Onam celebrates our surrender to the divine

V S Krishnan

Onam marks the annual homecoming of King Mahabali, who once ruled the three worlds. Though he was an Asura, by virtue of his noble deeds and qualities, he became the ruler of heaven and earth. This made the Devas, gods of the celestial world, very insecure. According to the Bhagavat Purana, as a result, Aditi, their mother, prayed to Bhagwan Vishnu for help. In response, he manifested as her son, Vamana, a dwarf.

As Mahabali was performing sacrificial rituals and offering gifts, Vamana appeared and asked for some land, only as much as he could measure in three steps. Mahabali agreed. Vamana then began to grow in size and measured the heaven in one step, the earth in another and asked the king where to take his third step. Unperturbed, the generous Asura king offered his head for the third step. Pleased by his sense of surrender and sacrifice, Vamana blessed him.

Despite being from the clan of demons, Mahabali was hailed for his noble and generous qualities; a master of the three worlds, he did not consider himself as their possessor; though he owned the whole world, he stood detached from it; even though he was an emperor, he acted like a renunciant and offered to Bhagwan Vishnu everything he possessed, even himself.

Ramana Maharshi says, “When you find it difficult to pursue the Jnana Marg, path of knowledge, that involves introspection, contemplation and self-enquiry, just detach yourself, renounce and surrender.” This is what we learn from the abject surrender that Mahabali displayed before Vishnu, whom he venerated. In the Ramayan, Vibhishan could not tolerate Ravan’s misdeeds and decided to surrender before Ram. Sugreev objected to it, but Ram replied, “Whoever comes to me for refuge, after leaving all their relations and possessions, I protect them and take care of them.”

Kerala was part of Mahabali’s kingdom. Because of his qualities like humbleness and humility, the king became the darling of the people of Kerala. Everybody in his kingdom was said to be happy; there was no discrimination, no crime or corruption. Though he was vested with immense power, there was no occasion for Mahabali to use it. Just as people loved him as a benevolent king, Mahabali too loved his subjects. After his surrender, when Vishnu blessed him and offered him a boon, Mahabali asked to be allowed to visit his people once a year, to enquire about their well-being and wish them happiness and prosperity. His wish was readily granted. Onam is the day Mahabali is believed to visit his people and bless them.

‘Maveli Nadu Vaneedum Kaalam’, a popular Malayalam song celebrates Mahabali’s reign, as a time when people considered themselves as one, every heart was filled with love and there was affluence and abundance everywhere. When the Malayalam month of Chingam dawns, it marks the end of rains and heralds the beginning of a season of sunny days. Onam is also celebrated as a harvest festival. But above all, it is a festival that tells us what a true devotee should pray for: ‘I am not highly knowledgeable. I know not who I am or what my ultimate destination is. I, therefore, surrender unto your feet, which should take care of me.’

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