||Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudhevaya||

Chapter – 106 – The legend of Vamana -2

Shuka Bhramam speaks “ Oh! Rajan, Devi Adhithi prostrated before the supreme Lord Vishnu who is adorned in various precious ornaments all over the body, decorated in the magnificent crown, ear ornaments, waist ornaments, armlets, and anklets, Srivathsa, Kausthubha, and Vanamala, attired in majestic yellow silk garment.  Devi Adhithi eulogized Lord Vishnu with the various sacred names, “Oh! Bhagavan, Oh! Pushkarekshana, Oh! Kshethrajja Sarvabhoothanam, I shall prostrate before you.”  Lord Vishnu was pleased with the devotion Devi Adhithi, and said “Oh! Devi, I am pleased with your devotion, I have decided to take birth as your child, therefore keep it as highly confidential.” In due course of time, Devi Aditi gave birth to a child in the month of Bhadrapada with the birth star Shravana.   The child born was revealed its magnificent form with four arms, holding Shankha, Chakra, Gadha and Padma.  Devi Adhithi prayed to Lord with the folded hands, instantly supreme Lord adopted the form of a dwarf/Vatu.  The whole Universe immersed in extreme happiness and joy, sounds of divine instruments echoed all over, all the deities appeared before the Vatu Vamana and eulogized the supreme Lord.  Lord Surya whispered the sacred Gayathri Manthra in the ears of Vatu Vamana, Sage Bhrihaspathi adorned sacred thread across the chest of Vatu Vamana, Sage Kashyapa decorated the waist of Vatu with the sacred grass, Devi Adhithi decorated the child with a loincloth, Mother Earth offered him the skin of antelope, Soma offered Danda/stick, Dhikdevatha offered Chathram/umbrella, Goddess Saraswathi offered Japamala/prayer bead, Kamandalu and Kubera offered vessel for alms, and Goddess Uma offered the alms.   Thus, Vatu Vamana graciously received all the offerings of the deities and proceeded to the banks of river Narmada where Vairochana/Mahabali was performing the grand Yaga ‘Vishwajith’.

Vatu Vamana moved towards the shores of the Narmada with an intention to take the three worlds with his three strides from Mahabali, eventually, his weight has increased with the mere thought of it and the Earth began to quiver.  Vatu Vamana approached the Yaga arena of Mahabali was reverentially greeted by him “Oh! Bhramin, are you from the clan of Bhramarishi? I feel you are from the illustrious clan of Bhramarishis, I and my clan got sanctified with your arrival, kindly make the event of Yaga fruitful with your present.” Vairochana took the Vatu Vamana inside the Yaga arena and washed his feet with respect, sprinkled the water on his own head and said “ Aho Bhagyam! I am truly fortunate one, not even Bhrama attained the fortune to wash your feet.”  Further, he offered a seat to Vatu Vamana and said “Oh! Vatu, kindly asks for a contribution from me, ask whatever you have desired in the form of cows, gold, land, possessions, virtuous bride, etc.”  Vatu replied “Oh! Rajan, your generous words are most appropriate to your clan of greatest devotee Prahladha, and Virochana who sacrificed life for deities.  There are people who are unhappy to share anything with others, and there are people like you willing to share everything with others.  You have multiplied the piousness of your clan with your generous attitude.  Oh! Vairochana, I am a child, I do not require immense wealth; give me three sides of land measured by my feet.  Oh! Rajan, I have to ask for my requirements only, I need the three strides of land for me.” Vairochana laughed out loudly hearing the request of the Vatu Vamana, and said “ Oh! Bhramin, you are too childish, you are asking an Emperor who is the Lord of the three worlds, to offer three strides of land, you have put me in a great shame by asking three strides of land with your tiny feet, Oh! Vatu, you should not ask anyone once requested to me.” Vatu replied “Oh! Rajan, an ignorant cannot be happy even after attaining the three worlds, the material things cannot bring happiness, the sharing of them brings ultimate happiness.  The real meaning of happiness is the unexpected arrival of wealth, not searching for satisfaction even after possessing the three worlds.  Whoever finding happiness in their possessions and willing to share with others would prosper in their lives.  Oh! Rajan, I am happy with the three strides of land, I am satisfied and happiest as always.”  Mahabali was immensely pleased with the Vatu Vamana and looked at his wife Vindhyavali.  She immediately, moved forward with a vessel of water to begin the proceedings of charity to a Bhramin.