Vamana

Vamana is the fifth avatar of Vishnu — the dwarf Brahmin. He incarnated to subdue King Mahabali, a benevolent but overly proud asura who had conquered the three worlds. Vamana approached the generous king and asked for just three paces of land. When Mahabali agreed, Vamana grew to cosmic proportions — his first step covered the entire earth, his second covered the heavens, and there was no place for the third. Recognising the divine form, Mahabali offered his own head for the third step. Vishnu pushed him to the netherworld (Patala) but granted him the boon of returning to visit his people once a year — a visit that is celebrated as Onam in Kerala. Vamana represents humility, truth, and the humbling of pride.

Short dwarf figure of a young Brahmin boy holding an umbrella (chhatra), a water pot (kamandalu), a rosary, and a staff (danda). Wearing a deerskin. In some depictions shown alongside the expanded cosmic form (Trivikrama) with one foot on earth, another on heaven, and the third above Mahabali's head.