Vāmana Avatāra (Bhavishya Purāṇa)
Vāmana Avatāra · vāmana avatāra, “the avatāra as the dwarf”
In the Uttara Parva of the Bhavishya Purāṇa, Bhagavān Śrī Kṛshṇa tells Yudhishṭhira the Vāmana avatāra to show the glory of the Vijayā tithi, the ekādaśī of Bhādrapada joined with the Śravaṇa nakshatra. The devas, defeated by the daitya king Bali, took refuge in Bhagavān Vishṇu, and he told them to wait for the time. He was born of Aditi as Vāmana on that tithi, asked Bali for three paces of land, measured the earth and Brahmaloka with two paces, and sent Bali to Sutala with the promise of the state of Indra. All these acts took place on the ekādaśī, and so it is the vijaya-tithi of the devas.
The devas take refuge
If the Bhādrapada ekādaśī tithi is joined with the Śravaṇa nakshatra it is called the Vijayā tithi, and it gives vijaya (victory) to bhaktas.
Once all the devas, defeated by the daitya king Bali, went to Bhagavān Vishṇu for refuge and said: “Prabhu Vishṇu, you alone are the refuge of all the devas. Lift us out of this great distress. Destroy this daitya Bali.”
Bhagavān Vishṇu said: “Devas, I know that Bali, son of Virocana, has become a thorn to the three worlds. But by tapas he has fixed his ātmā within himself. He is calm, master of his senses and my bhakta; his life rests in me. He is true to his word. His tapas will end after a long time. When I find him without humility, I will take away what he holds dear and give it to you. Aditi, mother of the devas, also came to me wishing for a son. I will bring about her good too. Taking an avatāra I will protect the devas and destroy the asuras. So go without care and wait for the time.” The devas went back, remembering Bhagavān Vishṇu.
The birth of Vāmana
Aditi too meditated on Bhagavān Vishṇu. After some time she held him in her womb, and in nine months Bhagavān Vāmana appeared from her womb. His form had small feet, a small body and a large head, with hands, feet and belly like those of a small child. When Aditi saw her son in the Vāmana form and was about to say something, by deva-māyā her speech was stopped.
When Trivikrama Vāmana took avatāra on earth, on the Bhādrapada ekādaśī joined with Śravaṇa, the earth began to tremble, fear spread among the daityas and the devas rejoiced. Kaśyapa Maharshi himself performed the jātakarma (birth rite) and the other saṃskāras of the child.
The three paces
Bhagavān Vāmana, bearing the daṇḍa (staff), mekhalā (girdle), yajñopavīta (sacred thread), kamaṇḍalu (water pot) and chatra (umbrella), went to King Bali‘s yajña ground. He said to Bali: “Yajñapati, give me three paces of land.” Bali said: “I have given it.”
At that moment Bhagavān Vāmana began to expand his body. He made it so vast that with one pace he measured the whole earth-loka, and with the second pace he measured Brahmaloka. When no place remained for the third pace, the devas, siddhas, ṛshis and munis, seeing this act, cried “sādhu, sādhu” and praised him.
Bali goes to Sutala
Then, having overcome all the daityas, he said to the daitya king Bali: “Go to Sutala-loka with your family. Protected by me you will enjoy there the bhogas (enjoyments) you wish for. After the present Indra, you will attain the state of Indra.” Bali bowed to Bhagavān Vāmana and went gladly to Sutala-loka.
Bhagavān Vāmana said to the devas: “Dwell without care each in your own place.” Having done good to the world, he withdrew right there. All these acts took place on the ekādaśī tithi, and hence this tithi is held to be the vijaya-tithi of the devas. The same ekādaśī tithi in Phālguna, joined with the Pushya nakshatra, is also called the Vijayā tithi.
The vidhi of the vrata
The heading of the chapter calls this the Vijaya-Śravaṇa-Dvādaśī vrata; the rule is told for the ekādaśī.
- Fast on the ekādaśī. At night make a pratimā (image) of Bhagavān Vāmana and do his pūjā.
- Beside the pratimā place a kuṇḍikā (water vessel), chatra, caraṇa-pādukā (sandals), yashṭi (staff), yajñopavīta, kamaṇḍalu, mṛgacarma (deerskin) and so on.
- Do his pūjā by the rule. Salute him and pray with the mantras below.
- Then put Bhagavān Vāmana to rest.
- Keep jāgaraṇa (the night vigil) with song, instruments, stutis and so on.
- In the morning do pūjā of the pratimā and, with a mantra, offer it to a brāhmaṇa.
- Feed brāhmaṇas, then eat oneself, in silence.
अनेककर्मनिर्बन्धध्वंसिनं जलशायिनम्।
नतोऽस्मि मधुरावासं माधवं मधुसूदनम् ।।
नमो वामनरूपाय नमस्तेऽस्तु त्रिविक्रम ।
नमस्ते मणिबन्धाय वासुदेव नमोऽस्तु ते॥
नमो नमस्ते गोविन्द वामनेश त्रिविक्रम ।
अघौघसंक्षयं कृत्वा सर्वकामप्रदो भव।
anekakarmanirbandhadhvaṃsinaṃ jalaśāyinam|
nato’smi madhurāvāsaṃ mādhavaṃ madhusūdanam ||
namo vāmanarūpāya namaste’stu trivikrama |
namaste maṇibandhāya vāsudeva namo’stu te||
namo namaste govinda vāmaneśa trivikrama |
aghaughasaṃkshayaṃ kṛtvā sarvakāmaprado bhava|
I bow to Mādhava Madhusūdana, who destroys the bonds of many karmas, who lies on the waters, who dwells in Madhurā. Salutation to the Vāmana form; salutation to you, Trivikrama. Salutation to you, Maṇibandha; salutation to you, Vāsudeva. Salutation again and again to you, Govinda, Vāmaneśa, Trivikrama. Destroy the flood of pāpa and be the giver of every desire.
Source: Bhavishya Purāṇa, Uttara Parva, Chapter 76
The phala
The one who keeps this vrata dwells in Vishṇuloka for one manvantara. Then, coming to this world, he becomes a cakravartī king and a giver of gifts, free from illness, long-lived and blessed with sons.
Source: Bhavishya Purāṇa, Uttara Parva, Chapter 76
Sources
- Bhavishya Purāṇa, Uttara Parva, Chapter 76