Vāmana

Vamana (also known as Vamanadeva) is the dwarf incarnation of Lord Vishnu, the fifth avatar in the traditional list of the ten principal incarnations (Dashavatara). His appearance is narrated in the Eighth Canto of the Srimad-Bhagavatam. Vamana descended to reclaim control of the universe from the virtuous but ambitious demon king Bali Maharaja, who had conquered the three worlds and displaced the demigods. Vamana appeared at Bali's sacrificial arena in the form of a young, dwarf brahminical priest. Received with honor, He requested as His sole charity only three paces of land covered by His steps. Despite warnings from his spiritual preceptor, Bali accepted the request. Vamana immediately assumed a gigantic form, covering the entire Earth with His first step and the upper planets and sky with His second, piercing the universe's shell. With no space left for the third step, Bali Maharaja offered his own head in absolute surrender. Pleased by the king's devotion and surrender, Vamana accepted the role of guarding his abode in the subterranean realm of Sutala. In Gaudiya Vaishnavism, Bali is revered as one of the twelve Mahajanas (great authorities) and the perfect example of atma-nivedana (complete self-surrender) in bhakti-yoga.