RAVANA VISITS MAHABALI

ॐ नमोः नारायणाय॥

OM NAMOH NARAYANA

I bow to the Ultimate Reality, Narayana

Mahabali, a great and glorious King, is revered in Kerala even today and celebrated every year on the auspicious occasion of Onam.

The story of how Lord Vishnu disguised as the dwarf Brahmin boy Vamana defeated Mahabali the then ruler of the three worlds and sent him to the lower world of Suthala has been narrated earlier in our Storytime series at https://www.fablesrus.com/post/mahabali.

Though Lord Vamana had banished Mahabali to Suthala He, knowing of Mahabali’s unconditional devotion to Him, had promised the asura king that He would remain with him forever. True to His word Lord Vishnu, holding a gada aloft, stands guard at the entrance to Suthala protecting his devotee Mahabali.

Ravana, the demon king, abducted Sita and refused to release her. Rama determined to free His beloved wife readied for battle against Ravana. Faced with having to battle Lord Rama, Ravana shrewdly realized that fighting Rama and his vanar sena was not going to be an easy task. Though he had several mystic powers and was very strong Ravana was shrewd enough to realize that he needed to elicit some help and support.

Ravana knew of the strength, prowess and power of his own great, great, great grandfather Mahabali. He thought to himself, “Mahabali is an asura like me. He is a renowned warrior. He is also very charitable by nature. I am sure if I approach him he will help and support me.” With this thought in mind Ravana went to Suthala to meet Mahabali.

Lord Vamana was standing guard at the entrance and He barred Ravana entry. He held out His divine gada (club) and blocked the entry gate. Ravana was most affronted to be denied access. He thought to himself, “Who is the tiny dwarf? I am Ravana the ruler of the three worlds. Does he really think he can stop me?”

He then laughed his thunderous laugh and looked down with contempt at the small Brahmin. The little dwarf looked sternly at Ravana. Not saying a word but just through his posture and demeanour he indicated to Ravana that He would not allow Ravana to pass. Ravana felt the whole earth shaking beneath his feet. He felt his entire body tremble. However, Ravana chose to completely ignore these signs. He was indeed a very powerful asura and among his many special powers was the power to turn himself invisible. He decided to trick the little man by becoming invisible. Woosh, Ravana turned invisible! What Ravana completely forgot was that nothing can remain invisible from God. The Lord’s gada came up again. Ravana immediately became really tiny and tried to go under the gada. Vamana lifted his foot above Ravana as though about to crush him. Ravana screamed in terror, “Aaargh.” The Lord then touched Ravana’s body with his foot. By touching Ravana the Lord made Ravana eligible to a blessed death at the hands of Lord Rama – Rama being an avatar of Lord Vishnu.

Death at the hands of the Lord Himself is considered a divine death and entitles the person to Moksha (salvation). Lord Vishnu as Vamana had by touching the body of Ravana with His toe granted him this privileged death. This was because Ravana, though an asura, had in a previous life been one of Lord Vishnu’s two gatekeepers who had been cursed by the Kumaras to fall from their exalted position in Vaikunth to three lifetimes as mere mortals away from their most beloved Lord Vishnu. In all three lifetimes the benevolent Lord killed them Himself assuring them a return to Vaikunth. The gatekeepers were Jaya and Vijaya and they were born as Hiranyakashipu and Hiranyaksha in Satya Yuga, Ravana and Kumbhakarna in Treta Yuga, and Shishupala and Dantavakra in Dvapara Yuga.

Having touched Ravana with His foot Lord Vamana said, ‘Now that you have been purified you may enter and see Mahabali.”

When Vamana permitted him entry Ravana transformed himself back to his giant size and entered Suthala quite nonchalantly. Going up to Mahabali Ravana boasted, “I am Trilokeshvara,lord of heaven, earth and the nether world and hence have the power to travel wherever I desire. Today I have come to see you in Suthala.”

Mahabali immediately enquired, “But surely Vamana Deva must have stopped you at the entrance?”

Ravana lied glibly and said, “Hah, if he had stopped me how would I be here

talking to you?”

Mahabali smiled knowingly and said, “He must have stopped you and then being merciful let you in.”

Ravana wondered, “How did Mahabali know that I had been stopped by Vamana?”

Aloud he said, “Who is Vamana to stop me? I am the ruler of the three worlds’. No one would dare to stop me.”

Mahabali retorted angrily, “Never speak like that again. He is Lord Vishnu, the Lord of the Universe – the Supreme Lord of all.”

Ravana was astute enough to realize that if he wanted Mahabali’s help it was best not to annoy him. So he made no reply.

Mahabali enquired, “Why have you come to see me?”

Ravana said rather pompously, “Though I am very strong and have many special powers I have come to ask you if you will support me should I need your help? A human being and his band of monkeys have invaded Lanka. I am your great great great grandson. I decided to approach you because we are both asuras and hence must assist each other.”

Mahabali feigning ignorance enquired, “As you are so powerful may I ask how this man and his monkeys managed to enter your kingdom in Lanka?”

Ravana replied rather dismissively, “They seem to have built some sort of a bridge across the ocean.”

Mahabali hid his laughter as he seemingly innocently continued, “Is this human by any chance King Dasharatha’s son Rama?’

“Yes, yes, said Ravana now getting irritated with Mahabali’s innumerable questions. “It is that weakling of the Ikshvaku dynasty who has the temerity to challenge me.”

Unperturbed by Ravana’s irritation Mahabali continued, “I hear that you have taken captive Rama’s wife Sita? Or have you sent her back to Rama now?”

“Haah,” Ravana retorted, “Why should I return Sita? I am not a fool. I took her captive and see no reason to return her.”

Mahabali turned serious as he said, “Being your great great great grandfather and much older than you I ask you to take my advice and allow Sita to return to Rama. This will end your feud.”

“I am no coward to run away from a mortal and his ridiculous army of monkeys. No. I intend to face them and fight. I have come here only to ask for your support,” retorted Ravana angrily.

Mahabali said very sarcastically, “You wish to fight those that have entered your kingdom to take Sita back. In what way have you wronged them? After all you have done nothing. Nothing other than what any asura would do – abducted another man’s wife.”

Not seeing the sarcasm Ravana now smiled and said, “Exactly. You now have a perfect understanding of the situation.”

Mahabali continued, “I have given you my advice but as you have come to see me I cannot send you back empty handed. Come with me and let me show you your gift.”

Mahabali took Ravana outside. There Ravana saw the most magnificent mountain made of gold. It was huge and beautifully shaped. The mountain was studded with innumerable diamonds and precious gems. Ravana’s eyes sparkled with greed. Mahabali pointing to the glittering golden mountain said, “I want to give you this whole mountain. I want you to have not just a few diamonds or gems but the entire mountain. However my only request is that you lift it yourself and take it back with you.”

Ravana eyes aglow, gasped in astonishment. He said, “I have never seen such a spectacular mountain before. If you are giving me such a priceless gift, I will certainly carry it away myself. I am so strong that I will be able to lift it and take it away effortlessly.”

Confidently he marched up to the mountain and began attempting to lift it. Ravana was indeed a very strong asura. He had lifted many huge weapons, massive objects and several gigantic people. He was sure that carrying the mountain would not be a problem. He squatted down on his haunches at the base of the mountain. Then spreading his gigantic arms around the mountain he tried to lift it. He tried and tried and tried again but he could not move the mighty mountain even a teensy weensy bit. After trying several more time an exhausted Ravana gave up.

Mahabali then said to him, “Ravana step back and take a better look at the mountain.”

Ravana moved back and looked up at the remarkable mountain. He exclaimed, “This is not a mountain. It is a stunning earring!”

Bali nodded his head and said, “Yes it is. It is the earing of Hiranyakashipu. Lord Vishnu took the form of Lord Narasimha to fight Hiranyakashipu. During the fight this earing fell off from Hiranyakashipu’s ear and dropped to Suthala. You were Hiranyakashipu in your last birth. As Ravana in this birth you are not even able to lift Hiranyakashipu earing. So imagine the kind of strength you had in your last life. Despite that strength Lord Vishnu killed Hiranyakashipu effortlessly. It is Lord Vishnu who has returned in the avatar of Rama and you are planning to fight Him? Do you really believe that you will be able to defeat him in this life, as Ravana when you could not in your last life as the far far stronger Hiranyakashipu?”

Mahabali’s words had no impact on the egotistic Ravana. Ravana just smirked and giving Mahabali a contemptuous look turned away and left in a huff.

Just as Mahabali had said Ravana met his end at the hands of Lord Vishnu, in His Rama avatar.

In each Kalpa or cosmic cycle from the origination to the destruction of the universe there are 14 Manvantars. Each Manvantar lasts 306,720,000 years.

According to Hindu scriptures Mahabali will be released from Suthala at the end of this Manvantar and will become the next Indra - king of Deva loka. He will be the eighth Indra.

LIFE LESSONS

1. Arrogance never pays.

2. There is nothing that we think, say or do that God does not know of. We can never hide anything from God.

3. It is wrong to steal or take what does not belong to us.

4. We must, like Mahabali, always follow the path of righteousness no matter who tries to influence us otherwise.