Trivikrama. Thaadala

When amrutham was obtained as a result of the Lord's assistance as Kurma Moorthy, Indra and the Devas got the upper hand in their battle with the asuras, and the kings of the asura clan, like Mahabali, were killed. The guru of asuras, Sukracharya, with his power of penance, brought Mahabali and his retinue back to life through the performance of a Mahayajna known as Visvajith.

Mahabali and his associates were restored to life and went after Indra and the Devas, driving Indra from his kingdom. Indra's mother, Aditi Devi, appealed to her husband, Kasyapa Prajapati, and asked him for guidance on redressing the sufferings of their son, Indra. Kasyapa Prajapati advised his wife that the performance of the Payovratha homam, consisting of the offering of rice cooked in milk, would please Sriman Narayana and lead to the birth of a son who would help Indra regain his kingdom. Aditi Devi performed the recommended homam with austerity and had the good fortune of having Sriman Narayana Himself as her son, Vaamana Moorthy. She appealed to her newborn dwarf-statured son to help His brother, Indra, and restore his kingdom.

Mahabali was restored to life not only because of the mantra balam of Sukracharya but also because of the vow given by the Lord during Narasimha Avataram to Prahladan that He would not kill any of his descendants. Mahabali was the grandson of Prahlada. Hence, Sriman Narayana brought him back to life to fulfill His Avatara purpose as Vaamana-Trivikrama.

Sriman Narayana responded to the austere performance of Payovratham by the Deva Mata. She had prayed to Him at the end of the observance, and the Lord responded, as He does to the sincere prayers of His bhaktha SikhAmaNis. The Lord entered the Veeryam of Kasyapa Prajapati in response to the prayers of Aditi. Our Sastras state that the Jeevan stays in the Purusha Garbham for two months and then enters the wife's Garbham through Garbha DhAnam and stays there for ten months before coming out as a child.

The Lord appeared as a son of Aditi after 12 months and incarnated on the day when Sravana nakshatram and Dwadasi thithi were in unison. He appeared with sankham and chakram in the Prakata (shining, illustrious) Vaishnava Rupam (in the divine form as Vishnu). The great sage, Kasyapa, performed Upanayanam for his "brahmachari" son, and the mother, Brahma, Saraswati, Saptha Rishis, and Kubera presented Him with the insignias of Brahmacharyam, such as Munji belt made out of darbha grass, Palasa dhandam, deer skin (Krishnajinam), Kankana, loin cloth, Kamandalu, umbrella, and bikshapathram. The Lord is never without His consort, Maha Lakshmi; He had her always on His chest, and here in this brahmachari rupam, He had her covered under the deer skin.

The Lord shone with these symbols associated with the celibate status and was ready for Upakarma/Vedarambham. Surya Bhagavan blessed the Lord with Gayatri Mantra Upadesam, since He is the adhishtana daivam for Gayatri Manthram. He replaced the father's usual role here. The Deva Guru, Brihaspati, had presented earlier the Lord with Yajnopaveetham. Kasyapa Prajapati tied the Munji belt around the waist of the Lord, his son. This Munji belt, according to Atharvana Vedam, banishes the rogams associated with the bladder for Brahmacharis.

Bhumi Devi presented Her Lord with Krishnajinam to confer long life. The wearing of the deer skin on the celibate's body wards off Kshaya rogams (tuberculosis) as well. Chandra presented the Lord with Palasa dhandham (samith). Brahmacharis carry Palasa dhandham to protect their memory of the Veda Adhyananam. Palasa is the name of the Purasa tree, which has the three-branched growth in reverence to the Tripadha Gayatri that the Devas meditated upon under it.

Brahmacharis performing Veda Adhyayanam have to rush to their Guru's side for performing service at all times, including the mid-day when the sun is at its apex. Hence, an umbrella is useful to them. When the heat from the sun affects the delicate circulation of the thin region of the skin covering the ears, the circulation to the brain is affected, and hence, Brahmacharis have to protect themselves against the sun.

Veda Viths must always have water for achamanam and prokshanam. Hence Kamandalu is carried by the ones exposed to the Vedas. Brahma Deva gave the Kamandalu to the Lord, anticipating the use of his own Kamandalu theertham to serve as Paadhyam for the Lord's feet as it shot up towards his own home, Satyalokam.

The Bikshapathram was given to the Lord by Kubera, the Lord of wealth. Uma Devi, as Anna purni, gave the first Bikshai. Normally, the Brahmachari asks his mother or sister after Upanayanam for Bikshai (Bhavathi Biksham Dehi). The reason is that the Brahmachari does not want to encounter a negative response for his first Bikshai. A Brahmin's wealth is his penance. Brahma Suthram (punal) protects that accumulated Tapas. Hence Brahmaspathi Bhagavan appeared in person and presented the Punal to the Lord.

Surya Bhagavan initiated Vaamanan with Gayatri Manthram for Loka kshemam. Gayatri is recited according to Bhishma for the preservation of auspiciousness in the world and to avoid akala mrithyu (Na tathra mriyathe bala: Gayathri yathra japyathe).

The Lord, equipped with all the insignias of a celibate who has performed His Upakarma, walked towards the Yaga Sala of Mahabali. Narayana traveled thus towards the Yaga Sala of the Asura king, wearing the Kusa rope belt, carrying the umbrella, Kamandalu, Palasa dhandham, and hiding His extraordinary power and the gigantic form that He was going to take soon. Bhumi Devi bent under the weight of this Kapata Vamana Rupi.

The Yajna Sala (sacred place for performing rituals) was located on the banks of the Narmada River. Sukracharya and the assembled ritviks (priests) were amazed by the brilliance of the dwarf who appeared there. The purpose of the dwarf's presence was not so much to punish Mahabali for his transgressions but to bless him as the grandson of His devoted devotee, Prahlada. Mahabali halted his Yajna and warmly welcomed the Brahmin dwarf, who was full of Vedic knowledge. In a gesture of great respect, Mahabali washed the feet of Lord Vamana (the dwarf form of Lord Vishnu) and placed the sacred water on his head.

Feeling absolved of all sins due to the sacred waters from the Vedavith (knower of the Vedas), Mahabali offered to grant any gift the Vaamana Murthy desired. The deceitful Vamana asked for only three feet of land. This seemingly modest request offended Mahabali, who urged the dwarf to ask for something more befitting His status as an emperor. However, Lord Vamana insisted on just three feet of land (Bhoomim paadha traya parimitham prarthyamaaseetha tvam). Sukracharya began to grasp the true intent of the Kapata Vamana (deceptive dwarf) and warned his disciple not to give such a gift to the dwarf, whom he recognized as none other than Lord Hari Narayana Himself.

Nevertheless, Mahabali remained steadfast and fulfilled the dwarf's wish. At that very moment, the Lord transformed from Vamana to Trivikrama (gigantic universal form) and grew skyward, measuring both the sky and the entire earth with His two steps.

Then, the Lord asked Mahabali where He should place His third step. The Asura king humbly requested the Lord to place His third step on his head, and the compassionate Lord complied. Out of affection for Prahlada's grandson, the Lord created a new abode known as Sutala, where He settled Mahabali with his family and followers, protecting the Asura king by becoming his guardian (rakshakan)."