Acts of Apostle Thomas

XVII MAHABALI CONNECTION :
M. M. NINAN
____________________________________________________________________
The story of King Mahabali is found in the Bhagavata Purana (also known as Srimad Bhagavatam), the most
sacred Hindu text. According to it, long long ago there lived King Mahabali, a powerful demon who ruled the
nether world(underworld). King Mahabali, was very strong and extremely pious. Powered by a boon granted
to him by Lord Brahma, Bali was invincible and even gods failed to defeat him in battles. He had conquered
the whole earth and became its master.
Onam has two specific significance.First it is the communal memory and celebration of past history as
ennunciated in the Mahabali Legend. A story of how paradise was lost
Kashyapa had two wives, Diti and Aditi, who were the parents of demons and demigods (Asuras and Devas)
respectively. As the common practice in those days, for a King invading another kingdom to acquire additional
territory, Indra, the king of demigods went on war with the king of Asuras. Mahabali, the King of Asuras
defeated Indra and proceed to occupy Indra's territory. Kashyapa, who had gone to the Himalayas to do
penance, on his return, found Aditi weeping over the defeat of her son, Indra. By divine insight, Kashyapa
recognised the cause of grief. Kashyapa tried to console Aditi who was wailing in grief, saying that nothing
happens in the world without God's will and people should go on doing their duties. Kashyapa asked Aditi to
pray to Lord Narayana and taught her Payovrata, ritual that has to be observed from the twelfth day of the
bright half Karthika (Sukla-paksha Dwaadasi). Since Aditi carried out the Vrata with a pious heart, Lord
Narayana appeared before her and informed her that he would himself take birth in her womb and help Indra.
Later, on the twelfth day of the bright half of the month of Bhadrapada,Aditi gave birth to a son of uncommon
effulgence. That child, "Vamana-murti", demonstrated His divine powers by doing marvelous deeds even
when he was a child.
Balichakravarthi (Bali, The Emperor) or Mahabali, was the grandson of Prahlad, the son of Hiranyakasipu who
was slayed by Vishnu in his Narasimha Avatar. Hiranyksha the brother of Hiranya Kasipu was slayed by
Vishnu in his Varaha Avatar earlier. Prahalad being an Asura had great faith in Vishnu but his father, who was
a devotee of Lord Brahma was very angry and hated all other devas but Lord Brahma. One cannot miss the
series of warfare between Vishnu and the Asuras - those born of the breath of God.[citation needed] Asuras
did not acknowledge Vishnu as God. Bali Maharaj, sat in Prahlad's lap as a child and learnt love and devotion
of Lord Vishnu from Prahlad. As a result the Hindus of Kerala, are very devoted to Lord Vishnu to this day
and Vishnu in turn is said to love the Keralites very much. The Keralites perform the Mohiniattam Dance, a
dance dedicated to the female form of Vishnu, Mohini. There is also the dance Krishnanaattam. Many
Keralites also worship Narayani. Sri Narayani Peedam and Sri Bangaru Adigalar of Kerala and their followers
claim that these two figures are a forms or avatars of the goddess Sri Narayani.
Mahabali's rule was the golden era of India
Mahabali who was performing the sacrificial rite of Viswajith at the banks of Narmada River, (Central India)
and declared that he would give anything that anyone sought from him during this Yagna. At this the gods
were very annoyed. Bali was the ruler of all the three worlds having defeated the devas. The gods approached
Vishnu and asked for his help to dethrone Mahabali. Vishnu, incarnated in the form of Vamana, a dwarf to
defeat the Daityas.
249