2006-10-14 04:16:29 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Vamana is a personality described in the Puranic texts of Hinduism as the Fifth Avatara of Vishnu, and the first incarnation of the Second Age, or Treta yuga. Also he is the first Avatar of Vishnu which appears with a completely human form, though it was that of a dwarf brahmin. He is also sometimes known as Upendra.
The legend of Bhagavata has it that the Vamana avatar was taken by Vishnu to restore Indra's Authority over the heavens, which was taken away by force by the demon king Bali. Vamana in the disguise of a short Brahmin, carrying a wooden umbrella requested three steps of land for him to live in. Given a promise of three steps of Land by King Bali against the warning given by his Guru Sukracharya, Vamana, The Supreme God grows so huge that he could cover from heaven to earth, earth to lower worlds in two simple steps. King Bali unable to fulfil the promise of three paces of Land to the Supreme God, offers his head for the third step. Thus Vamana places his third step on King Bali's head and gives him immortality for his benevolance.
2006-10-14 06:09:21 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 4⤋
Lord vishnu as incarnation as Vaamana the dwarf claimed three feet of earth from Emperor Mahaabali (grand son of Prahlaada)
2006-10-14 11:52:01 · answer #2 · answered by Brahmanda 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The fifth incarnation, the first in the Treta Yuga, was that of sage Vamana - a dwarf, this time to subdue King Bali - the demon king, who had assumed control over heaven, earth and nether worlds, by defeating Indra - ruler of heaven. His intention was to become the sole power in the entire universe. As all the gods, who had lost their significance and powers prayed to Vishnu to help them and rescue the universe from Bali. It was then that at a sacrificial event held by Bali, Vishnu appeared as Vamana, the dwarf Brahman son of sage Kashyapa and his wife Aditi. Brahamans formed the foremost caste and were highly revered, even by demons. King Bali felt highly obliged by the presence of the dwarf Brahman and offered him anything that he asked for. Vamana asked for only as much land as would be covered by three steps of his. Hearing this Bali was amused as he imagined the little stretch of land that the dwarf Brahman could claim. However Vamana soon assumed huge proportions and covered the entire earth. With his first step he claimed the heavens and with his second step the nether worlds. Since there was nowhere else to step on, King Bali offered his head for Vamana to step on. Since Vamana was pleased with Bali for his strength of resolution of fulfilling his word and also because of the great devotion of Bali's ancestor Prahlad (as described in the earlier paragraph describing the Narasimha Avatar), he spared Bali's life and granted him the nether worlds to rule on. Thus he rescued the Gods and earth from the clutches of tyranny. The dwarf incarnation of Vishnu represents the initial stages of development of Man.
2006-10-14 11:25:18 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Vamana, and he asked King Mahabali
2006-10-14 11:23:57 · answer #4 · answered by Cowpoke 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
reincarnation is real.
2006-10-14 11:24:16 · answer #5 · answered by Celestine N 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Dunno. We on this board only know the bad things about Christianity and Islam.
2006-10-14 11:19:21 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋