Sanctified by Three Avatars

Bhagavan Baba, in this divine discourse on the holy day of Onam three decades ago, reminds the people of Kerala of the immense spiritual heritage that drew several divine incarnations to their soil, and of their duty to uphold the legacy.

Heaven is not some remote place,
Where people are virtuous and of good character
You will find paradise.

Bharat’s [India’s] culture is rooted in the Vedas [Hindu scriptures]. Music and literature have come from the Vedas. The Sama Veda is the primal source of music; Rig Veda is the source of all literature.

Devotion, filled with music, is the form of the Divine. Hence, Lord Narayana [the sustainer] declared, “I do not dwell in Vaikuntha [heaven] or in the hearts of yogis [sages]. I am present wherever my devotees sing my praise, Oh Narada [a celestial devotee]! “

The Lord resides not only in the hearts of devotees, but also in the hearts of the evil-minded. Once, the child Prahlada [an ardent devotee] approached his mother, Lilavati, and told her, “Mother, there is only one difference between me, who is a devotee of Hari [a name of God] and my father, who hates Hari. Ever contemplating on the nectarine sweetness of the Lord, repeating His name, and constantly remembering Him, I am immersed in the bliss of love of the Lord, like one intoxicated. My father, in his hatred of Narayana, has turned his heart into stone and installed Him in it.”

Live in faith

The Lord, who dwelt in the heart of Prahlada who loved Narayana, and the Lord who was in the heart of Hiranyakashipu [Prahlada’s father], who hated Narayana, was one and the same. Deeply drinking the nectar of divine love, Prahlada quenched his heart’s thirst and found bliss. Installing the Lord in his stony heart, Hiranyakashipu was unable to allay his burning thirst and experienced endless worries.

Man has to live in faith to experience happiness. Where there is happiness, there is peace. Realizing that the Divine is omnipresent, devotees make their lives sublime by singing the glories of the Lord, ever dwelling on His name.

The Divine is present everywhere and in everything. Prahlada declared in the Bhagavatam [the story of Krishna], “There is no room for the suspicion that the Lord is here and not there. He can be found wherever He is sought, because He is immanent in everything in the universe. Saint Thyagaraja said the same thing when he sang, “Where is your dwelling place, Oh Lord? Wherever I turn, I behold you. You are present everywhere. You are omnipotent and all-knowing.”

The Divine is present not only in human beings. He dwells in birds and beasts, and in all living things. So Thyagaraja sang, “Did not a woman devotee (Aparanji) teach a parrot to recite the name of Rama and enjoy your glory?”

The knower of Brahman [the universal self] becomes Brahman himself. Valmiki, who wrote the Ramayana [an Indian epic], was so immersed in the Rama principle that the inmates of his ashram [hermitage] noticed effulgence on his face reflective of the splendor of Rama Himself. The face is a reflection of the inner being. Whatever thoughts and emotions fill a man are reflected in his face. The face of Moses, who was always dwelling on the glories of God, reflected the radiance and splendor of the Divine. This is revealed in the Bible. Darwin, who was a devoted student of Henslow, followed his teacher’s exemplary life and became, in later years, a great scientist recognizing the inextricable relationship between man and God.

The three danava devotees

The devotee is inseparable from God. When he is filled with the love of God and is totally forgetful of himself, he experiences oneness with God. Prahlada was such a supreme devotee. He was a rakshasa [demon] by birth but with a human form; his heart was centered on God. Prahlada combined three elements in himself. He adhered to the culture of Bharat and shone as an ideal to his people. In following the four purusharthas [the aims of life]—dharma, [righteousness], artha [wealth and worldly interest], kama [desires], and moksha [liberation]—Prahlada combined the pursuit of artha with dharma, and linked them to kama for the attainment of moksha. Because of this, moksha itself sought Prahlada.

Though born among danavas (demons), there are three notable figures who have achieved distinction in the pursuit of the purusharthas and thus sanctified their lives. They are Prahlada, Bali, and Vibhishana. In contrast, there are countless persons, who, though born as human beings, have forgotten dharma and moksha, submerged themselves in artha and kama, and wasted their lives.

Emperor Bali was goodness

Virochana was the son of Prahlada. He was, however, different from his father. He was a staunch materialist. He followed the hedonistic philosophy of Charvaka [a Hindu of the materialistic and atheistic school of thought]. Emperor Bali, who was the soul of goodness and purity, was Virochana’s son. He looked after the welfare of his people as if they were his own children. He earned the love and esteem of his citizens whom he regarded as limbs of his own body. The people enshrined Bali in their hearts. There was complete harmony between the people and the ruler.

Bali once embarked upon the performance of a great sacrifice known as Vishwajit (conquest of the universe). This provoked the apprehension of Indra [the leader of demi-gods] and devas [demi-gods]. In all ages there have been men who are envious of, or antagonistic to, those who are prosperous, eminent, or extremely good. The latter have to face troubles from such envious persons.

Rama was subjected to many hardships from evil-minded persons. Harishchandra [a righteous king] suffered many ordeals inflicted by a rishi [sage]. The Pandavas [from the epic Mahabharata], who were the very embodiment of dharma, had to endure numerous troubles caused by the envious Kauravas [Pandavas’ cousins]. Jesus, who was the personification of self-sacrifice, was a victim of the hatred of those who were envious of his popularity and resented his teachings. The Prophet Mohammed had to flee from Mecca because of some enemies who were opposed to his message.

Devas propose, Lord disposes

Bali wanted to ensure peace and prosperity for the entire world under his beneficent reign and commenced the Vishwajit Yaga [ceremonial worship] for this purpose. The devas became apprehensive and jealous when Bali was performing this yaga. They approached Lord Narayana and prayed to Him, “Bali, who is a demon by birth, is attempting to bring the whole universe under his sway by performing the Vishwajit Yaga. You must save the world from this danger (i.e. of the whole world coming under the rule of demons), by diverting his mind from this course.”

Man proposes, but God disposes. The Lord, who knew the greatness of Bali, his noble qualities, and his devotion to God, formally acceded to the devas’ prayers, but decided to confer the highest blessings on Bali. For this purpose He incarnated in Siddhashrama [a hermitage] as Vamana [an avatar in the form of a dwarf] and went to Bali’s yajnasala [the site where the yaga was held] to ask for a gift. Pure-hearted as he was, Bali could instantly recognize the radiance on the face of the young Vamana. He asked Vamana, “Swami, what is it you seek at this yajna? I have decided to renounce everything I possess to redeem my life.”

Vamana murti [the form] was short in stature, but the whole universe was immanent in Him. He asked for an apparently small gift from Bali—nothing more than three lengths of ground measured by His feet. Bali felt that for a ruler of the vast earth, this was too small a gift and he agreed. That very moment, Vamana assumed the immeasurable form of Trivikrama, the Supreme Lord of the three worlds. With one step, He covered the entire earth. With the second step, He covered the whole of space, and asked Bali where He should place His foot for the third step. Bali knelt before the Lord and said, “Oh Lord! What can I offer You except the body and heart that You have given to me? I pray to You to place Your foot on my head.” Bali was thus the supreme embodiment of self-sacrifice who did not hesitate to offer everything he had to the Lord.

Vamana’s boon to Emperor Bali

Seeing the anguish of his loving people at this turn of events at the Yajna, Bali made one request to the Lord before he was sent to his heavenly abode by the Lord’s third step. He said, “Oh Lord! I am indeed happy that your divine feet have sanctified me and I have achieved the bliss of liberation. I do not, however, wish to leave my loving people in the agony that they are feeling. Please allow me to visit my people once a year in the month of Shravan [a lunar calendar month].” He asked for this boon out of his boundless love for his people. The Lord granted this boon.

The Onam festival signifies the enormous love Bali had for the people of his realm. On Onam day, all the people of Kerala rise early in the morning, put on new clothes after bathing, prepare a variety of delicious dishes, spread them on a plantain leaf, and offer them first to Emperor Bali as a pious oblation.

Then they celebrate the Onam festivalwith great rejoicing in the company of their kith and kin, and friends. The new clothes worn on Onam day are known as Onakkodi. This name has a special significance. It refers not merely to the new clothes worn by Keralites, but also to the new body which Emperor Bali acquired on that day. Bali, who appears on that day from the netherworld, is considered to appear in the new garb of love of the people for whose sake he came.

Kerala was Parashurama Kshetra

Kerala is a land that has won the love of the Lord in a special way. In olden days, it was noted for its devotion and godliness. Kerala is also known as Parashurama Kshetra—the sacred land of Parashurama. How did it acquire that name? Parashurama is one of the avatars of Vishnu. When Parashurama’s father (Jamadagni) was beheaded by a kshatriya [warrior class] king, his mother Renuka cried in anguish, “Rama! Rama!” Parashurama, who was far away from the ashram, could ethereally hear the cries of his mother from afar and rushed home. He counted that his mother had called his name twenty one times.

On reaching the ashram, he saw his father’s head severed from the body. The horrible crime had been committed by [king] Kartavirya’s sons. Parashurama took a vow to wage war against the vile kshatriya rulers twenty one times, and end their rule over the earth. Parashurama accomplished his mission by defeating the kshatriya kings twenty one times, and returned to his ashram to pray to his ancestors to restore his father’s life. The sage Bharadwaja, to whose lineage Jamadagni belonged, appeared before Parashurama, and restored Jamadagni’s life by fusing his head and body together.

After this, Parashurama felt that the purpose of his advent had been achieved, and as he had no desire to be a ruler, he handed over all the territories he had conquered to sage Kashyapa. Having given away everything, he felt that it would not be right for him to remain on the land he had gifted. He decided to reclaim land from the sea, and settle down on that territory for the rest of his life. This area is known as Parashurama Kshetra—also known as Kerala. He performed penance on a mountain called Mahesha in Kerala.

Kerala is uniquely blessed

Kerala is thus a land with sacred traditions. The Onam festival occurs in an auspicious period. Kerala goes through three months of heavy rain before Onam. Nature wears a somber look. The skies are overcast and the sun is barely visible during these months. After the rains, the sun shines in all its glory, and it is green everywhere. Nature rejoices at the time of Onam. The entire population is filled with joy, sharing the glory of nature, and enjoying its fruits in abundance. The natural beauty of Kerala cannot be described in words. It has to be seen and enjoyed. Kerala has been uniquely blessed by providence.

In such a sacred and well-endowed country, time has wrought some changes. The passage of time and the vicissitudes of circumstances have affected the minds of people. Differences have arisen between men, and hatred has grown among various sections. In spite of these changes, however, the spirit of devotion among the people has remained.

Kerala celebrates Onam with joy

Kerala is regarded as a communist state but this is not wholly true. Even today, most of the people are filled with deep devotion. On Onam day, there is no Keralite who does not celebrate the festival with enthusiasm and joy. The temples are packed with devotees on Onam. Although political differences figure prominently on the surface, there is a sense of unity deep down in the hearts of the people.

“What is the difference between man and God?” it is asked. The answer is: the individual jiva [soul] is a changing entity. God is unchanging and eternal. Faith in God has remained unchanged in Kerala despite the passage of centuries. This is the unique greatness of the Onam festival.

Prahlada was a great devotee of God. Bali, his grandson, was a great emperor and devotee. In between, the father of Bali, Virochana, was a materialist and atheist. In the world, there are any number of persons who derive inspiration from Prahlada and Bali. There are also many who take their cue from Virochana. The world would not be what it is if such variations did not exist.

All through history, the devotees of God have had to endure many ordeals and privations, but they never lost their faith in God. They have stood out as ideals and examples to mankind. Bali was one such great example. Onam is celebrated as the sacred day when Bali achieved liberation. It is also the day when Vamana was born. It is also the day when every year Bali visits the earth to experience the love of the people and participate in their rejoicing. Hence, people should not be content with enjoying food and raiment, but should try to experience the bliss of the spirit.

The people of Kerala should be proud of the fact that their land is sacred in many ways. An avatar of the Divine created it. It is the land where Prahlada and Bali were born. It witnessed the advent of the Vamana avatar. Because of these sacred associations, I desire that the people of Kerala should lead pious and virtuous lives, and I bless them as such on this sacred occasion.

Source: Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. 19