By: Seetha ‘Priya’
It was a September morning. Three devotees led by Swami Vijananda, who had gone to Travancore for the Onam festival had come back to Shirdi. Sai Maharaj greeted them and discussed about Onam which marks the annual homecoming of King Mahabali, who once ruled the three worlds. Though he was an Asura, Sai Maharaj said by virtue of his noble deeds and qualities, he became the ruler of heaven and earth. This made the Devas, gods of the celestial world, very insecure. According to the Bhagavata Purana, as a result, Aditi, their mother, prayed to Bhagwan Maha Vishnu for help. In response, he manifested as her son, Vamana, a dwarf.
As Mahabali was performing sacrificial rituals and offering gifts, Vamana appeared and asked for some land, only as much as he could measure in three steps. Mahabali agreed. Vamana then began to grow in size and measured the heaven in one step, the earth in another, and asked the king where to take his third step. Unperturbed, the generous Asura king offered his head for the third step. Pleased by his sense of surrender and sacrifice, Vamana blessed him.
Despite being from the clan of demons, Mahabali was hailed for his noble and generous qualities; a master of the three worlds, he did not consider himself as their possessor; though he owned the whole world, he stood detached from it; even though he was an emperor, he acted like a renunciant and offered to Bhagwan Vishnu everything he possessed, even himself.
When the visitors arrived Madhav Rao Deshpande was doing ‘Parayan’ of Vishnu Sahasranama. Baba asked Nana Saheb Chandorkar to recite and explain the 27th shloka of Vishnu Sahasranama which Shama had held up in his recitation –
Asankhyeyo Aprameyatma Visistah Shistakrut Shuchihi
Siddartah Siddhasankajpah Siddhidah Siddjisadhanaha
Lord Vishnu is beyond count (Asankhya) or measure and is Immeasurable (Aprameya) Self. He from whom nothing remains out or exclusive (Visistah) is the protector of the virtuous s(Shistakrut) and always remains pure (Shuchihi). He fulfills all our objectives (Siddartah), all our accomplished resolutions (Siddhasankalpah), bestower of desired powers (Siddhidah ), and is the means of our Siddhis (Siddhisadhanaha)
Sai Maharaj says, “When you find it difficult to pursue the Jnana Marga, the path of knowledge, that involves introspection, contemplation, and self-inquiry, just detach yourself, renounce, and surrender.” This is what we learn from the abject surrender that Mahabali displayed before Vishnu, whom he venerated. In the Ramayana, Vibhishana could not tolerate Ravana’s misdeeds 
and decided to surrender before Rama. Sugreevs objected to it, but Rama replied, “Whoever comes to me for refuge, after leaving all their relations and possessions, I protect them and take care of them.”
Travancore was part of Mahabali’s kingdom. Because of his qualities like humbleness and humility, the king became the darling of the people of Travancore. Everybody in his kingdom was said to be happy; there was no discrimination, no crime, or corruption. Though he was vested with immense power, Mahabali did not use it. Just as people loved him as a benevolent king, Mahabali too loved his subjects. After his surrender, when Vishnu blessed him and offered him a boon, Mahabali asked to be allowed to visit his people once a year, to enquire about their well-being and wish them happiness and prosperity. His wish was readily granted. Onam is the day Mahabali is believed to visit his people and bless them.
Baba asked the three devotees to sing a folk song on Onam ‘Maveli Nadu Vaneedum Kaalam’, a popular Malayalam song that celebrates Mahabali’s reign, as a time when people considered themselves as one, every heart was filled with love, with affluence and abundance everywhere. When the Malayalam month of Chingam dawns, it marks the end of rains and heralds the beginning of a season of sunny days. Onam is also celebrated as a harvest festival. But above all, it is a festival that tells us what a true devotee should pray for: ‘I am not highly knowledgeable. I know not who I am or what my ultimate destination is. I, therefore, surrender unto your feet, which should take care of me.’
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