Aditi’s Vrata and the Birth of Vāmana

Aditi is the mother of the devas. Bali had driven her sons out of their high places, and she kept a hard vrata (a vow of observance) to ask Bhagavān Vishṇu to become her son and give the devas back their rule. Bhagavān Vishṇu was pleased, entered her womb and was born as the dwarf brāhmaṇa boy Vāmana. Prahlāda learned of the plan, spoke a curse on Bali and then made peace with him. He then set out on a tīrtha-yātrā (journey to holy places). This account is told in the Vāmana Purāṇa, Chapters 50 and 51, and the birth and upanayana in Chapter 62.

Aditi’s distress

Bali ruled the three worlds, and Lakshmī lived in the court of the asuras. Aditi, the mother of the devas, was in deep distress. Her sons, Indra among them, had lost their places, their shares in the yajña (fire ritual) and the soma, and their homes in the high worlds of the devas. She turned to Bhagavān Vishṇu as the only power who could set this right.

The Māgha-saptamī vrata

Aditi kept the Māgha-saptamī vrata. This vrata is kept on the seventh tithi (lunar day) of the bright half of the month of Māgha. It is dedicated to Bhagavān Vishṇu. It includes fasting, pūjā with chosen flowers and offerings, and steady prayer. The Purāṇa gives the vrata in detail: which flowers are fit, the right way to worship, the mantras to say and the prayers Aditi offered. She had one wish. She wanted Bhagavān Vishṇu himself to become her son and win back the worlds for the devas.

Bhagavān Vishṇu enters Aditi’s womb

Bhagavān Vishṇu was moved by Aditi’s devotion and agreed to be born as her son. The Purāṇa describes the moment of his avatāra (descent) with great reverence. Bhagavān Vishṇu, the master of all worlds and present in all creation, entered the womb of a mother out of love for his devotees. The Purāṇa places the birth at a good time, when the Sun entered the sign of Mithuna and the planets stood in favourable positions. Aditi carried the divine child and kept this great secret within herself.

Prahlāda learns of the plan

Prahlāda was the great-grandfather of Bali and one of the greatest devotees of Bhagavān Vishṇu. He came to know that Aditi was carrying Bhagavān Vishṇu in her womb. He knew the purpose was that Bhagavān Vishṇu would take three steps from Bali and win the worlds back for the devas. Prahlāda went to Bali and warned him of what was coming. His feelings were mixed. He warned Bali, and he also spoke a śāpa (a curse) at first. He did this out of love for his family line and grief at the thought of Bali’s fall.

Prahlāda makes peace

After this first outburst, the true nature of Prahlāda as a mahā-bhāgavata (great devotee of Bhagavān Vishṇu) came back. He saw that what Bhagavān Vishṇu does for those he loves is the highest grace, even when it looks like defeat. He made peace with Bali. He advised him with wisdom about the will of Bhagavān Vishṇu and the spiritual chance that lay ahead. Then, with a quiet heart, he left Bali’s court and set out on a tīrtha-yātrā across Bhārata.

The birth of Vāmana

Aditi gave birth to Bhagavān Vishṇu in the form of the dwarf brāhmaṇa Vāmana. At his birth Brahmā and the brahmarshis (brāhmaṇa seers) came to the newborn and offered stotras (hymns of praise). Brahmā asked Vāmana to allow the sacred thread ceremony to be done for him. The great ṛshi Bharadvāja, of the Aṅgiras gotra (family line), performed the upanayana saṃskāra (sacred thread ceremony) for the divine child.

At his upanayana a great gathering of ṛshis and kings gave gifts to Vāmana.

• Pulastya gave the white garment.
• Agastya gave the kṛshṇājina (black antelope skin).
• Bharadvāja gave the mekhalā (girdle).
• Marīci gave the pālāśa daṇḍa (staff of palāśa wood).
• Vasishṭha gave the akshamālā (rosary).
• Aṅgiras gave the mat of kuśa grass.
• King Raghu gave an umbrella.
• King Nṛga gave sandals.
• Bṛhaspati gave the kamaṇḍalu (water pot).

Vāmana then studied the Sāmaveda with Bharadvāja in a single month. When he was fully ready, he asked leave to go to Kurukshetra, where Bali was performing his great Aśvamedha.

Sources

• Vāmana Purāṇa (Vāmana Mahā Purāṇa), Chapter 50
• Vāmana Purāṇa, Chapter 51
• Vāmana Purāṇa, Chapter 62