the help of Lord Vishnu (the preserver in the Hindu trinity) whom Mahabali worshiped.
It was said Mahabali was very generous and charitable. Whenever anybody approached him for help or requested for anything he always granted. To test the Emperor, Lord Vishnu disguised himself as a dwarf and poor Brahmin called Vamana. He came to the capital of Mahabali, just after Mahabali performed his morning prayers and was preparing to grant boons to Brahmins.
Lord Vishnu takes Vamana Avatar
Disguised as Vamana, Vishnu said he was a poor Brahmin and asked for a piece of land. The generous Emperor said, he could have as much land as he wanted. The Brahmin said that he just wanted as much land as could be covered by his three steps. The King was surprised to hear but agreed.
A learned adviser of the Emperor, Shukracharya sensed that Vamana was not an ordinary person and warned the King against making the promise. But, the generous Emperor replied that it would be a sin for a him to back on his words and asked the Brahmin to take the land. The Emperor could not imagine that the dwarf Brahmin was Lord Vishnu himself.
Just as Emperor Mahabali agreed to grant the land, Vamana began to expand and eventually increased himself to the size of cosmic proportions. With his first step the Brahmin boy covered the whole of earth and with the other step he covered the whole of the skies. He then asked Emperor Mahabali where is the space for him to put his third foot.
The Emperor realized that he was no ordinary Brahmin and his third step will destroy the earth. Mahabali with folded hands bowed before Vamana and asked him to place his last step on his head so that he could keep the promise. The Brahmin placed his foot on the head of the Emperor, which pushed him to patala, the nether world. There the Emperor requested the Brahmin to reveal his true identity. Lord Vishnu then appeared before the King in his person. The Lord told the Emperor that he came to test him and the Emperor won the test. Emperor Mahabali was pleased to see his lord. Lord Vishnu also granted a boon to the Emperor.
Emperor Mahabali Requests for a Visit to Kerala
The Emperor was so much attached with his empire and people that he requested that he be allowed to visit Kerala once in a year. Lord Vishnu was moved by the Emperor’s nobility and was pleased to grant the wish. He also blessed the emperor and said even after losing all his worldly possessions, the emperor would always be loved by Lord Vishnu and his people.
Genesis of Onam
It is the day of the visit of Emperor Mahabali to Kerala that is celebrated as Onam every year. The festival is celebrated as a tribute to the sacrifice of Emperor Mahabali. Every year people make elaborate preparations to welcome their emperor whom they affectionately call Onathappan. They wish to please the spirit of their emperor by depicting that his people are happy and wish him well. The second day, Thiruvonam is the biggest and the most important day of this festival. It is believed that Emperor Mahabali visits his people on the second day.
Onam celebrations are marked in Thrikkakara, a place 10 km from Kochi (Cochin) on the Edapally- Pookattupadi road. Trikkara is said to be the capital of the mighty Emperor Mahabali. A temple with a deity of ‘Thrikkakara Appan’ or ‘Vamanamurthy’ who is Lord Vishnu himself in disguise is also located at this place. Nowhere else in Kerala can one find a deity of ‘Vamanamurthy’. This fascinating legend is artistically depicted at the Suchindram Temple in Kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadu.
Onam brings out the best of Kerala culture and tradition and lasts for ten days. Intricately decorated Pookalam, ambrosial Onasadya, breathtaking Snake Boat Race and exotic Kaikottikali dance are some of the most remarkable features of Onam – the harvest festival in Kerala.
Here is the legend of Mahabali the demon emperor who is remembered every year with Onam
Emperor Mahabali & Onam
The legend of Emperor Mahabali is the most popular and the most fascinating of all legends behind Onam and Onam is celebrated to welcome the visit of Emperor Mahabali to the state of Kerala every year. The festival is celebrated with fervour as Emperor Mahabali is greatly respected by his subjects. Emperor Mahabali is also popularly called Maveli and Onathappan.
Reign of Emperor Mahabali
The story goes that the beautiful state of Kerala was once ruled by an Asura (Dravidian) emperor, Mahabali. The Emperor was greatly respected in his empire and was considered to be wise, judicious and extremely generous. It is said that Kerala witnessed its golden era in the reign of Emperor Mahabali. Everybody was happy in the empire, there was no discrimination on the basis of caste or class. Rich and poor were equally treated. There was neither crime, nor corruption. People did not even lock their doors, as there were no thieves in that empire. There was no poverty, sorrow or disease in the reign of Emperor Mahabali and everybody was happy and content.
Brief Sketch of Emperor Mahabali
It may be noted Mahabali was the son of Veerochana and grandson of Prahlad, the devout son of demon King Hiranyakashyap. Mahabali had a son called Bana, who became a legendary king in his own right and became popular as Banraj in central Assam. Mahabali belonged to the Asura (Demon) dynasty but was an ardent worshiper of Lord Vishnu. His bravery and strength of character earned him the title of “Mahabali Chakravathy” or Mahabali – the King of Kings.
Challenge for Gods
Looking at the growing popularity and fame of Emperor Mahabali Gods became extremely concerned and jealous. They felt threatened about their own supremacy and began to think of a strategy to get rid of the dilemma.To curb the growing reign of Mahabali and maintain their own supremacy, Aditi, the mother of Gods sought the help of Lord Vishnu (the preserver in the Hindu trinity) whom Mahabali worshiped.
It was said Mahabali was very generous and charitable. Whenever anybody approached him for help or requested for anything he always granted. To test the Emperor, Lord Vishnu disguised himself as a dwarf and poor Brahmin called Vamana. He came to the capital of Mahabali, just after Mahabali performed his morning prayers and was preparing to grant boons to Brahmins.
Lord Vishnu takes Vamana Avatar
Disguised as Vamana, Vishnu said he was a poor Brahmin and asked for a piece of land. The generous Emperor said, he could have as much land as he wanted. The Brahmin said that he just wanted as much land as could be covered by his three steps. The King was surprised to hear but agreed.
A learned adviser of the Emperor, Shukracharya sensed that Vamana was not an ordinary person and warned the King against making the promise. But, the generous Emperor replied that it would be a sin for a him to back on his words and asked the Brahmin to take the land. The Emperor could not imagine that the dwarf Brahmin was Lord Vishnu himself.
Just as Emperor Mahabali agreed to grant the land, Vamana began to expand and eventually increased himself to the size of cosmic proportions. With his first step the Brahmin boy covered the whole of earth and with the other step he covered the whole of the skies. He then asked Emperor Mahabali where is the space for him to put his third foot.
The Emperor realized that he was no ordinary Brahmin and his third step will destroy the earth. Mahabali with folded hands bowed before Vamana and asked him to place his last step on his head so that he could keep the promise. The Brahmin placed his foot on the head of the Emperor, which pushed him to patala, the nether world. There the Emperor requested the Brahmin to reveal his true identity. Lord Vishnu then appeared before the King in his person. The Lord told the Emperor that he came to test him and the Emperor won the test. Emperor Mahabali was pleased to see his lord. Lord Vishnu also granted a boon to the Emperor.
Emperor Mahabali Requests for a Visit to Kerala
The Emperor was so much attached with his empire and people that he requested that he be allowed to visit Kerala once in a year. Lord Vishnu was moved by the Emperor’s nobility and was pleased to grant the wish. He also blessed the emperor and said even after losing all his worldly possessions, the emperor would always be loved by Lord Vishnu and his people.
Genesis of Onam
It is the day of the visit of Emperor Mahabali to Kerala that is celebrated as Onam every year. The festival is celebrated as a tribute to the sacrifice of Emperor Mahabali. Every year people make elaborate preparations to welcome their emperor whom they affectionately call Onathappan. They wish to please the spirit of their emperor by depicting that his people are happy and wish him well. The second day, Thiruvonam is the biggest and the most important day of this festival. It is believed that Emperor Mahabali visits his people on the second day.
Onam celebrations are marked in Thrikkakara, a place 10 km from Kochi (Cochin) on the Edapally- Pookattupadi road. Trikkara is said to be the capital of the mighty Emperor Mahabali. A temple with a deity of ‘Thrikkakara Appan’ or ‘Vamanamurthy’ who is Lord Vishnu himself in disguise is also located at this place. Nowhere else in Kerala can one find a deity of ‘Vamanamurthy’. This fascinating legend is artistically depicted at the Suchindram Temple in Kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadu.
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