The fourth day of Diwali is celebrated as Balipratipada. People celebrate this day by decorating the house and cooking delicious meals. The legend of Balipratipada is uniquely interesting, To know more about the story of the fourth day of diwali, here is the significance and story of Balipratipada.
Story Of Balipratipada.
We have all heard of the story Hiranyakashipu, the asura who hated his child named Pralhad, for being an ardent devotee of Vishnu. Lord vishnu adored Pralhad and he took a form of Narsimha to kill his father and save him. Pralhad later ruled his kingdom peacefully. He was an asura but he followed the path of love and peace. He later has a grandson named Bali, after becming the king he had desires to conquer to whole of Bhulok as well as swarglok. Swarglok was the place of residence of Indra, He became ambitions of the throne and started performing Ashwamedha yajna, he knew that if he performed 100 successful Ashwamedha Yajnas he will be eligible to sit on Indras throne. Indra got worried and he asked Vishnu for help, they were worried that King Bali’s ambition can be harmful for people on earth and other worlds. But since he was Pralhad’s grandson, vishnu did not want to kill him.
Vishnu then comes down to earth in the form of Vamana, a short brahmin. King Bali was a person extremely known for his charity and other endeavors. On the day of his 100th Ashwamedha Yajna, Vamana goes to King Bali and asks him for some ‘Daan’ (donation). Bali offers his jewels, food and horses but he refuses all, King bali did not want to send a Brahmin empty handed on the day of his biggest Yajna, so he tells Vamana whatever he wants he can ask, and it will be granted.
Vamana asks for land that covers his three steps. King Bali’s guru, Shukracharya realises that Vamana is none other than Vishnu and he warns Bali to not fulfill his wishes. On this King Bali refuses his teachers claims and tells him he has already promised him the wish to be granted and no matter what he shall oblige. The little Vamana suddenly grows in size and keeps his first step on the Bhulok and the second step on Swarglok. After this he asks Bali for the third place to keep this feet, The king realises that it is Vishnu and he considers it his privilege to be able to fulfill the wishes of Vishnu. He politely asks Lord vishnu to keep his next step on his head.
Vamana places his leg on Bali’s head and pushes him down to ‘Pataal lok’, which is known as the place of hell for hindus. Before sending him to pataal lok Vamana grants him a boon. Bali asks for permission to visit Bhulok once in a while which Vishnu agrees. Since that day, Bali comes to the earth on the first day of the ‘Karthik Masa’ to witness the welfare and prosperity of people on earth. He sees all the happiness around and he goes off to where he rules, Pataal lok.
It is said Vishnu Did not kill Bali and he is one of the seven chiranjeevi (immortals) of the world. He was just sent to pataal lok and was made the ruler of pataal lok on this same day.
People make rangoli’s and delicious meals to welcome him. This was the interesting story of Balipratipada. We hope you enjoyed and it and now have a better understanding of our biggest festival of the year.
Wishing all of our readers a happy diwali.
