King Mahabali had many nicknames. Sometimes he was “Maveli,” other times he was lovingly called “Onathappan.”
He lived many, many years ago in the beautiful state of Kerala, in a time people now call “the golden age.” But it wasn’t always so golden, and King Mahabali had quite a bit to do with making it so.
He was a generous, wise, and fair king. Everybody was happy under his rule—mainly because he never discriminated between rich and poor. Because of his judicious ways, there were no thieves in the kingdom, and it’s rumored that people didn’t even lock their doors at night. If all that was not good enough, there was also no poverty, no sorrow, and no disease during King Mahabali’s reign. It’s no wonder he was so popular!
But for all his good deeds, the Gods wanted to make sure he didn’t let his ego get the better of him. Aditi, the mother of the Gods, sent the Lord Vishnu down to the world, disguised as a poor Brahmin dwarf called Vamana.
Vamana came to the kingdom and asked King Mahabali for a piece of land. The king, who we know was extremely generous, told Vamana he could have as much land as he wanted.
Vamana asked for just as much land as he could cover by taking three steps. “Now that’s a strange request,” King Mahabali thought, “especially since a dwarf is sure to take very small steps.” One of his advisors even warned the king against making such a promise, but the king would never go back on his word.
So just as King Mahabali agreed to grant the land, Vamana (as the incarnation of Lord Vishnu) expanded—growing larger and larger until he reached a size of cosmic proportions. He was so magnanimous that you could not even see where he began and ended!
With his first step the dwarf covered the whole of the earth. With his second step, he covered the whole of the skies. Vamana then asked the king where he could take his third step.
King Mahabali, who realized this was no ordinary Brahmin, bowed down before Vamana. “Place your last step on my head,” he said, “so that I may keep my promise.”
Vamana took his third step on the king’s head, which pushed him alllllllll the way down to patala, the underworld. There, Lord Vishnu appeared in his true form before the king. He told the king that he had come to earth to test him, and that Mahabali had passed his test. Lord Vishnu then granted King Mahabali a boon. So dearly did the king love his kingdom that he asked to be allowed to visit Kerala once a year.
Lord Vishnu was touched by the king’s nobility, and happily granted him the wish. He also blessed King Mahabali and said that even though he had lost all his worldly possessions, the king would always be loved by his people, and by the Gods.
Every year in Kerala, and even in other countries where people from Kerala now live, it is the day of this yearly visit of the King Mahabali that is celebrated with so much joy and festivity as Onam.
People wish to please the spirit of their king by depicting their happiness and gratitude. They make elaborate preparations to welcome their king whom they affectionately call Onathappan. Or Maveli. Or simply, the King.
