Today, I share a short ancient story retold in a lighter vein. The Preserver-God is believed to have incarnated nine times1. It may surprise some to know that the Buddha is also considered one of his incarnations (the ninth). The tenth is prophesied when the end of this modern era draws to a close - but not just yet! ;-)
Those familiar with my retellings of ancient tales know that gods, demi-gods, and sages often battled formidable demon-kings. These demon kings with varying powers interfered with the established Universal order of good being greater than evil.
When evil increases beyond a tolerance threshold, the good sages and gods begin to fret and pray to the main Gods - the Creator, the Destroyer, and the Preserver - for relief.
These three gods then suggest a solution. Or the Creator and Destroyer deflect and suggest that it is the purview of the Preserver-God to resolve the situation. After all, the Preserver-God did give birth to the Creator-God and has to assume his duty - preservation of world order.
So it is with this story.
Long ago, when only saints, sages, gods, and a few humans inhabited Earth, engaging in rituals that would boggle a modern human’s mind, there also lived a demon-king named Bali.
While he was considerably less evil than his peers and forerunners of the demon dynasty, he had already established his dominion over the gods and continued to gain power.
Naturally, the gods were worried as their positions were being threatened.
Now, demon-kings with powers have a bad rap in ancient lore, and with good evidence too. Ancient history showed that eventually, they helped flip the balance of the equation in favor of evil in the world.
Here, the demon-king though a kind and good king now, still aimed to rule the Heavens in place of the gods. How could that be allowed? What would the gods be without the Heavens?
So it was that with trepidation, the gods sought to intervene in the demon-king’s latest endeavor to perform a powerful yagna (or sacrificial worship) that would give him dominion over the three worlds.
After all, the gods reasoned, who would want to be ruled by a demon-king whose values could shift unpredictably - one who owed loyalty to the demonic dynasties that had battled and been vanquished by the gods after immense struggles?
They appealed to the Preserver-God for help and were assured of intervention.
The demon-king initiated his grand yagna, closely supervised by his royal sage to ensure the precise observance of rituals.
Upon completion, it was sometimes customary for kings to donate generously or honor requests made of them.
Such generosity mirrored the giver's means, courage, or mystical abilities.
Discover the story of a renowned warrior known for his generosity.
Waiting to request the king was a short-statured Brahmin, in white robes, carrying an umbrella, a set of beads in one hand, and wearing another around his neck. He approached the King and sought permission to make his request.
The Royal sage, eyeing the diminutive man warily, urged the King to refuse.
Now, the thing with powerful kings and rulers, whether demonic, godly, or human, is their pride and ego easily get in the way of their discernment.
So it was for the demon king who, though a good ruler, was still consumed by the pride of his power.
How could he deny this little person? What would the people think? That the mighty demon king was intimidated by an unvoiced request from a Brahmin?"
He brushed aside the well-intentioned objections of his Royal sage. He smiled generously at the young man and said, “Ask little person, what it is you desire, and I shall fulfill it.”
The young Brahmin requested land.
“That’s it?” the king was surprised. “Specify, how much land do you wish?”
“Just enough that can be covered with three of my steps,” he said.
The demon-king began to feel kindly towards the Brahmin.
The Royal sage, growing increasingly agitated, made another attempt to dissuade the King from granting the Brahmin's peculiar request, his suspicions mounting.
But the King stood firm, agreeing to grant the Brahmin as much land as could be covered in three of his steps.
Now, the custom (still followed) is that any religious donation, or charitable act, is finalized through the act of pouring water by the giver from a special brass pot containing purified water to the receiver or to let fall to the ground.
Thus, the King prepared to formalize his pledge by reaching for the special brass pot.
The sage, fearing the King was making a mistake, decided to intervene more actively. He transformed into a miniature version of himself, entered the water pot, and blocked the spout from the inside
Ant-man, anyone?
The King was puzzled when no water flowed from the spout.
The young Brahmin, aware of the cause, suggested that dirt might be clogging the spout and offered to assist. Using a blade of grass, he delicately prodded the opening to clear it.
In doing so he blinded the sage in one eye and forced him to abandon the clearing and revert to his original form in pain.
The king then poured the water onto his hands and let the water fall to the ground affirming his donation.
He requested the young Brahmin to take his first step.
Instantly, the little person slowly grew in form shooting past known heights of humans, demons, and gods.
He continued to grow immensely until those on the ground could no longer see his face and his umbrella that had been unfurled to cover his head touched the sky.
With this immeasurable form, he took one step and covered all of the Heavens.
With his second step, he covered all of Earth.
The demon-king now realized who he was dealing with, and stood simply in awe, with crushed pride.
The Brahmin, nay, the Preserver-God asked the now humble king, where he should place his third step.
The king got on his knees, acknowledging the error of his ego in pursuing to rule the Universe, and offered his head to the Preserver-God in completion of his promise.
The Preserver-God, pleased, blessed him with immortality, placed his third step on the head of the king, and sent him to the netherworld2.
For the demon-king was in reality, the grandson of the youngest devotee of the Preserver-God for whom the Preserver-God had incarnated earlier. The Preserver-God would not kill anyone in his devotee’s family, as promised to his young devotee.
You can read that story below.
The form of the Preserver-God shown in this incarnation encompassing all of the Universe is rarely seen, and the next time, we hear of it is during his Krishna incarnation. But that story, let us save for another time!
This story is of the fifth incarnation, Vamana - meaning ‘little person.’
Though checked in his unlimited ambition, the demon-king - Bali - was blessed in the end, to return to Earth once a year, and that day is now celebrated during the annual festival of lights known as ‘Diwali.’ He is also heralded during the famous Onam festival, the annual harvest celebration in the southern state of Kerala.
Beautiful tale, as always. Already looking forward to another one. Thank you, Jayshree 💙💫🍀
Forgive my ignorance - which Avatara was this?