Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c9.3791

c9.3791

VĀMANA I. An incarnation of Mahāviṣṇu.
1) *General information.* There are ten main incarnations of Mahāviṣṇu. Of these, the incarnation of Vāmana is the fifth.
2) *Two Vāmanas.* Two different stories occur in the Purāṇas about the incarnation of Vāmana. One story is about how Mahāviṣṇu took the incarnation of Vāmana and thrust Mahābali an asura, down to the netherworld. This story is more widely known. In the second story the place of Mahābali is given to the asura called Dhundhu. This is the main difference. For a comparative study, both stories are given below:
a) *The first story of the incarnation of Vāmana.* The devas (gods) such as Indra and the others were born to Prajāpati Kaśyapa by his wife Aditi and the asuras (demons) such as Mahābali and others, by his wife Diti. The Daityas (asuras) began to harm and harass the Devas to a great extent. Once Aditi, the mother of the Devas, complained to Kaśyapa about this. He advised her to take the fast called 'Payovrata' fixing the image of Mahāviṣṇu in her heart and that he will take birth through her as Vāmana and destroy Mahābali. According to the advice of her husband, Aditi began to take Payovrata, at the end of which Mahāviṣṇu appeared before her and asked her what her wish was. She told Viṣṇu, of her grievances and Viṣṇu consoled her and said "You have invoked me by your prayer and fast for the safety of your sons. So I will enter your womb through the penance of Kaśyapa and take birth as your son and rescue your sons." Mahāviṣṇu disappeared. Aditi worshipped her husband with devotion. By contemplation Kaśyapa knew everything. He infused the energy he had acquired by penance into Aditi, who gave birth to a son. The birth took place on the twelfth day of the month of Bhādrapada, in the bright lunar fortnight at the auspicious moment called Abhijit, in the star of Śrāvaṇa. The infant had four hands. While Kaśyapa and Aditi were looking on, the infant changed his form and became a dwarfish Brahmin boy. The Devas brought presents to the child. The Sun taught him the spell called Sāvitrī-mantra. Bṛhaspati gave the Brahmastring. Kaśyapa gave the string worn round the waist. The earth gave the hide of a black antelope. Soma the Vanaspati gave a rod; Aditi gave the cloth over the privities, the sky an umbrella, the seven hermits gave Ku'a-grass, Brahmā gave a waterpot, Sarasvatī gave a rosary and Kubera gave a pot. At that time, the powerful Mahābali had brought the three worlds of heaven, earth and Pātāla (the netherworld) under his control. That Asura King performed a horse-sacrifice with the help of a Bhārgava Brahmin. Hearing about it Vāmana started for the place of sacrifice. Mahābali was performing the sacrifice at a place called Bhṛgukacchaka on the North bank of river Narmadā. The priests who were performing the rites and ceremonies of the sacrifice saw Vāmana coming slowly to the sacrificial hall. They wondered whether it was the Sun, Sanatkumāra or Agni (Fire) coming to see the sacrifice. While they were standing thus, Vāmana with his umbrella, rod and water pot filled with water entered the sacrificial hall. Mahābali welcomed Vāmana and asked him the purpose of his visit. Vāmana said "Oh King! Your words are sweet. Noble Asura! give me three feet of ground which I measure with my feet. That is all what I want."