VAMANA

fifth of the 10 incarnations (avataras) of the Hindu god Vishnu. He made his appearance when the demon king Bali ruled the entire universe and the gods had lost their power. One day the dwarf Vamana visited the court of Bali and begged of him as much land as he could step over in three paces. The King laughingly granted the request. Assuming a gigantic form, Vamana with one step covered the whole earth, and with the second step the midworld between earth and heaven. As there was nowhere left to go, the demon king lowered his head and suggested Vamana place his foot on it for the promised third step. Vamana was pleased, and with the pressure of his foot sent Bali down below to rule the nether world. Vishnu in this form is often identified as Trivikrama (God of the Three Strides). The images of Vamana usually show him already grown to giant size, one foot firmly planted on earth and the other lifted as if to take a stride. If shown small in stature the sculptures may depict him as a deformed dwarf, or as a brahmachari (monastic student), dressed in the deer skin, loin cloth, and sacred thread, and with the tufted hair of the student.