Bali

By Jit Majumdar

that which causes or creates strength; that which brings power
sacrifice; offering; oblation; powerful
an mighty and noble emperor of the daitya lineage, renown for his charitable nature, also known as Mahābali or Māveli, in whose honor the festival of Onām had originated in the state of Kerala. He was the great-grandson of Hiraņyakaśipu, the grandson of Prahlāda, and the son of Virocana, the husband of Sudeşņā (not to be confused with the wife of the king Virāţa of the M. Bh.) and the father of the 5 adopted sons: Ańga, Vańga, Kalińga, Sumha and Pundra after whom the five eastern ancient kingdoms and lineages derived their names. He was tricked by Vişņu in his Vāmana or dwarf incarnation into surrendering his empire and sovereignty on earth and moving to the netherworlds (M. Bh.); the son of Kŗtavarmā who was the husband of Kŗşņa’s and Rukmiņī’s daughter Cārumatī (Bhāg. Pur.); the monkey king of Aņva who was the son of Sutapas and the husband of Sudeşņā (Bhāg. Pur.); a hermit who was the incarnation of Śiva (Śiva. Pur.).

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