Vamana Vamana Avatar . Image copyright BBT Vamana is a personality described in the Puranic texts of Hinduism as the Fifth Avatara of Vishnu , and the first incarnation of the Second Age , or Treta yuga . Also he is the first Avatar of Vishnu which appears with a completely human form , though it was that of a dwarf brahmin . He is also sometimes known as Upendra . Origin The legend of Bhagavata has it that the Vamana avatar was taken by Vishnu to restore Indra 's Authority over the heavens , which was taken away by force by the demon king Bali . Vamana in the disguise of a short Brahmin , carrying a wooden umbrella requested three steps of land for him to live in . Given a promise of three steps of Land by King Bali against the warning given by his Guru Sukracharya , Vamana , The Supreme God grows so huge that he could cover from heaven to earth , earth to lower worlds in two simple steps . King Bali unable to fulfil the promise of three paces of Land to the Supreme God , offers his head for the third step . Thus Vamana places his third step on King Bali 's head and gives him immortality for his benevolance . Symbolism Vamana taught King Bali that arrogance and pride should be abandoned if any advancement in life is to be made , and that wealth should never be taken for granted since it can so easily be taken away . Vamana then took on the form of Mahavishnu . He was pleased by King Bali 's determination and ability to keep his promise in the face of his spiritual master 's curse and the prospect of losing all his wealth . Vishnu named the King Mahabali since he was a Mahatma ( great soul ) . He allowed Mahabali to return to the spiritual sky to associate with Prahalada ( the demoniac Hiranyashipu 's pious son , also a descendant of the demon race ) and other divine beings . Mahavishnu also declared that Mahabali would be able to rule the universe in the following yuga ( age ) . Bali is supposed to return every year to the land of his people , to ensure that they are prosperous . This is celebrated as the Onam festival in Kerala , where he is also called Maveli . Temples One of the Vamana temples is located in Kanchipuram near Kamakshi temple . See also Bhagavata Purana Vishnu Purana External links Complete Story of Bali Srimad Bhagavatam 8.18 : Lord Vamanadeva , the Dwarf Incarnation Vamana Avatar Story of Vamana Avataram Hinduism | Dashavatara of Vishnu Matsya | Kurma | Varaha | Narasimha | Vamana | Parashurama | Rama | Krishna | Balarama | Buddha | Kalki Categories : Forms of Vishnu | Vaishnavism In other languages : Deutsch | Español | Italiano | 日本語 | Svenska | தமிழ் 