One commendable trait in asuras is their full religion in God. From the fearless Sukrachariar to Mahabali and Ravana, all of them undertook extreme penances to be able to achieve boons. Nonetheless, they misused the powers gained from such austerity and God needed to present them that following the tenets of dharma was non-negotiable, stated Damal S Ramakrishnan.

Mahabali, a staunch devotee of Vishnu, was a strong chief, famend for his charitable deeds. A sishya of Sukrachariar, the chief of the asuras and the one chargeable for taking away the wealth of the devas (via a yagna) and distributing it amongst his clan, Mahabali was the richest king among the many asuras. To be able to proper the mistaken, Vishnu took the dual avatars of Vamana and Tiruvikrama, in Mahabali’s presence, when the latter was conducting an enormous yagna and freely giving alms.

Regardless of Sukrachariar’s warning that Vamana was however none aside from Vishnu Himself disguised as a short-statured Brahmin, Mahabali was genuinely affectionate in his welcome of Vamana, wishing to grant Him no matter He sought. When Vamana stated He needed solely three toes of land for His toes, Mahabali readily granted the identical. Nonetheless, his complete kingdom measured solely two toes, as Vamana had assumed the type of Tiruvikrama. Unwavering in his religion, the king rapidly bent down his head, inviting Him to take the third step. Happy with Mahabali’s religion in Him in addition to upholding the ideas of charity, Vishnu granted Mahabali the boon of visiting his lands yearly, to see his beloved topics, till eternity. “On the day of Tiiruvonam star falling within the month of Avani, you’ll come all the way down to earth and be acquired by everybody with a lot love and fanfare and your folks will have fun the occasion as Onam, wherever they’re,” stated Vishnu, blessing him. A temple for Vamana, in Tirukatkarai close to Kochi continues to be the epicentre of Onam festivities.