Is it a misconception that Parasurama is an incarnation of Lord Vishnu?

 A Vaishnava-based answer ahead…

No. Lord Parashurama is an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. It is very important to know which are Lord Vishnu’s avatars and which are not. Out of the infinite forms of Lord Vishnu, which are non-different from each other, Parashurama is also a form. Here are some proofs of Lord Parashurama being an incarnation of Lord Vishnu.

यमाहुर्वासुदेवांशं हैहयानां कुलान्तकम् ।
त्रि:सप्तकृत्वो य इमां चक्रे नि:क्षत्रियां महीम् ॥ १४ ॥
Learned scholars accept this Paraśurāma as the celebrated incarnation of Vāsudeva who annihilated the dynasty of Kārtavīrya. Paraśurāma killed all the kṣatriyas on earth twenty-one times.
[SrimadBhagavatam, 9.15.14]

evaḿ bhṛguṣu viśvātmā
bhagavān harir īśvaraḥ
avatīrya paraḿ bhāraḿ
bhuvo 'han bahuśo nṛpān
In this way the supreme soul, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the Lord and the supreme controller, descended as an incarnation in the Bhṛgu dynasty and released the universe from the burden of undesirable kings by killing them many times.
[SrimadBhagavatam 9.16.27]

जामदग्‍न्योऽपि भगवान् राम: कमललोचन: ।
आगामिन्यन्तरे राजन् वर्तयिष्यति वै बृहत् ॥ २५ ॥
My dear King Parīkṣit, in the next manvantara the lotus-eyed Personality of Godhead Lord Paraśurāma, the son of Jamadagni, will be a great propounder of Vedic knowledge. In other words, he will be one of the seven sages.
[SrimadBhagavatam, 9.16.25]

Appearing in the forms of a swan, a tortoise, a fish, O foremost of regenerate ones, I shall then display myself as a boar, then as a Man-lion (Nrisingha), then as a dwarf, then as Rama of Bhrigu's race, then as Rama, the son of Dasaratha, then as Krishna the scion of the Sattwata race, and lastly as Kalki. When the auditions in the Vedas disappeared from the world, I brought them back. The Vedas with the auditions in them were re-created by me in the Krita age.

In the Treta age I shall take birth as Rama in the race of Bhrigu, and exterminate the Kshatriyas who will become proud of their strength and possessions.
[Mahabharata, Shanti Parva]

Even SriMadhvacharya in His Mahabharata Tatparya Nirnaya says that, “Matsya, Kurma, Varaha, Narasimha, Vamana, Parashurama, Rama, Krishna, Buddha, Kalki, Hari, Vedavyasa, Aitareya, Kapila Vaasudeva, Dattatreya, Badavalana, Dhanvantari, Mohini, Hayagriva, Yagya, Taapasa, Narayana, Rishabhadeva, etc. are verily Lord Vishnu Himself and there is no difference between Lord Vishnu and His avataras.”

Lord Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita says that He is the one who is worshipped in all the yagyas. There is a yagya by the name Vaishvadeva, which is done for anna shuddhi; the main Bhagavadroopa who is being worshipped is Lord Parashurama roopi Narayana residing within Agnideva. Parashurama is the antaryami roopa or the indwelling form within Agni. Even when we show Naivedya to Bhagavan Vishnu, Bhagavan accepts the Naivedya in His Kurma roopa, smells the Naivedya in Narasimha roopa, and gives it to Lakshmidevi. Then He gives one glance at the Naivedya in His Parashurama roopa, which is then accepted by other devatas as Bhagavat prasaada.

If you have a question regarding the Parashurama and Rama encounter in Treta yuga, you can refer to this answer of mine. In this, I have explained why it happened and all, as per SriMadhvacharya’s Mahabharata Tatparya Nirnaya.

SriNarayana Dasa

· Jul 7

How does the Madhva Siddhanta explain the spiritual significance of the encounter between Lord Rama and Lord Parashurama after the breaking of Shiva’s bow?

This answer will be purely based on Madhva Siddhanta. THE VALMIKI RAMAYANA STORY OF RAMA AND PARASHURAMA: The Valmiki Ramayana states that when Lord Rama married Sitadevi, Lakshmana married Urmiladevi, Bharata married Mandavidevi, and Shatrughna married Shrutakirtidevi. King Dasharatha, along with his sons and daughters-in-law, was coming to Ayodhya after the marriage. He saw some bad omens. The animals and birds were moving toward his left; they were making weird sounds, and King Dasharatha's heart was filled with foreboding. King Dasharatha was worried about it and asked Sage Vasistha, the kula-guru of the Solar dynasty. Sage Vasistha too saw these omens and replied, indicating towards the incoming fear. Suddenly, Lord Parashurama appeared. He looked like a blazing ritual-fire, with a matted tuft shining like molten gold. He was holding an axe in one hand and a bow in the other, and was shining with such a radiance that common people could not even see Him. Sage Vasistha and other brahmanas who were present there immediately went and offered arghya, paadya, achamana, etc. to Lord Parashurama. King Dasharatha was most concerned about his eldest son, Rama, who had just married Sitadevi. He feared that Lord Parashurama, being the destroyer of the kshatriyas, could harm Lord Rama. But his fear became reality. Lord Parashurama directly approached Lord Rama and said, “O Rama! I have heard a lot about your valor from the killing of the wicked Taataka, and protecting the sacrifice of the sages to the lifting of the mighty bow of Lord Shiva like a toy. I am greatly impressed by it.” Lord Parashurama said, “The bow which you broke was the bow of Lord Shiva. The bow that I have in my hand is Lord Vishnu’s bow. Long ago, Vishvakarma made both of these bows and gave them to Lakshmipati Narayana and Umapati Shiva. The devatas prayed for both of them to have a fight, wherein Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva stood in front of each other. Lord Vishnu, just with a humkaara (‘Hum’ sound), froze Lord Shiva. After that, Lord Vishnu was declared the winner and the supreme God. So, this is Vishnu’s bow, which I am currently holding. And this bow can only and only be lifted by Lord Vishnu and nobody else. I challenge you to a duel. Lift this bow.” Hearing the words of Lord Parashurama, Lord Rama, the husband of Ramaa, took the bow from Lord Parashurama’s hand and lifted it as if it were a toy and put the arrow on it, and teased Lord Parashurama, saying that He had been defeated. Lord Parashurama praised Lord Rama as verily Lord Vishnu. Lord Rama offered Lord Parashurama two options: first, He would destroy Lord Parashurama’s punya lokas, which He earned, and second, He would destroy Lord Parashurama’s tapas shakti by which He could go and arrive at Mount Mahendra. Lord Parashurama chose the first option, and Lord Rama shot the arrow towards it. Lord Parashurama disappeared. This is what is mentioned in the Valmiki Ramayana. HOW DOES SRIMADHVACHARYA PROVIDE NIRNAYA ON THIS STORY?? SriMadhvacharya, in His Mahabharata Tatparya Nirnaya, says that Lord Parashurama is verily Lord Vishnu Himself. Many assume that Lord Rama broke the arrogance of Lord Parashurama. But SriMadhvacharya says that Lord Parashurama cannot have arrogance at all, because He is Lord Vishnu Himself. As Lord Parashurama said, ‘This bow cannot be lifted by anyone except Lord Vishnu.’ If Lord Parashurama is not Lord Vishnu, then how can He hold the bow of Lord Vishnu? Lord Parashurama held it in His hand. Therefore, it proves that Lord Parashurama is Lord Vishnu Himself. Lord Vishnu is devoid of all faults; therefore, known as Narayana. Therefore, the reason why Lord Parashurama came was different. There was a demon named Atula. This Atula-named demon had done penance to please Lord Brahma and asked the boon: “May I never die no matter whatever bad sins I perform, and should not attain hell.” Lord Brahma, listening to Atula’s words, said thus, “O demon, you will not die and attain hell only on one condition. When the thought that ‘Narayana is defeated’ comes to mind, you will die on the spot. Otherwise, you will never die.” Thus, obtaining a boon from Lord Brahma, Atula did the penance to please Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva, pleased by his penance, appeared in front of him, and Atula asked, ‘I should enter the body of Lord Vishnu.' to which Lord Shiva said, “So be it”. Therefore, Atula entered Lord Parashurama’s navel region. He knew Lord Vishnu could never be defeated; therefore, He entered Lord Parashurama’s navel region so that He would remain safe. Now, when Lord Parashurama came and challenged Lord Rama for lifting the bow, and Lord Rama lifted the bow of Lord Vishnu and put an arrow on it and gave Lord Parashurama two choices, Lord Parashurama acted as if He accepted His defeat. Lord Rama, too, teased Lord Parashurama happily that He got defeated. The Atula who was sitting within got frightened since the thought came, ‘Lord Parashurama, who is Narayana Himself, has been defeated.’ Therefore, feared thus, Atula came out. Lord Rama, in the guise of destroying Lord Parashurama’s punya lokas, which He had gained, hit the arrow. At the same time, Atula came out and was hit by Lord Rama’s arrow, and the demon died. After this, Lord Rama and Lord Parashurama merged with each other to show the world that they are both the same and then separated again into their two visible forms. After that, Lord Parashurama disappeared. Thus, to destroy this Atula-named demon, Lord Parashurama approached Lord Rama, not because of arrogance, which is a materialistic attribute. SriMadhvacharya says, this is mentioned in the Moola Ramayana, which is written by Lord Hayagriva, who is verily Lord Vishnu. This is evident from the Matsya Purana that Lord Hayagriva was the original composer of the Ramayana. This Moola Ramayana contains 100 Crore shlokas, but nowadays it is not easily available. Lord Hayagriva told this Ramayana to Lord Brahma, and Lord Brahma told this to Naarada Maharshi. Naarada Maharshi told this to Sage Valmiki (which we see in the Balakanda first sarga). Sage Valmiki wrote the Valmiki Ramayana. So, SriMadhvacharya quotes from the Moola Ramayana, which is one of the Sadaagama. Hope this helps! Jay SriRam! ShriKrishnarpanamastu!

In the Vishnu Sahasranama too, there is a name of Lord Vishnu by the name “सुधन्वाखण्डपरशुर्दारुणो द्रविणप्रदः ।” where Akhanda parashuh means the one possessing an unbroken axe, and we know it is Lord Parashurama only. Plus, He is also considered one of the Dashavatara of Lord Vishnu.

Hope this helps!
Jay SriRam!
ShriKrishnarpanamastu!

What is the significance of Lord Vishnu's Matsya avatar?

 Matsya avatar was the first incarnation of Lord Vishnu in form of a fish. Raja Manu was the first human being on Earth and the son of Brahma. Shatrupa was his wife. One day, he found a fish in a river. He put the fish in a pot of water but it grew larger, then he put it in a pond but again it grew larger then he put the fish in a river but it outgrew again. Manu realised that the fish is a divine being and reveals itself as Vishnu. Vishnu warns Manu of a destructive flood and instructs him to make a huge boat which can fit plants, seeds, living creatures and the seven sages.

Manu does the instructed and carries everyone on the boat but the flood starts destroying the Earth. Then Vishnu appears as Matsya, and Manu ties the ark of the boat with Vasuki snake to the Matsya. Vishnu saves everyone on the boat and a new cycle starts guided by the restored Vedas. The Noah story mentioned in the Bible is a modification and copy of Matsya story while Adam and Eve are copied from Manu and Shatrupa.

Why is Lord Narasimha considered the most powerful avatar of Vishnu?

Don’t treat Lord Vishnu avatars like Marvel cinematic universe characters. All Vishnu avatars are powerful in their own way, including Vaman Avatar.

A dwarf measures the whole universe in two steps, isn’t it powerful?

Rama leaves luxurious life and goes to forest for 14 years, if this is not powerful then what it is?

Krishna influenced the outcome of Mahabharata war without lifting a weapon, is it not the power at its peak?

Each avatar of Bagwaan Vishnu, including Narashima avatar, was powerful.

When will the Kalki avatar of Lord Vishnu take place? What importance will Sambhal town have in this avatar?

 This is one of the major misconceptions by common Hindus and language of Puranas pushes the simple minds to such beliefs. In fact, the word Kalki is not a noun — that is, not the name of a person — but a prepositional phrase. It originates from Kali-ki, meaning “for Kali.” The word itself conveys hope — that there will be an avatar for Kali, or for the darker times.

With that understanding, the Kalki Avatar is not necessarily an event that will occur as an end-time prophecy in the lifetime of this planet earth, as many assume. Buddha could be considered a Kali-ki avatar, since he was indeed born during the Kali Yuga, he was divine and carried sword of wisdom, riding on the vehicle(path) of righteousness.

Moreover, the concept of Yuga itself is quite complex, and leads to another major misconception in Hinduism.

We are no more in Kali Yuga on the time line of earthly humans. We are actually in dvapara Yuga. (and may be in Kali Yuga in galactic time line.) So stop believing end time prophecy and start living in current reality.

Why is Hayagriva, the horse-faced avatar of Vishnu, not on the list of the 10 avatars of Vishnu?

 

• Yes you are right, you don't find the Hayagriva avatar in the list of ten avatars of Lord Vishnu
• Some authors include ten of their choice and ignore the rest. Earlier incarnations like Mohini, Hayagriva, dattatreya, kapila etc don't find a place in their top 10. The concept of “Dasavatara” are always author's choice.
• Medieval times Saint or Guru Sri Vaadiraja has given high priority to Hayagriva avatar, the horse faced God. Horse faced lord is a symbol of primitive knowledge of Vedas. Vishnu has passed on the knowledge of Vedas to lord Brahma, through his horse face and also killed many demons in that avatar. There is no other reason than pure personal choice, that many authors have not included Hayagriva

• Pic : Lord Hayagriva teaching Vedas to brahma.
• Source: Google sources
• Importance given to Hayagriva
• Sri Vadiraja, of 1480-1600 AD, has given full importance to Hayagriva. He worshipped Hayagriva for his lifetime as his prime diety. He used to worship lord Hayagriva and offer naivedya or bhog to him. The lord Hayagriva used to accept naivedya in form of DIVINE HORSE. As the bhog or naivedya is to be offered with out looking at God's form, Vadiraja used to offer, keeping the platter on his head. The God used to take naivedya in horse form, resting it's feet on shoulders of Vadiraja. Watch the picture for Vaadiraja and hayagriva in the following.

• Vadiraja wrote Hayagriva sampadaa stotram for devotees benefit of wealth creation. Many people have benefited by the chanting daily, 108 times
• Sri Vadiraja, in fact dedicated all his writings to lord Hayagriva
• It is really surprising to see that only a few saints have taken Hayagriva as prime diety. Several saints in South India of medieval era, had worshipped Hayagriva and acquired eternal bliss.
• Sri Vadiraja in his dasavatara stuti, has praised the avatars or incarnations of Mohini, Hayagriva, Dhanwantari, Buddha etc. He praised 14 avatars or incarnations.
• Some authors include Balarama, the elder brother of Lord Krishna. Bhakta jayadeva did so.
• Narayana Kavachan from Maha Bhagavatam (7th skandha) include hailing Kapila, dattatreya, balarama, dhanwantari, buddha etc
• Hail the glory of Lord hayagriva and stay blessed.
• The most famous recital of Sri Raghavendra swamy stotram also has a special reference to lord Hayagriva. The lord “Haya” gives his consent to the greatness of his holiness Sri Raghavendra. It states lord Hayagriva will be the witness to derive and pass on the benefits of the stotram. Sri Raghavendra Swamy confirms saying that saakshi hayaasyotrahi.
• Similarly, On Hayagriva sampadaa stotram, శ్రీ Vadiraja confirms at the end of 4th sloka that Sri hayagriva will remain witness to the results of the stotra.
• Similarly, for Yantroddharaka Hanumath stotram, Sri Vyasaraja affirms that Sri Hayagriva will stand out as the evidence for granting the results of the stotram.
• Lord Hayagriva stands out as the prime evidence on behalf of the devotees, to confirm the results and pass on the divine benefits to the devotees. Our job is very simple. Just Hail and recite the stotram, the rest, He, the Hayagriva will take care.
• Worship Hayagriva and have a great time

Who is Pashupati and is he an Avatar of Shiva?

 Yes, Pashupati is a form of Lord Shiva. Pashupati means the five-faced shepherd of all creatures. Lord Shiva is also called Pashupatinath. According to Shiva Purana, many gods and demons had become animals, and Shiva freed them from animality, so he was named Pashupati.

Some more things related to Pashupati:

• There is a temple of Lord Shiva in Nepal, which is called Pashupatinath Temple. This temple is on the banks of the Bagmati River in Devpatan village, 3 km north-west of Nepal's capital Kathmandu.
• This temple is considered to be half of Kedarnath Dham, one of the 12 Jyotirlingas.
• It is believed that Lord Shiva still resides in this temple.
• The Pashupati seal is one of the thousands of seals found from the Indus Valley Civilization. It has a sitting and possibly three-headed figure, surrounded by animals

The Secret of the Shaligram Avatar of Lord Vishnu: A Detailed Analysis

Introduction

The Shaligram Shila is a sacred black stone that represents Lord Vishnu and is worshipped with great reverence in Hinduism. Found primarily in the Gandaki River of Nepal, Shaligrams are believed to be direct manifestations (Avatars) of Vishnu, containing his divine presence.

For centuries, Hindu devotees, sages, and priests have considered the worship of Shaligram to be one of the most powerful forms of Vishnu devotion. Unlike idols that are crafted by human hands, Shaligrams are naturally occurring, divine self-manifestations (Swayambhu).

This article will provide a detailed 2000-word analysis of the secrets and significance of the Shaligram Avatar of Lord Vishnu, covering:

• The mythological origins of Shaligram.
• The spiritual and scientific significance of these sacred stones.
• The types of Shaligrams and their divine energies.
• The proper way to worship a Shaligram.
• The mystical powers and blessings associated with Shaligram worship.

1. The Mythological Origin of Shaligram: The Vishnu Avatar in Stone

The origin of Shaligram is deeply rooted in Hindu mythology. One of the most famous stories is found in the Devi Bhagavata Purana and the Skanda Purana, which narrates how Shaligram became an eternal form of Lord Vishnu.

1.1 The Curse of Vrinda and the Birth of Shaligram

Vrinda, the devoted wife of the demon king Jalandhara, was an ardent devotee of Vishnu. Because of her unwavering chastity and devotion, her husband became invincible in battle. The gods, unable to defeat Jalandhara, sought Vishnu’s help.

To break Vrinda’s spiritual power, Vishnu disguised himself as her husband and tricked her into breaking her vow of chastity. When she realized the deception, she cursed Lord Vishnu, saying:

1. "You will turn into a lifeless black stone (Shaligram) and be worshipped for eternity!"
2. "Your consort, Goddess Lakshmi, will be turned into a Tulsi plant and only those who worship both of you together shall be blessed!"

Thus, Vishnu took the form of the sacred Shaligram stone, while Tulsi (the holy basil plant) became his eternal consort. This is why Shaligram Puja is always performed alongside Tulsi leaves, as a symbol of their divine union.

2. The Significance of Shaligram in Hindu Worship

2.1 Why is Shaligram Considered an Avatar of Vishnu?

• Unlike human-made idols, Shaligrams are naturally formed, making them divine self-manifestations (Swayambhu).
• Each Shaligram has sacred marks and symbols that resemble the emblems of Vishnu, such as the Chakra (discus), Shankha (conch), Gada (mace), and Padma (lotus).
• They are eternally sacred and do not require Pran Pratishtha (ritual consecration).
• Shaligram is considered the supreme form of Vishnu’s worship, bringing immense spiritual and material benefits.

3. The Types of Shaligrams and Their Spiritual Powers

Different types of Shaligrams have different energies and blessings. Their unique shapes and markings indicate which form of Vishnu they represent.

3.1 Common Types of Shaligrams and Their Meanings

Shaligram Type

Associated Vishnu Form

Blessings & Benefits

Chakra Shaligram

Vishnu’s Sudarshan Chakra Form

Protection, destruction of negativity.

Lakshmi Narayan Shaligram

Vishnu & Lakshmi together

Wealth, prosperity, marital happiness.

Narasimha Shaligram

Lord Narasimha (half-lion form)

Removes fear, overcomes enemies.

Rama Shaligram

Lord Rama

Brings patience, righteousness, and victory.

Krishna Shaligram

Lord Krishna

Enhances devotion, love, and spiritual wisdom.

Matsya Shaligram

Matsya Avatar (fish form)

Provides protection from natural calamities.

Varaha Shaligram

Varaha Avatar (boar form)

Removes negative energies and brings stability.

Kurm (Tortoise) Shaligram

Kurma Avatar

Strengthens patience and perseverance.

Vamana Shaligram

Vamana Avatar

Brings humility and divine blessings.

Hayagriva Shaligram

Lord Hayagriva (Knowledge Form of Vishnu)

Enhances intelligence and success in studies.

Each Shaligram has a unique power and purpose. Devotees choose one based on their needs, desires, and spiritual path.

4. How to Worship Shaligram Properly: Rituals & Practices

4.1 Daily Worship Process (Step-by-Step)

Step 1: Purification of the Worship Space

• Clean the puja room and place the Shaligram on a sacred altar.
• Always keep it on a clean cloth or silver plate.

Step 2: Bathing the Shaligram (Abhishekam)

• Perform Abhishekam (ritual bathing) with sacred ingredients: Water (Ganga Jal) – for purification Panchamrit (milk, honey, curd, ghee, sugar) – for prosperity Tulsi water – to enhance divine energy

Step 3: Offering Tulsi Leaves

• Tulsi is essential for Shaligram worship, as it represents Goddess Lakshmi.
• Without Tulsi, the worship is considered incomplete.

Step 4: Chanting Mantras

Chant Vishnu mantras while worshipping:

• "Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya" – (General Vishnu mantra)
• "Om Sri Lakshmi Narayanaya Namah" – (For wealth and prosperity)
• "Om Namo Narayanaya" – (For devotion and liberation)

Step 5: Offering Naivedya (Food Offering)

• Offer fruits, sweets, and cooked food (satvik).
• Do not offer onions, garlic, or non-vegetarian food.

Step 6: Performing Aarti

• Light camphor or ghee lamps and sing Vishnu Aarti.
• Use incense sticks to spread fragrance and positivity.

5. The Mystical Powers and Blessings of Shaligram Worship

5.1 Spiritual Benefits

• Grants divine protection from negative forces.
• Helps in attaining liberation (Moksha).
• Strengthens faith, devotion, and inner peace.

5.2 Material Benefits

• Brings wealth and financial prosperity.
• Ensures success in career and business.
• Helps in solving marital and relationship problems.

5.3 Astrological and Planetary Benefits

• Balances planetary doshas, especially Ketu and Rahu dosha.
• Helps in reducing Saturn’s negative effects (Shani Dosh).

6. Conclusion: The Ultimate Vishnu Worship Through Shaligram

The Shaligram Avatar of Lord Vishnu is one of the most powerful and sacred forms of his divine presence. Worshipping a Shaligram removes negative karma, grants immense blessings, and leads to ultimate liberation.

Unlike human-made idols, Shaligrams are Vishnu himself in stone form, carrying an eternal, divine vibration. Those who worship them with sincerity, devotion, and discipline experience his direct guidance, blessings, and protection.

ವಿಷ್ಣುವಿನ ವಾಮನ ಅವತಾರ ಯಾರು?

 ವಿಷ್ಣುವಿನ ವಾಮನ ಅವತಾರವು ಋಷಿ ಕಶ್ಯಪ ಮತ್ತು ದೇವಿಯ ಅದಿತಿಯ ಮಗ. ಅವರನ್ನು ವಾಮನ ದೇವ ಎಂದು ಕರೆಯಲಾಗುತ್ತದೆ. ಅವರು ವಿಷ್ಣುವಿನ ಐದನೇ ಅವತಾರ.

ವಾಮನ ಅವತಾರದ ಕಥೆ:

• ಅಸುರರಾಜ ಬಲಿ ತನ್ನ ತಪಸ್ಸು ಮತ್ತು ಶಕ್ತಿಯಿಂದ ಮೂರು ಲೋಕಗಳನ್ನು ವಶಪಡಿಸಿಕೊಂಡಾಗ, ದೇವರಾಜ ಇಂದ್ರನು ಸ್ವರ್ಗದ ಮೇಲೆ ಮತ್ತೆ ಹಿಡಿತ ಸಾಧಿಸಲು ವಿಷ್ಣುವನ್ನು ಪ್ರಾರ್ಥಿಸಿದನು.
• ವಿಷ್ಣು ಇಂದ್ರನ ಪ್ರಾರ್ಥನೆಯನ್ನು ಸ್ವೀಕರಿಸಿ ವಾಮನ ಅವತಾರವನ್ನು ಧರಿಸಿದನು.
• ವಾಮನ ಅವತಾರದಲ್ಲಿ, ವಿಷ್ಣುವು ದಾನ ಕೇಳಲು ರಾಜ ಬಲಿಯ ಬಳಿಗೆ ಹೋದನು.
• ವಾಮನ ಅವತಾರವು ಮೂರು ಹೆಜ್ಜೆಗಳನ್ನು ಇಟ್ಟಿತು, ಅದರ ಮೂಲಕ ಅವನು ಮೂರು ಲೋಕಗಳನ್ನು ಅಳೆದನು: ಭೂಮಿ, ಸ್ವರ್ಗ ಮತ್ತು ಅವುಗಳ ನಡುವಿನ ಅಂತರ.
• ತನ್ನ ವಾಗ್ದಾನವನ್ನು ಉಳಿಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳಲು, ಬಲಿ ತನ್ನ ತಲೆಯನ್ನು ಭಗವಂತನ ಮುಂದೆ ಇಟ್ಟು, "ದೇವರೇ, ದಯವಿಟ್ಟು ನನ್ನ ತಲೆಯ ಮೇಲೆ ಮೂರನೇ ಹೆಜ್ಜೆ ಇಡು" ಎಂದು ಹೇಳಿದನು.
• ವಿಷ್ಣು ಕೂಡ ಹಾಗೆಯೇ ಮಾಡುತ್ತಾನೆ.
• ಬಲಿಯ ಬದ್ಧತೆಯನ್ನು ನೋಡಿ, ವಿಷ್ಣುವು ತುಂಬಾ ಸಂತೋಷಗೊಂಡು ಅವನನ್ನು ಪಾತಾಳಲೋಕದ ಅಧಿಪತಿಯನ್ನಾಗಿ ಮಾಡುತ್ತಾನೆ.

ವಾಮನ ಜಯಂತಿ:

• ಪಂಚಾಂಗದ ಪ್ರಕಾರ ಪ್ರತಿ ವರ್ಷ ಭಾದ್ರಪದ ಮಾಸದ ಶುಕ್ಲ ಪಕ್ಷದ ದ್ವಾದಶಿಯಂದು ವಾಮನ ಜಯಂತಿಯನ್ನು ಆಚರಿಸಲಾಗುತ್ತದೆ.