Dashavataram - The fascinating legend of the ten avatars of Vishnu!

Dear lovely Aalayam family,

Continuing on the festivities of Dasara and Diwali, its time for some story telling. On the anvil of Vijaya Dasahami,  literally meaning the victory on the dashmi, the tenth lunar day of the Hindu calendar month, lets sit down and revisit some well loved, and well worn fables!

As the legend goes, Dasara or "Dasha-hara" literally means removal of ten referring to Lord Rama's victory over the ten-headed demon king Ravana. So, who is Rama? Want me to start the story? 

Ok, here goes, my favorite part of the legend associated with Dasara Bombe Habba is the Dashavataram, (Sanskrit: अवतार, derives from daśa, meaning 'ten' and avatāra, meaning 'descent'). According to the legend, God Vishnu incarnates on Earth from time to time to eradicate evil forces, to restore harmony and to liberate the worthy ones or devotees from the cycle of births and deaths.

Vishnu's avatars follow an evolutionary pattern, from fish and amphibian, through mammals and men. And it is through these avatars that Vishnu maintains his role as the great preserver of all creation.

I took a humble stab at staging these little wooden statues I have of the ten incarnations in different media- Sand, Grass, Metal..you will see it. You see, it is with poignancy that I put these dolls away until next Dasara, and I figured this is the perfect time to share the legend behind each of these avatars with each evocative picture..preserved here in Aalayam...for current and future generations to see. 

The first incarnation is in the form of an enormous fish known as Mastya. In this form, Vishnu saved the four Vedas from being lost forever in the great flood (pralaya),  you see these Vedas or sacred texts were being smuggled away during this flood, by a demon called Hayagriva, and this demon was descending into the ocean. So Vishnu quickly took the form of Matsya and vanquished the demon to deliver the Vedas back to the rightful sources. 

And in a very interesting parallel to the Bible, in this fast approaching flood, signalling an end to all life on earth, Vishnu had just enough time to save one special person from the ocean - he saved "Manu", the forefather of all mankind!

The second avatar of Vishnu is Kurma, the strong turtle. During a routine battle between the gods (devatas) and the demons (asuras), the gods lost all their strength due to a curse. The only way they could  redeem themselves off the curse was to churn the primitive ocean of milk using a mountain as a churning stick to get the ambrosial nectar out. And, for this they had to collaborate with the enemy camp - the asuras.

 But,  the asuras drove a hard bargain, they wanted a share of the nectar of immortality. Agreeing to a settlement, the devatas and the asuras got to work. But, soon, the mountain began to sink!, Lo and Behold, Vishnu quickly took the form of the turtle Kurma and crawled under the mountain to keep it afloat with its strong shell! The nectar was out, the devatas cheated the asuras off their share, regained their strength, and peace was restored, at least in God land!

The rugged boar is the third incarnation of Vishnu. So, remember the great pralaya (flood)?, soon after that, when the creator was busy revamping the new world, a demon called Hiranyaksha stole Bhoomidevi (Mother Earth) and kept her for himself. The gods were outraged by this atrocity and summoned Lord Vishnu - of course! 

Vishnu, quickly transformed himself into a giant boar & used his powerful sense of smell to search for the demon who was in hiding. Once he found the demon, he hooked the Mother Earth on to his tusks and rescued her from the demon. Varaha, or the boar, rammed the demon with his powerful tusks and that was the end of the demon! Bhoomidevi was saved, and was sanctified by the touch of Lord Vishnu in boar form!!

After the great boar Varaha destroyed Hiranyaksha, his brother, Demon King Hiranyakashipu, raged with revenge and anger. He tortured Vishnu's followers, despite having his own son, Prahalada, as a devout follower of Vishnu. You know, to add insult to injury, the king was protected by an enchantment that he could not be killed by god, man or animal, or that he would not die on earth or in space, by burning or drowning, during day time or night, indoors or outdoors! How's that for a water tight enchantment huh? 

The king was irritated that Prahalada would not stop believing in Vishnu, and challenged Vishnu to appear else, he would behead his own son! But, appear he did, Vishnu, in half-man, half-lion form (Narasimha), as the fourth incarnation of Vishnu. In a smart and covert move, Narasimha was able to kill the king during twilight hours, and place his body on his lap, above the earth, yet, not in space, standing in a doorway threshold. Now, how's that for finding a loophole? 

The fifth incarnation of Vishnu is a clever drawf "Vamana". Another king of demons, called Bali relocated from the underworld on to the earth and banished  Indra, the head of gods away from the earth. In order to vanquish Bali's ego, and to push him back to where he belonged, Vishnu, shrunk down to the size of a unassuming dwarf and asked Bali if he could have just as much land, as much was covered by his three steps. Looking at Vamanas short legs and feet, Bali laughed and agreed. 

Vishnu, then revealed himself to the demon king, transforming from Vamana's dimunitive form into that of a giant, that kept on growing until he was looking down at the earth from outer space!! Vishnu, then took his three fateful steps. One step covered everything Bali owned in the heavens. The other covered the entire earth. Having nowhere to put his third step, Vishnu asked Bali where he should rest his final step. A man of his word, Bali offered his head, on which Vishnu rested his foot, thus vanquishing the demon king's ego for good!

The sixth incarnation of Vishnu is Parashurama, also known as Rama with an ax. His story occurs when the warriors or the Kshtriyas were dishonoring their name by corruption and disrespect to the priest caste or the Brahmins. A Brahmin boy called Parashurama wielded his ax when a kshtriya king stole a priest's magical cow,sending a clear message that the Brahmins were now capable of protecting themselves! 

The story gets more populist as we go forward. Vishnu's seventh incarnation is in the form of Rama, the great hero of the epic story Ramayana. Rama was banished from his rightful kingdom by his wicked stepmother and was exiled for 14 years! His wife was abducted by the nefarious king Ravana. Rama takes the help of the monkey god Hanuman and his army to vanquish Ravana and get his wife Sita back!

The tenth day of Dasara marks the end of the war of Ramayana, where Ravana was killed. Aptly called Vijaya Dasami, meaning the tenth day of Victory! It is said that Rama's legacy as the ideal man, husband and king, is an inspiration to millions of Indians everyday! (Although I think he should have stuck to Sita, and not banished her again after people starting talking bad about her honor!, well, that is a story for another day) 

The eighth incarnation of Vishnu is Krishna. Krishna vanquished the evil political king called Kamsa and played a very strategic role in the Mahabharata war, playing both sides in a almost nefarious fashion between the Pandava and the Kaurava army. Krishna is revered as a god today by millions of people around the world, thanks partly to the Hare Krishna movement, which celebrates the love between Krishna and his devout lover Radha!

The ninth incarnation of Vishnu is Buddha. Overburdened with  dogma and pointless rituals, animal sacrifices and violence of modern day, Vishnu manifested himself on earth as Buddha. Buddha's radical thinking inspired to end the cycle of rebirth and attain the state of bliss known as nirvana.

By practicing the principles of detachment, mindfulness and meditation, he preached, and practiced, that one could overcome the suffering of existence.  Buddha is often depicted on a lotus, calmly meditating, and wearing a simple garment, usually a robe! 

Kalki is the tenth and final Maha Avatar of Vishnu. Also known as the avatar of the future. He is to appear at the end of the present age of Kali Yuga (Age of Darkness), when the environment is polluted and society is shrouded with hate and corruption. Kalki will arrive as a one man army to demolish the imperfect earth. He will appear as a crusader riding a white horse, brandishing a flaming sword and acting as a final judge and savior of mankind.....

Well folks, that is the legend. And the most awesome part of the whole legend is the speculated link to the theory of evolution. Think about it!

• Matsya - fish, the first life in water (Aquatic Life)
• Kurma - turtle, the life in land and water (Amphibian Life)
• Varaha - animals on land (Terrestrial Life)
• Narasimha - beings between animal and human (Hominids)
• Vamana - short human beings (Dwarfs and Primates, the start of the Homoerectus)
• Parasurama - humans using weapons (Early Man, knowing the use of arms)
• Rama - humans living in community (Early Man, living in organized society)
• Krishna - humans with animal husbandary (Evolved Man, with knowledge of politics and commerce)
• Buddha - humans with evolved awareness and actualization (Zen is in folks!)
• Kalki - humans with the power of destruction (Current Man, with Nuclear Power)

Is that not enough food for thought? The legend of the ten avatars of Lord Vishnu, never fails to fascinate me!

Does it intrigue you?

Love,

Supriya

p.s. Thank you to Sanjay Patel for his inspiring book "The Little Book of Hindu Deities" and little nuggets of fascinating story that brought back all of my grandmother's tales I had heard in my childhood. 

The pictures are  photographed by me. Copyrighted to Aalayam. Use with permission please. And, in case anyone is interested, the Dashavataram set of wooden figurines are available at the Desi Angadi in Bangalore. 

India Inspired family room and Dasara Golu

 Hello and welcome to the season of joy, color and inspiration! 

Dasara and Diwali are around the corner and what better way to celebrate than share festive inspirations right here on Aalayam. Supriya and I have channeled our collective enthusiasm to create an array of seasonally appropriate festive posts! And tonight, we kick off! 

   Our first stop- my (Deepa's) colorful family room! If you are thinking of getting into the festive spirit with a few touches to spruce up the main living area of your house then this post might be just what you are looking for! This is also the next stop on my (Deepa's) home tour. I am sure many of you remember previously featured posts on our son's room, guest room and the media room. If not, stop by and take your time! But now - the family room.

The family room is truly the heart of our home (that's right, move over kitchen!). It is where we talk, laugh, play and grow.  It's the grand central station!  But the high-traffic did not deter us from focusing on the aesthetics. I think we (my husband and I) wanted this room to be a comfortable living and visually stunning space. This is where we entertain our guests too. And so, we pushed the envelope! Moving from the unassuming earth tones of our previous home to the bold, Bollywood-like batch of colors in this room- we did a dramatic 360! We embraced color! Bathed in a myriad hues of teal, purple, green, yellow, gold and more this room greets you with a bohemian charm and on closer look you will see traditional Indian accents layered throughout the space. For now, I am happy but any home decor enthusiast will tell you that home decor is never done and therefore, I see it as work in progress.

This room has good bones - beautiful architectural details, lots of natural light, tall windows and great views of the back yard. We walked into this room and we were sold on the house! That's how much we loved this space to begin with and therefore, making it our own was not hard. 

We pictured a fun and inviting space where we could unwind and exchange stories after a hectic day at work and school and that was our inspiration. The resulting nonconformist look was a happy accident ! Not letting any  particular style stifle our creativity was a great way to go with this space, i guess. We brought in diverse elements, one at a time, purely guided by our instinct - the distressed coffee table, a BG Sharma painting, artisanal candle holders, a handcrafted wool rug and pillows in vibrant hues came together in layers to create this indulgent look. We joke about it and say that we kept adding pieces till it felt right - one little thing here and one little thing there! 

Purple predominates as the accent color. How that came to be, I have no idea! I brought the purple embroidered footstools into the family room last winter to enjoy the warmth of the fire and they have remained there since and this may have very well started a cascade of purple accents slowly trickling into the room. Teal wall and purple accents, who would've thought ? But purple adds punch to this space, don't you think?

Overall, the space is anchored by investment furniture such as the leather sofa, the media credenza, a large coffee table and a seating bench and that's where the bulk of our budget was consumed. I swear by timeless pieces that are durable, versatile and which can withstand a few dings!  We bought the leather sofa about 8 years ago. Not your conventional casual seating, I agree but with the addition of a few colorful pillows, it fits right in!

The space is large and open and planning the seating area was easy. We toyed around with accent chairs before settling on this distressed bench. Together with the kantha and embroidered pillows, the bench gives this corner of the room a "haveli-esque" feel and invties conversation. The golden Buddha plaque adds a paradoxical mix of drama and serenity at the same time!

I love how decor accessories that we have owned for varying lengths of time seem to blend in harmoniously with their newer contemporaries. A recent addition- the ornate trunk merrily shares the space with a Madhubani painting (that I painted) and an intricate wood framed mirror that we have owned for 12 years. A happy marriage of the old and the new brings life to this corner.

This space works for us functionally and aesthetically because it is filled with things we love and cherish.  Indian accessories take center stage and add visual interest to our American home reflecting our multicultural personalities. Our home stands ready to celebrate and make memories this festival season!

Home means different things to different people. To me- it means an oasis! A place where I can enjoy the simple pleasures of life like the warmth of a fire on a crisp autumn evening or a quiet conversation or soulful music with my family. 

 Home is also a place where we bring to life traditions that make us a family and nurture our spirit. And this Dasara, I  am celebrating my first (!) Bombe Habba or Golu and my inspiration ?- Supriya's post on Dasara Bombe Habba from last year!  We prepped for our Golu this weekend and my little boy was an enthusiastic little helper! And here is a peak at what our Golu looks like. 

 Marapachi dolls (Pattada bombe) and channapatna wood lacquered toys are the highlight of our Golu this year. Its a modest first time effort and I had a lot of fun reading up on technicalities and teaching my boy and I look forward to letting our collection evolve over time.

 Dear readers, what is your home story? What does the word "home" mean to you? And how does it play into your lives this festive season. Let's have a conversation. Write to us.

Next up, Supriya tells the story of Dashavathara followed by my post on Diwali decor inspirations - stay with us!

Cheers!
Deepa

P.S: All pictures in this post are from my home and are the copyrighted property of Aalayam. Please ask before using.

Dasara Bombe Habba!

Dasara, also called "Navaratri", is among the most important festivals celebrated in India. The Festival of Dasara is celebrated on the occasion of Navaratri, and the holy day also commemorates the triumph of good over evil.



Dasara "Bombe" or doll arrangement at our house



Forms of celebrations can take on a wide variety of manifestations, ranging from worshipping the goddess Chamundeshwari (Durga) to exhibiting colorful dolls on the day of "Bombe Habba" (festival of miniature idols or dolls).

"Pattada Bombe"..Bride and Groom Doll which is ceremoniously handed over to every Karnataka bride at her wedding



There is a legend related to the exhibition of dolls that is also known as Golu (spelled Kolu in some regions). Since the Goddess Durga needed tremendous power to fight over evil, all other gods and goddesses transferred their power to Goddess Durga and they all stood still as dolls.



"Dashavatara"..The Legion of Hindu Incarnations

To respect the self-sacrifice of these deities during the festival days, Hindus revere dolls that are in shape of particular Gods and Goddesses. Of particular signifiance is the "Dashavatara".  In Hindu philosophy, an Avatar (Sanskrit: अवतार, avatāra), most commonly refers to the 'descent' and daśa refers to 'ten' in number. The "Dashavatara" of Indian mythology can be linked to Darwin's theory of evolution. Here are the incarnations:

Matsya (Fish), Koorma (Turtle), Varaha (Boar), Narasimha (Half-Man, Half-Lion), Vamana (Dwarf), Parashu Rama (Man weilding an axe), Rama (Man, Ruler), Krishna/Bala Rama (Man, Politician), Buddha (Man, Ascetic), Kalki (Man, Destroyer) are all represented and revered as miniature dolls.



Traditional Wedding Scene - Photography by Swathi (Find Swatching You on Facebook)




Traditional Village Scene - Photography by Swathi (Find Swatching You on Facebook)



Dasara is celebrated for 10 days as a salute to the war over evil that lasted 10 days. On the 9th day of Dasara (Saraswati Puja), special pujas are offered to Goddess Saraswati – the divine source of wisdom and enlightenment. Books and musical instruments are placed in the puja and worshipped as a source of knowledge. Also, tools and implements are placed in the pooja as part of "Ayudha Pooja". Vehicles are washed, decorated, and ceremoniously prayed to..I remember washing my scooter and then my car, adorning it with garlands and distributing sweets to all the neighborhood kids on the day of Ayudha Pooja.

The 10th day, "Vijayadasami" – is the most auspicious day of all. It was the day on which evil was finally destroyed by good. It marks a new and prosperous beginning. New ventures started on this day are believed to flourish and bring prosperity.

Festivities on Dasara. Photography by Sripriya (Find Sripriya Murthy Photography on Facebook)

In the evening of "Vijayadasami", any one doll from the "Golu" is symbolically put to sleep to mark the end of that year's Navaratri Kolu. Prayers are offered to thank God for the successful completion of that year's "Bombe Habba" and with a hope of a successful habba the next year...

Aalayam wishes it's readers a gorgeous and prosperous Dasara Bombe Habba!

Love,

Supriya