Vamana in the context of "Trailokya"

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⭐ Core Definition: Vamana

Vamana (Sanskrit: वामन, lit.'Dwarf', IAST: Vāmana), also known as Trivikrama (lit.'three steps'), Urukrama (lit.'far-stepping'), Upendra (lit.'Indra’s younger brother'), Dadhivamana (Sanskrit: दधिवामन, lit.'milk-dwarf', IAST: Dadhivāmana), and Balibandhana (lit.'binder or killer of Bali'), is an avatar of the Hindu deity Vishnu. He is the fifth avatar of Vishnu and the first Dashavatara in the Treta Yuga, after Narasimha.

First mentioned in the Vedas, Vamana is most commonly associated in the Hindu epics and Puranas with the story of taking back the three worlds (collectively referred to as the Trailokya) from the daitya-king Mahabali by taking three steps to restore the cosmic order and push Mahabali into the netherworld. He is the youngest among the adityas, the sons of Aditi and the sage Kashyapa.

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Vamana in the context of Treta Yuga

Treta Yuga (IAST: Tretā-yuga) (Devanagari: त्रेतायुग), in Hinduism, is the second and second-best of the four yugas (world ages) in a Yuga Cycle, preceded by Krita (Satya) Yuga and followed by Dvapara Yuga. Treta Yuga lasts for 1,296,000 years (3,600 divine years).

Treta means 'a collection of three things' in Sanskrit, and is so called because during the Treta Yuga, there were three Avatars of Vishnu that were seen: the fifth, sixth and seventh incarnations as Vamana, Parashurama and Rama, respectively. The bull of Dharma symbolizes that morality stood on three legs during this period. It had all four legs in the Satya Yuga and two in the succeeding Dvapara Yuga. Currently, in the immoral age of Kali, it stands on one leg.

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Vamana in the context of Adityas

In Hinduism, Adityas (Sanskrit: आदित्य, lit.'of Aditi' IAST: Āditya Sanskrit pronunciation: [aːd̪ɪt̪jɐ]) refers to a group of major solar deities, who are the offspring of the goddess Aditi. The name Aditya, in the singular, is taken to refer to the sun god Surya. Generally, Adityas are twelve in number and consist of Vivasvan (Surya), Aryaman, Tvashtr, Savitr, Bhaga, Dhatr, Mitra, Varuna, Amsha, Pushan, Indra and Vishnu (in the form of Vamana).

They appear in the Rig Veda, where they are 6–8 in number, all male. The number increases to 12 in the Brahmanas. The Mahabharata and the Puranas mention the sage Kashyapa as their father. In each month of the year a different Aditya is said to shine.

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Vamana in the context of Dashavatara

The Dashavatara (Sanskrit: दशावतार, IAST: daśāvatāra) are the ten primary avatars of Vishnu, a principal Hindu god. Vishnu is said to descend in the form of an avatar to restore cosmic order. The word Dashavatara derives from daśa, meaning "ten", and avatāra, roughly equivalent to "incarnation".

The list of included avatars varies across sects and regions, particularly with respect to the inclusion of Balarama (brother of Krishna) or the Buddha. Though no list can be uncontroversially presented as standard, the "most accepted list found in Puranas and other texts is [...] Krishna, Buddha." Most draw from the following set of figures, in this order: Matsya, Kurma, Varaha, Narasimha, Vamana, Parashurama, Rama, Krishna, or Balarama, Buddha or Krishna, and Kalki. In traditions that omit Krishna, he often replaces Vishnu as the source of all avatars. Some traditions include a regional deity such as Vithoba or Jagannath in penultimate position, replacing Krishna or Buddha. All avatars have appeared except one: Kalki, who will appear at the end of the Kali Yuga.

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Vamana in the context of Ashadha

Ashadha is the fourth month of the Hindu lunar calendar and the Indian national calendar. The name of the month is derived from the position of the Moon near the Purva Ashadha nakshatra (star) on the full moon day. The month corresponds to the end of the summer (Grishma) season and falls in JuneJuly of the Gregorian calendar.

In the Hindu solar calendar, it corresponds to the month of Mithuna and begins with the Sun's entry into Gemini. It corresponds to Asharh, the third month in the Bengali calendar. In the Tamil calendar, it corresponds to the fourth month of Aadi, falling in the Gregorian months of July–August. In the Vaishnav calendar, it corresponds to the fourth month of Vamana.

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