The Story of Mahabali and the Mythology Behind Onam

September 02, 2024

Onam is a regional festival of Kerala, held during the month of Chingam, the first month of The Malayalam Calendar - the sidereal solar calendar used in ancient Kerala and still followed by a lot of Malayalis. The celebration begins in Atham, the first day of Onam and ends in Thiruvonam, the tenth day of Onam.

Every Malayali, regardless of their caste, religion, or geographical location celebrates Onam. It is a period of great celebration in Kerala where lights, ornaments, pookkalam (floral carpets) adorn the state, and the populace rejoice themselves with great food while wearing beautiful dresses. The Onam season is a splendid time to visit Kerala as you can experience first-hand how the state's renowned hospitality and culture are like. Some of the festivities and activities include Onasadhya, Pulikali, Vallamkali (boat races), Thumbi Thullal, and Onathallu.

Onam celebrates the arrival of the legendary King, Mahabali, from the Underworld. If you are curious about the mythology surrounding this character and its significance, this blog is for you! Read on ahead!

Mahabali’s Banishment to the Underworld and his Annual Returns

According to mythos, Kerala was once ruled by the demon, King Mahabali – his name signposting him as a very strong and powerful man. He was a demon only in as much as he was not born under the lineage of gods; he was not the demonic type. In fact, he was the exact opposite: a fair and compassionate ruler who stood for equality and truth. He was also an ardent devotee of Lord Vishnu, the Preserver and one of the principle deities of Hinduism.

Under Mahabali’s reign, the land was bereft of misery, poverty, crimes, lying, racism, classism, and other ailments. Hence, it was a time where all people enjoyed a life of prosperity and equality. Due to the quality of his rule, he soon amassed power over the three worlds: the heaven, the earth, and the Underworld (Paathaalam).

The gods, seeing the rise of Mahabali and his fame, soon grew jealous and fearful of him, so they marched to Lord Vishnu, begging that something had to be done about Mahabali, lest they all fall out of power because of him. Vishnu was not comfortable going to war with Mahabali as he was aware that he was his devout worshipper and also an incredibly just ruler; however, he decided to handle him in a more tactful manner – with a test of faith.

Lord Vishnu took on the form of an avatar, a Brahmin dwarf named Vamana and visited Mahabali, who was celebrating his many victories with the The Ashvamedha yagna, a horse sacrifice common amongst ancient great kings. Upon seeing him, Mahabali asked him if he desired anything at all from the king - food, cows, elephants, gold, a village, anything at all. The dwarf slyly responded that one shouldn’t desire for more than one needs and said that all he needed were three steps of land.

Despite warnings from his wise and observant Guru, Shukra, who saw through Vishnu and the ploy of the Gods, the King gladly agreed to the dwarf’s request – not wanting to back off from an act of generosity. Upon the king’s agreement, Vamana grew to gigantic proportions; with his first step, he encompassed the entirety of heaven and with his second, the whole earth. Revealing himself as being Vishnu all along, Vamana asked Mahabali where he was to place his third, and final, step. Mahabali, in one final act of humility and honor, let Vamana cover his third step on his head, getting pushed down to the Underworld in the process. However, as Vishnu was impressed by the king’s devotion and just nature, he allowed him to come back and visit his people once every year; this day would become to be known and celebrated as Onam!

All of this is believed to have transpired on Thiruvonam, the tenth day of Onam, in the month of Chingam; ever since then, on Thiruvonam, Keralites eagerly await the return of their beloved king.

There are several folks songs documenting, remembering, and celebrating Mahabali’s sacrifice, the most famous one being “Maveli Nadu Vaneedum Kalam”. Here is a brief glimpse into the verses of the poem – in both Malayalam and English:

Malayalam:

മാവേലി നാട് വാണീടും കാലം
മാനുഷരെല്ലാരുമൊന്നു പോലെ
ആമോദത്തോടെ വസിക്കും കാലം
ആപത്തങ്ങാർക്കുമൊട്ടില്ല താനും

ആധികൾ വ്യാധികൾ ഒന്നുമില്ല
ബാലമരണങ്ങൾ കേൾപ്പാനില്ല
ദുഷ്ടരെ കണ്കൊണ്ട് കാണ്മാനില്ല
നല്ലവരല്ലാതെയില്ല പാരിൽ

കള്ളവുമില്ല ചതിവുമില്ല
എള്ളോളമില്ല പൊളിവചനം
വെള്ളിക്കൊലാദികൾ നാഴികളും
എല്ലാം കണക്കിനു തുല്യമത്രെ

കള്ളപ്പറയും ചെറുനാഴിയും
കള്ളത്തരങ്ങൾ മറ്റൊന്നുമില്ല
നല്ല മഴപെയ്യും വേണ്ടും നേരം
നല്ലപോലെല്ലാ വിളവും ചേരും

English:

When Maveli ruled over the land,
all people were equal,
Everyone was joyful and happy.
They were all free from harm.
There was no sorrow or illness.
Child deaths were not to be heard of.
There was no deceit or theft.
And all people formed one casteless whole.

The poem, therefore, celebrates a time of yore that was bountiful and joyous, where people supported each other unequivocally and were united harmoniously.

The myth further goes that the place of incident place was given the name Trikalkkara, translating to ‘The Land of the Third Foot’; the municipality of Kerala, Thrikkakara, is said to be the same place – with the name slightly changing throughout history. This has led to several festivities surrounding Onam developing around the region but they are also rooted within a historical context; let us touch on this topic as well.

Thrikkakara’s Connection with Onam

The folktale of the Onam festival has an inextricable link with the Thrikkakara temple.

Thrikkakara temple is situated in Kochi, halfway between Edappally and Pookattu Padi. Within its ten acres of land, there lies two temples: one for Vamanan and the other for Lord Shiva; Mahabali's statue is housed in the former temple. Due to the region’s association with Onam, no other festival is celebrated with as much of a ferocity in the region.

As mentioned earlier, the temple and the region also holds historical significance in addition to mythological ones. The annual gathering of feudal kings was held in the Thrikkakara temple by Cheraman Perumal, the emperor of Kulasekharam. A thirty-day extravaganza celebrating the month of Chingam, the last ten days –from Atham to Thiruvonam- were dedicated for Onam celebrations. Several members of the nobility, sixty-four village chieftains, and fifty-six local kings were all invited to the festivities. The state-wide celebration of Onam is said to owe its origins to the monarchs finding it more difficult to travel to Thrikkakara, which made the emperor sanction the celebration of Onam in every village and locality, thereby resulting in the festival still being celebrated across the entire state today.

Conclusion

As we have seen, both Onam and Kerala are ripe with fascinating mythologies and history.

Kerala has many heritage resorts, built in the style of buildings from centuries past, to capture the cultural heritage of the region. These heritage resorts bridge the gap between the past and present with their Onam packages, allowing guests to immerse themselves thoroughly in the rich myths and history of the festival. Guests can also partake in the delicious sadya and indulge in the many games and events the festival has to offer – allowing themselves to momentarily become a cohesive part of the cultural, historical, and social fabric of Kerala!

To plan and book your Onam stay at Kerala's heritage resorts, start by researching and selecting a resort that reflects Kerala's architectural heritage and matches your desired level of luxury. Choose from hillside retreats, riverside escapes, or resorts amidst lush plantations, and make early reservations to secure your preferred dates. Check availability and explore special packages for the festive season. Consider transportation options, distance, and convenience when planning your journey. Lastly, plan an itinerary that allows you to fully immerse in the Onam festivities while enjoying the nearby activities and facilities such resorts usually have to offer.