MAARKANDEYA presents MAHAABHAARATHAM

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W E L C O M E

"After praying to Naaraayana, Nara, Sarasvathi and Vyaasa, then one should read the Jayam."

DEDICATED TO MY DEAR NIECE VYSHNAVI KRISHNA

BALI

(The L in this name is pronounced like 'l' in 'leg'.)

Please see the links 'vishnu' and 'Vaamana' too.

Bali was the grandson of Prahlaada who was the celebrated devotee of Lord Vishnu.

When Bali defeated Indra and snatched the heaven from him, Vishnu incarnated like a dwarf to save the gods. In this incarnation, he was born as son to Adithi and Kashyapa. He went to Bali as if to beg something from him. Bali promised him to give whatever that was asked. Vaamana just asked for three paces of land which Bali accepted to give.

At that juncture, the mentor of demons Shukra tried to stop Bali saying that the boy standing before him was none other than Vishnu and that he was going to rob the demons of their rulership and ruler both. But Bali did not step back. Seeing his disciple adamant, Shukra entered the water jug of Bali with a minute form and hindered the flow of water from coming out of it ( The custom of giving alms is that the donor should pour water from his kettle into the recipient's palm through his own palm while declaring the alms). Shukra thought of stopping the water, if he could not stop Bali !). Vaamana pierced into the vent of the tube of the jug as if trying to clear the flow of water, knowing fully well that shukra was there. That shot cost one eye for Shukra but he could not prevent Bali from committing to Vaamana about the alms.

Soon after getting the promise for the alms, Vaamana began to grow in form, crossing the moon, sun, stars and the entire universe. He measured the earth(i.e. all lower abodes) with one pace, the sky (i.e. upper abodes) with second one asked Bali to show place for third one. Bali could not find a place where Vaamana's foot did not touch, except his head. He offered his own head for the third step and Vaamana crushed him to the underworld Paathaalam. But as a token of his recognition of Bali's greatness, Vishnu stood as his door-guard there.

"After praying to Naaraayana, Nara, Sarasvathi and Vyaasa, then one should read the Jayam."

DEDICATED TO MY DEAR NIECE VYSHNAVI KRISHNA