Revisiting Onam

In Bhagavata we read about Mahabali as a great warrior, handsome and physically fit more to match with a macho man than a potbellied clown

PAV Menon

Keralites cutting across religion & caste are celebrating Onam. However this 10-day festival, over the years, has largely lost out on its originality and its pious purpose. A bemused answer is guaranteed from a Keralite, if he is queried on the festival. It is certain to expect from him a story about Vamana pounding on Mahabali and Mahabali visiting his kingdom while on an annual bail granted to him by Vamana!. The fact remains that most of the present day beliefs and legends on Onam are far from the truth. The imaginative backdrops of Onam we keep hearing is devoid of any backing from Bhagavata– the only authentic text which elucidate chronicles of Vamana & Mahabali.

Many historians and religious pundits have been trying to enlighten the public on Onam and its innate message which is contrary to all the hullaballoo created over the last few decades around this festival . However these attempts seem to keep falling on deaf ears, mostly due to commercial reasons. Unearthing the real Onam and bringing it back to its original sheen, will make the Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) brands and other consumer businesses to plummet, which will have an adverse impact on the state and corporate revenue. It would also help in de commoditisation of the festival, which would benefit consumers from reckless spending.

Going into historic roots of Onam shows that it is a purely religious festival which emerged when organised Vaishnavism gained ground in Tamilnadu and Kerala. The star Onam, being referred to as Tiruvonam, since the advent of Vamana is believed to be on that particular day(The word Tiru is added with stars which are related to Gods like Vamana. Shiva = Tiruvathira, Indra = Triketta). The oldest scriptures available on Onam shows that it’s a festival to celebrate and worship Vishnu’s incarnation as Vamana.

In history, the festival can be seen formulated by the second Chera dynasty ( Kulashekaras of Mahodayapuram) . During the regime of Kulashekara Perumal, also known as Kulashekara Alwar (800-820 AD) the festival become a joint carnival of 64 sovereigns spanning from Kanyakumari to Gokarna under the Chera empire. Kulashekara Perumal, an ardent devotee of Mahavishnu made all the chieftains of the 64 sovereigns to assemble for a 28 day long Vamana worship at the Trikakara Vamana temple near Kochi, which commenced from Tiruvonam day of Karkidakam and ended on the same day of Chingam. After the fall of Chera empire, the celebration was conducted by the local chieftains in each sovereign. Thus in the latter years, the festival got a pan-Kerala mass acceptance. At the local level, the festival was reduced to 10 days and a custom was introduced to depict surrendering of the mind to Lord Vamana and as a representation of mind flowers were used.

One cannot rule out that the depiction of Vamana pounding Mahabali was part of an attempt to anglicise the festival during the British regime. Vamana was made to be a villain and the annual home coming of Mahabali was trying to draw a parallel with the annual arrival of Santa Claus during Christmas. Scriptures don’t sanction any of these tales. In Bhagavata, we read about Mahabali as a great warrior, handsome and physically fit, more to match with a macho man than a potbellied clown. It is also evident that the anti Vamana lobby worked meticulously to plant the distorted information about Vamana pounding Mahabali to the bottom of the earth. The fervent projection of this distorted fable over the years has become the ideological foundation of the festival and further a theme to showcase the upper-lower cast divide. Irony is that both the propagators and audience of this twisted tale never take pains to read the section in Bhagavata which explains in detail about the advent of Vamana and the episode related to Mahabali (Canto 8 – chapters 18 to 22). The last part of this section in Bhagavata elaborates the climax of the Vamana-Mahabali encounter. Here we read Mahabali bowing his head to Vaman to fulfill his promise to give all that he had in his possession. What Vamana says at that moment, pleased by the ultimate surrender of Mahabali, is worth a read to get closer to the real spirit of Onam…Vamana says

…” (30) Having lost all his riches, having fallen from his superior position,

being reviled and arrested by his enemies, being deserted by his family and relatives, having suffered all kinds of uncommon hardship, being rebuked and cursed by his guru, he, fixed in his vow, did not forsake his truthfulness, the dharma that I so deceitfully for the sake of the gift spoke about. True to his word this man never gave it up.

(31) Through me he has achieved a position that even for the immortal ones is most difficult to obtain; during the time of Sâvarni Manu, he will become the Indra enjoying My full protection.

(32) Till then he may go and live in Sutala the place created by [the heavenly architect] Vis'vakarmâ, where it because of My supervision has been made impossible for the inhabitants to suffer psychically or physically any weariness, exhaustion or defeat.

(33) Oh Indrasena, oh Mahârâja, please go now oh ruler. May there in Sutala, the place so desirable for even the denizens of heaven, for you surrounded by your people, be all auspiciousness.

(34) None of the controllers of the worlds will be able to overrule your command there, not to speak of the common man, for I with my chakra will personally take care of all the Daityas who defy your rule.

(35) I will protect you, your associates and your property. In every respect I will always stand by your side oh great hero. You will be able to see Me there!

(36) In that place the foolishness from being associated with the Asura mentality of the Daityas and Dânavas, will disappear immediately by observing My excellence”. (Canto 8 chapter 22)

Here we neither read about a dark pathala (underground) nor Vamana becoming a villain pushing the pious king down into the earth. A humble Mahabali and as well a humble Vamana is revealed here. Like Sri Krishna who offered to drive his devotee’s chariot here we see the Lord Vamana offering his service to guard (a role similar to watchman) Sutala - a heavenly new abode of Mahabali!

Let the Pious thoughts, detachment, truthfulness and devotion of Mahabali come as a reminder during this Onam. Let Lord Vamana lead us in a virtues path.

Happy Onam to all Hans Readers.

(with inputs from AKB Nair)