Vamana
Vamana (Sanskrit: वामन, lit. 'Dwarf', IAST: Vāmana) also known as Trivikrama (lit. 'three steps'), Urukrama (lit. 'far-stepping'), Upendra (lit. 'Indra’s younger brother'), Dadhivamana (Sanskrit: दधिवामन, lit. 'milk-dwarf', IAST: Dadhivāmana), and Balibandhana (lit. 'binder or killer of Bali'), is an avatar of the Hindu deity Vishnu. He is the fifth avatar of Vishnu and the first Dashavatara in the Treta Yuga, after Narasimha.
| Vamana | |
|---|---|
| Member of Dashavatara | |
Vamana, an avatar of Vishnu pushes Mahabali down to Patala with his feet, painting by Raja Ravi Varma. | |
| Affiliation | Vaishnavism |
| Abode | Vaikuntha, Satala |
| Mantra | Om Trivikramaya vidmahe Vishvarupaya cha dhimahi Tanno Vamana prachodayat |
| Symbol | Kamandalu and umbrella |
| Festivals | Onam, Balipratipada, Vamana Dvadashi |
| Personal information | |
| Parents | |
| Consort | Lakshmi incarnated as Kirti ('Fame') or Padma or Kamala |
| Children | Brhatsloka ('Great Praise') |
| Dashavatara Sequence | |
|---|---|
| Predecessor | Narasimha |
| Successor | Parashurama |
First mentioned in the Vedas, Vamana is most commonly associated in the Hindu epics and Puranas with the story of taking back the three worlds (collectively referred to as the Trailokya) from the daitya-king Bali by taking three steps to restore the cosmic order. He is the youngest among the adityas, the sons of Aditi and the sage Kashyapa.