Mahabali
| Mahabali | |
|---|---|
| Member of Chiranjivi | |
Mahabali serves Vamana, while a suspicious Shukra tries to stop him. Painting from Mankot, Jammu and Kashmir, c.. 1700–1725. | |
| Affiliation | Daitya, Asura |
| Genealogy | |
| Parents | Virochana (father), Vishalakshi (mother) |
| Spouse | Vindhyavali |
| Children | 100 sons including Banasura, Namasu, Sahasika, and Shakuni 2 daughters Ratnamala/Yagyamala and Vajrajvala (wife of Kumbhakarna) |
Mahabali (IAST: Mahābalī), also known as Bali, Indrasenan, or Māveli, is a daitya king featured in Hinduism. He is the grandson of Prahlada, and a descendant of the sage Kashyapa. There are many versions of his legend in ancient texts such as the Shatapatha Brahmana, Ramayana, Mahabharata, and several Puranas. According to Hindu literature, he was blessed to be one of the Chiranjivi, a group of seven immortals, by the Vamana avatar of Vishnu and reigns in the Sutaloka.
It is believed that Mahabali will become the King of Svarga (heaven) in the next yuga. In Kerala, Mahabali is considered to be the noblest and most prosperous ruler, who transformed his kingdom into a heavenly place. His legend is a major part of the annual festival Onam in the state of Kerala, and it is celebrated in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gujarat, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh as Balipratipada, Balipādyami, or Bali pādva (the third day of Deepavali and first day of Kartika month).