Vamana Avatar Story: The scriptures state that Lord Vishnu has ten incarnations. However, the fifth incarnation is Vamana, considered one of the most mysterious. In this incarnation, Lord Vishnu incarnated on earth as a dwarf Brahmin boy. The purpose was not only to defeat an Asura king but also to restore the authority of the gods and protect Dharma.
King Bali was the reason
The Srimad Bhagavata Purana and the Vamana Purana state that the demon king Bali is considered the primary reason for Lord Vishnu’s Vamana incarnation. King Bali was the grandson of Vishnu devotee Prahlad and the son of Virochana. He was philanthropic, powerful, and generous. However, through his strength and virtue, he defeated even the gods and took control of Indraloka.
But later, when Goddess Aditi could no longer bear her sons’ plight, she performed severe penance to appease Lord Vishnu. Pleased with the penance of Goddess Aditi, Lord Vishnu granted her a boon that he would be born as her son and restore the gods’ rights.
Vamana had asked for three steps of land
While King Bali was performing his final yagna on the banks of the Narmada River, Lord Vishnu suddenly appeared before him, disguised as a dwarf Brahmin. Vamana then asked the king for just three steps of land. However, Shukracharya, the guru of the demons, recognised Lord Vishnu as the true Vamana.
Subsequently, Shukracharya, the guru of the demons, stopped King Bali from making this donation, warning him that it could prove disastrous. However, the generous King Bali disobeyed his guru and pledged to donate three steps of land.
God Reveals His Great Form
As soon as King Bali made his vow, Vamana assumed his gigantic form. In the first step, he measured the entire earth, and in the second, he measured the heavens and the whole universe. However, when there was no room left for the third step, King Bali, under a promise of charity, offered his head to fulfil his promise.
Lord Vishnu was deeply pleased with King Bali’s generosity and made him the lord of the planet. He also restored Dharma to the gods by restoring their rights.