The story behind Onam posted here is wrong ... Maha Bali , means Great Sacrifice ... and ... what the heck was the sacrifice ? He had commited the last vice that most good people have - ego/arrogance . He didnt pay heed to his Guru even though it was apparent by then that Vishnu was testing him .He had to fulfil his word and at the same time pay for his folly ... and to compound things ... being a good and pious man - he needed to be rewarded . The punishment was being banished to hell , the blessing was placing of Vamana's foot on his head and helping Bali fulfil his vow ( to offer 3 paces ) and the reward was fulfilment of Bali's desire for Indra-sthanam for one full manvantaram.
Though he may be an 'asura' and got killed by Lord Mahavishnu, look at his concern for the well being of his citizens. Even at the time of his death, he requested God to allow him to visit his ciritizens once a year to find out thier well being!. This has a huge message for our current crop of politicians. Hope they will pick up the thread from Mahabali!.
RE:Mahabali's visit to his citizens - Onam
by Aruna Kumar on Aug 29, 2007 01:04 AM Permalink
He never got killed, only his ego got killed...Bali means sacrifice, Mahabali means the Great Sacrifice...He merely surrendered to God...The story is symbolic...
The argument our senseless blogs (below messages about the topic) do on the net is meaningless, only shows how we are diveded as a nation... I only Hope King Mahabali come & rule India as India needs peace & tranquility in this terror outcomes....
It don't get the point all these flower decoration for just one day and then throw them into a dust bin the next day . Why are people wasting their time and money on such superstitions. All these festivals are just shows the human dependency on superstitions,as they are desperate for something which they can never achieve I.E satisfaction. Talk about hypocrisies in terming astrology as superstition and festival as celebration .
RE:What a waste of flowers
by on Aug 28, 2007 12:05 PM Permalink
Every culture has a way to celebrate their festival. I do not see anything waste in this nor it is superstition. During marriage couples wear flower garland and throw it in the dustbin next day. When we welcome some guest we decorate and keep the house clean and tidy. It is what all the people of Kerala do. It is such a treat to watch and enjoy. You have every freedom to discount the story as superstition. I firmly believe that it is victory of lower self ( ego - which can be called Maha bali since ego is usually arrogant, forceful and poweful expression). Lord Vamana stands for higher self. The ego can never be killed but it can only be tamed. Hence Lord Vamana does not kill Mahabali.
RE:What a waste of flowers
by Aruna Kumar on Aug 29, 2007 01:07 AM Permalink
Just as ppl put rangolis and light lamps on diwali, we use flowers...Nobody says why waste oil? Indian Festivals are a means to get together and celebrate the essence of life, the spirit of humanity and cultivate spiritual and good values. By the way, All flowers die even if not plucked, alright? What a dumbass!
RE:North Indians over South Indians?
by Sri T on Aug 28, 2007 02:33 PM Permalink
A nice article that debunks my point about Aryan and Dravidian conflict ...
RE:RE:North Indians over South Indians?
by Ekalavyan Acharyan on Aug 28, 2007 04:00 PM Permalink
Onam is the time to celebrate after two months of rainy season(miserable time for everyone). Hence you have reading of ramayana during worst of those periods. Main reason, can't work outside due to rains, nothing to eat because water issues, sickness etc. And then Onam comes.... What a better way to celebrate the coming of new period than by wearing new clothes adorned with freshly cut beautiful flowers, houses cleaned as if welcoming a long lost King. So if someone call this tradition a superstition, who cares, I love this superstition!!!
Now about stories of Bali and Vishnu, it may be related to some historic event, but whatever it is.. like all our puranic stories its final aim to focus your mind on God. So your guess on this subject is as good as any one who claims to be subject expert on this. So don't fret over it.
Now about rakshasas and asuras, these are nothing but our ancient equivalent of modern day terrorists and goondas.
About aryan theory, its now well known that its a defunct theory.. (just an old theory). In the olden times, people used to good noble people.. "arya" or "arya puthra(son of an arya)". That's it. May be two thousand years from now, they would say in england, there were some race called "Sir".
RE:RE:RE:North Indians over South Indians?
by Aruna Kumar on Aug 29, 2007 01:21 AM Permalink
Also in indian mythology the Devas also arent the 'purest' beings. They were often lazy and confined to song and dance, wine and women much like the asuras who were often found fighting, conquering, drinking, and with a love of women. However, the devas were the ones that maintained and preserved the rules of nature. And they often erred too, for which they were punished. So both devas and asuras had good and bad qualities, and its just a question of who's behaving the worst at a given point of time. However the devas never hesitated to rely upon the Lord's power when the time arose, while the asuras were concerned with individual power or ego, much like the humans of today.MahaBali was an exception and he quickly attained to God, by the Lord's grace, bcos of his humility.
RE:North Indians over South Indians?
by Aruna Kumar on Aug 28, 2007 10:46 AM Permalink
What an idiot...Whether white or black,, rakshasas are rakshasas...And who said Ravan was from north india by the way? Maybe Sri T is the new ravan on the block, eh?
RE:North Indians over South Indians?
by Sri T on Aug 28, 2007 11:01 AM Permalink
How do u explain ...
(a) both Ravan and Mahabali who were South Indian kings ... depicted as Rakshasas in the puranas (b) no proof of existence of a new species such as Rakshasas ... unless u think the two puranas were just made up ...
RE:North Indians over South Indians?
by Aruna Kumar on Aug 28, 2007 11:23 AM Permalink
It doesnt matter whether the puranas are real or fake...These days people are wondering whether God is real or fake...You were the one that brought south india and north india into it...Ravan was from Lanka by the way and kerala is proud of a demon king who ruled much better than Indra, the deva king...Was he from North India bcos he was a deva and not a danava?
RE:RE:North Indians over South Indians?
by Aruna Kumar on Aug 28, 2007 11:25 AM Permalink
Deva and Danava and Rakshasa aren't new species, just used to depict the attributes of the mind. Its a loose psychological classification. Nowhere is it said that they are a new species, unless you want to say that the Good are one species and the bad are another species (metaphorically)
RE:North Indians over South Indians?
by Sri T on Aug 28, 2007 11:45 AM Permalink
The reference to North Indian and South Indian ... is a lose reference to ... Aryan vs. Dravidian ... are lot of these classifications of the pure fair Aryans referring to Dravidians as Rakshasas ... later being the inferior species ...
History is written by the victor ... so my point ... are some of these racial in their origin?
RE:North Indians over South Indians?
by abdul wahab on Aug 28, 2007 12:20 PM Permalink
The Hindu mythology is symbolic and it shows the way to goodness...the question of rakshasas and demons can't be compared as south Indians or north Indians. Hindu mythology deals with science with an easy way of symbolisation.
RE:North Indians over South Indians?
by ramesh pawar on Aug 28, 2007 02:01 PM Permalink
DO YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT YOUR QURAN ...TRY TO LEARN IT FIRST THAN LATER TRY TO INTERFER IN OTHERS MATTERS .....
Onam is a celebration of the right over the wrong. It is the celebration of Good over evil. It is the celebration of Tiruvikrama's triumph. Celebrate Onam with Bhathi and worship Tiruvikram and not the return of an Asura King. Don't forget the climax of the appearance of the Lord was his feet coming over Mahabali. The Lord in this avathar also stamped his authority over the entire universe by covering the entire universe by his feet. HARI OM THATSAT
RE:Celebrate Onam for the right reasons.
by Aruna Kumar on Aug 28, 2007 10:48 AM Permalink
Idiot, the Lord granted him the privilege of visiting his subjects bcos he was a GOOD king even if he was a demon alright...Please stop your stupid rants. Spare the forum of your stupidity. Even now keralites sulk at the Lord for depriving them of their beloved King. Dont tell others what to do, jackass
ONAM GREETINGS TO YOU ALL. CAN YOU ANYONE TELL ME WHY "MAHAVISHNU" DID THIS TO A PIOUS KING "MAHABALI"? I FEEL, BY DOING THIS, WE LOST A BEAUTIFUL ERA.
RE:ONAM GREETINGS
by raj kumar on Aug 28, 2007 10:06 AM Permalink
My friend, You have the beautiful name of Shree Krishna and still you ask such stupid question. Who told you Mahabali was a pious king. Read the Vishu purana to know the whole truth about the vamana/Trivikrama avathara. Greed is one of the biggest sins. It is not enought if your subjects are happy it is equally important what leadership you provide as a king. By snatching others kingdom one cannot be called pious. There is a lesson for all of us here. By eyeing other's property we are immersing ourselves more in sin. We must be contented in what we have. Mahabali was performing a yagna to fulfill his greed. Even today many people conduct various religious feats for selfish ends. Any worship must have Bhakthi as its goal. All riches and fame will come as is ordained by fate. This is the moral of the vamana avathara story. Even today we must celebrate Onam to signify Tiruvikrama;s triumph and not to mark the return of an asura king. Return of an asura king means return of asura gunas and no doubt kerala is in the kind of mess it is in today. HARE KRISHNA.
RE:ONAM GREETINGS
by VENUGOPAL on Aug 28, 2007 10:18 AM Permalink
Thanks for your message. Everyone in Kerala including myself have had a belief that ONAM is celebrated as day to mark the return of Mahabali. If Mahabali was not pious, why Mahavishnu made him a king in Patala. Mahabali was pious that is why he kept his word of giving "three steps" to Vamana. If he had any bad intentions, he would not have done so. Except in Mahabali's era, where you can find people living in complete peaceful harmony. You can't find in Devaloka also. In Krishna Avatara, Krishna HIMSELF had undergone several hardships. Unless you treat others as yourself, this world will not improve. Here let me quote of quote of Narayana Guru: Don't do things which you yourself don't like to others. All the best wishes to you and HARE KRISHNA.
RE:ONAM GREETINGS
by Aruna Kumar on Aug 28, 2007 10:12 AM Permalink
The story is symbolic. Mahavishnu didn't do anything BAD to Mahabali. Mahabali was a very generous person who offered to give whatever Vishnu, who appeared as the dwarf Vamana, wanted. All that the dwarf vamana wanted was 3 'steps' of land (measured with the feet). Mahabali was amused at this and said, "Are u sure, I could give more". Vamana said that would do and Mahabali agreed. Then Vamana started growing, and with one feet measured the entire earth, with the next feet, he took all the heavens. Vamana asked where he would keep the third step, and Mahabali who had understood by then that this was none other than God himself, bows down humbly and asks that Vamana place His divine feet on his head. This is symbolic of destroying the petty individual ego and thus Mahavishnu was in essence purifying Mahabali. Although the demon king was highly generous, he had the attitude that he was giving and so God came down personally to change that attitude and grant him immortality. He is still regarded as the best of kings by the Lord's grace and all of kerala regardless of religion celebrates the spirit of onam as being one of equality, love, happiness, peace and respect for all beings and mother Nature.
RE:RE:ONAM GREETINGS
by Aruna Kumar on Aug 28, 2007 10:14 AM Permalink
Hey raj kumar, Maybe u should leave the interpretation to other people...What mess is kerala in? I dunno! Its much better than many north indian states. Women are equal to men here and i dont think any North Indian state can say that.
RE:RE:RE:ONAM GREETINGS
by Aruna Kumar on Aug 28, 2007 10:16 AM Permalink
By the way, Raj Kumar dont read just about any vishnu purana...Read an authentic one...There are lot of writers and translators of puranas that have no idea, imagination or vision
