Onam: Story of Aryan – Dravidian conflict.

Gurukul Colege is celebrating Onam on September 26th.2008, for convenience, though Thiruonam has been already celebrated  on September 12th.  There are several stories about Onam:

There is a little tradition of Onam known only in Onattukara, the land of Onam,  areas in and around Mavelikara (land of Maveli or Mahabali). The little tradition is that Maveli has been a Buddhist King of  Onattukara, where even today remnants of Buddhist culture is present.  However, the more  popular tradition is that Mahabali has been  an Asura  (demonized!) King who could not keep the promise he made to Vamana, the incarnation of  Vishnu. He was therefore sent to Patala, the netherworld,  from where he was permitted by Vishnu to visit his former subjects on the day of Thiruonam. in Chingam, the first month of the Malayalam Era.  Only in Thrikkakara, near Kochi, which the earliest stronghold of Brahminism inKerala, Vamana is worshipped. In Sabarimala, which has Buddhist links, Onam is celebrated with Palapayasam., a popular Onam delicacy  prepared with rice and milk. The word Onam itself might have derived from annam, rice, and oonu or onavakam (Tamil), a rice meal, a feast. In most places it is a secular harvest festival, unrelated to any temple ritual.

 Maha Bali, a mighty prince,  symbolizes Great Sacrifice. He has performed a Great sacrifice for his country and in turn had to sacrifice his own life for the values he held dear. He was an ideal king under whose rule there was utmost peace and justice, without any corruption or discrimination, everyone enjoying freedom.  Kerala Christianity which has also got Buddhist connection refers to the Holy Communion, Qurbana, as Great Scrifice, Bali. The title of the great Chera King who abdicated his throne is  Perumal, an allusion to Greatness.  Cheras, the princes of the  Cheramar tribe who were the indegenous people of Kerala, whose descendents are now known as Kuravas,  most probably contributed Kerala its name. Certainly the story of Onam, the great feast, is a  remembrance  of a life of freedom and plenty. 

Link: Onam Myths, 

Songs and stories

 Little Tradition of  Onattukara

  A different  tradition of Onam is known in and around Onattuakara  which includes the present Kayamkulam, Karunagappaly  Mavelikara taluks. This local little tradition gives much light to what makes Onam memorable.  Onattukara means the land of Onam. Mavelikara means the land of Maveli, the more popular  shortened form of the name, Mahabali. Maveli was the king of Onattukara. Mahabali was a Buddhist King. Even now the remnants of Buddhist culture is present in Mavelikara and nearby places. Bali, Palli, Maha, katha and several other Malyalam words come from  Pali, the pre-Sanskrit (prakrit) language of Jainism and Buddhism. It is to be noted that Christians and Muslims in Kerala, who were  converted from Buddhism when it declined at the hands of  Vedic revivalists like Sankaraharya, called their worship places Palli. Christians call their central religious ritual,  Qurbana, as the great self-sacrifice, Maha Bali. Bali is the sacrifice of a great King. Several important princes of ancient mythologies were were known  as Balis (Bali who saved a dove by offfering the vulture  meat from his own thigh, and Bahubali, the great Jain Prince of Sravanabalgola.),  This liitle tradition, probably comes from the Kerala's Buddhist past, tells that Sabarimala Sasta, the most important deity in Kerala, has been a Buddhist prince, who later turned out to be an incarnation of Vishnu. Even Buddha, who taught atheism,  himself was made into an incarnation of Vishnu.  The seated Buddha statue outside the  Mavlikara Temple resembles the Sasta of Sabarimala. The sitting posture of Sabraimal Sasta is undoubtedly a Buddhist Lotus posture. The special chantings during the pilgrimage to Sabarimala also resemble the Buddhist Saranam chants. (compare  the Budham Sarnam, Sanghom Saranam, Dharmam Saranam chants with the Swami Saranam, Ayyappa Saranam of Sabarimal pilgrims. More over the earliest reference to Onama celebration come around AD 800 after the decline of Sanghom period in South India. This also marks the time of the resurgence of Hinduism under Sankarachaya. Hence for all probablity Onam is the celebration of the ideal rule of a Dalit indigenousBuddhist King of Kerala who was defeated  by the Aryans. The only Vamanamurthy temple in Kerala is in Thrikkakara, near Cochin, probably the earliest Brahmin settlement in Kerala.   Two of the most prominent events in Kerala, Onam as well as Sabarimala pilgrimage, are associated with Kerala's Buddhist pastand are  observed by people of   all  religious traditions. Onam celebrates the return of the good King who established a Kingdom with justice and equality as the corner stones, and sacrificed his life, emptied his  power  and authority  and descended to hell (pathala) and comes again to see his people;  something which the Christians are also proclaiming as the truth of Christ. 

Onam Legend Wikipedia

Kashyapa had two wives, Diti and Aditi, who were the parents of demons and demigods (Asuras and Devas) respectively. Indra, the king of demigods, went to war with the king of Asuras. Mahabali, the King of Asuras, defeated Indra and proceeded to occupy Indra's territory. Kashyapa, who had gone to the Himalayas to do penance, on his return found Aditi weeping over the defeat of her son, Indra. By divine insight, Kashyapa recognised the cause of grief. Kashyapa tried to console Aditi who was wailing in grief, saying that nothing happens in the world without God's will and people should go on doing their duties. Kashyapa asked Aditi to pray to Lord Narayana and taught her Payovrata, a ritual that has to be observed from the 12th day of the bright half of Karthika(Sukla-paksha Dvadasi). Since Aditi carried out the Vrata with a pious heart, Lord Narayana appeared before her and informed her that he would himself place a child in her womb and help Indra. Later, on the 12th day of the bright half of the month of Bhadrapada,Aditi gave birth to a son of uncommon effulgence. That child, "Vamana-murti", demonstrated his divine powers by doing marvellous deeds even when he was a child.

Balichakravarthi (Bali, The Emperor) or Mahabali, was the grandson of Prahlad (son of Hiranyakashipu who met Vishnu in hisNarasimha Avatar. Prahalad, despite being an Asura, had great faith in Vishnu. One cannot miss the series of warfare between Vishnu and the Asuras - those born of the breath of God. Bali Maharaj, sat in Prahlad's lap as a child and learnt love and devotion of Lord Vishnu from Prahlad.

Mahabali's rule was considered as the golden era of Kerala. The celebration of Onam resounds and chants the following song all over Kerala:

“

When Maveli, our King, ruled the land, All the people had equality. And people were joyful and merry; They were all free from harm. There was neither anxiety nor sickness, Death of the children was never even heard of, There were no lies, There was neither theft nor deceit, And no one was false in speech either. Measures and weights were right; No one cheated or wronged his neighbor. When Maveli, our King, ruled the land, All the people formed one casteless race.

”

The gods were very annoyed as Bali became the ruler of all the three worlds having defeated the Devas. Violence was inflicted upon the Devas.^[1] The gods approached Vishnu and asked for his help them. Mahabali, who was performing the sacrificial rite of Viswajith Yagna or Aswamedha Yagna^[2] on the banks of Narmada River, declared that he would give anything that anyone sought from him during this Yagna. He Vishnu, incarnated in the form of Vamana, a dwarf to defeat the Daityas.

Vamana came to the Yaga-shala. As he was approaching them, the sages assembled there perceived the extraordinary effulgence form of the young lad. Mahabali went forth to receive the Brahmin boy with all traditional honours and gave him an eminent seat befitting the status of a holy person. Bali with the usual courtesy given to the people who come to ask for help told him Master! It is my good fortune that you have chosen to honour me with your presence. Whatever you desire, I am here ready to fulfill the same. Vamana smiled and said: "You need not give me anything great. It is enough if you give me that extend of land covered by three footsteps of mine".

On hearing him, Bali's preceptor, the Brahmin Shukracharya (a Daitya priest) who had vision of the future told Bali that the one, who had come to take alms from Bali was not an ordinary Brahmin but Lord Narayana Himself who had assumed this form. He advised Bali not to promise the lad anything. But Bali was a king who would never go back on his word. He told his Guru that he would never break his promise as it was a sin. Shukracharya insisted that he should not fulfill the demand of Vamana as he had come to deprive Bali of all his possessions.

Bali, however, was determined to honour the word given to Vamana, begged pardon of his Guru for disregarding his advice. Earlier, while Bali was embarking on the war with Indra, he had prostrated at the feet of his preceptor, Shukracharya, and on his advice he performed the Vishwajit Yagna from which he secured very powerful weapons. It was only because of Shukracharya's help that he was able to conquer Indra. On this occasion, Bali was not prepared to heed the advice of the same preceptor. Shukracharya cursed Bali, saying: 'As you have not heeded your Guru's words, you will be reduced to ashes'. Bali was firm and replied: 'I am prepared to face any consequence but will not go back on my word'.

Saying so, he asked Vamana to measure the three feet of land as desired by him. All attempts of Shukracharya to dissuade Bali from offering the land desired by Vamana proved futile. Bali considered everyone who came to him as god himself and never refused anyone anything that they have asked. Bali told his Guru: "Prana (life) and Maana (honour) are like the two eyes of a person. Even if life goes, honour should be protected. Knowing that the person that has come now is the Lord Himself, I should be the most fortunate one as the Lord, who gives everything to mankind, is seeking something from me." Bali boasted that even in Vishnu himself were to come to his sacrifice and ask for anything, Bali would deliver it.^[3]

Onappottan, in traditional costume is a custom in sourthern parts of Kerala.Onappottan visists houses during theonam and gives blessings. Off lateonappottan has become a rare sight, confined to villages.

Vamana grew in size until he towered above the heavens. With one foot, he measured all of the earth. With the other, he claimed all of the heaven. There was still one foot of territory that Bali owed him. Bali asked to place the final step on his head as the third step of land which Lord Vamana had asked for as alms. Vamana placed the third step on the head of Bali and suppressed him to Patala, the underworld. For the devotion of this Daitya Mahabali, Lord Vishnu (Vamana) granted him rule over Patala. Vamana aka Vishnu granted Bali the boon that he would hold the position of Indra for one Manvantara , thus fulfilling his devotee's desire ( the office of Indra being a rotating position , changing every Manvantara ) .

As a last wish Mahabali was granted the permission to visit his subjects once a year. Thus, Keralites celebrate Onam festival to commemorate the memory of a Great King Mahabaliwho would keep his promise. Mahabali fulfilled his name as the great martyr for the sake of Truth ("Satya"). The name "Mahabali" itself means Great Sacrifice.

During Onam, the feast and festive mood of the people, dressed in their best, is considered reminiscent of the prosperous and truthful life of the subjects during Bali's flawless reign. People wear new clothes (Vastra) during Onam. The 'Vastra' also stands for heart. Thus the significance of wearing new clothes is about making the heart new by removing all bad thoughts and feelings. People forgetting their sectarian outlooks, join together to welcome the auspicious 'Thiruvonam' day.  more