Myth of Vamana and Mahabali: Jungian approach to the origin of Onam festival

Authors

  • Harsha Kuriakose Research Scholar, Department of Psychology, University of Delhi, Delhi, India.
  • Eric Soreng Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, University of Delhi, Delhi, India.

DOI:

https://doi.org/%2010.25215/0802.108

Keywords:

Myth, Harvest Festival, Rituals, Psyche, Sacred Time

Abstract

Festivals celebrate the return of the sacred time and its fabled paradisal state for the humankind. The harvest festival of Kerala—Onam—celebrates the annual return of the King Mahabali, a devotee of Vamana (Lord Vishnu), who represents the virtues needed to rule the land and the hopes for the mass well-being. The three worlds belong to the divinities; the kingdoms belong to the virtues and vices of the kings. The king of the land projects the psyche of the people and the status of the kingdom. King Mahabali thus makes nature’s facilitations efficacious. Like Vamana who is the preserver, King Mahabali, who is the cultural hero of Kerala, too returns to bless his people with prosperity. The paper presents the interpretation of the myth of Vamana and Mahabali using archetypal amplification and reflects on the origin and ceremonies of the Onam festival.

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Published

2022-11-05

How to Cite

Harsha Kuriakose, & Eric Soreng. (2022). Myth of Vamana and Mahabali: Jungian approach to the origin of Onam festival. International Journal of Indian Psychȯlogy, 8(2). https://doi.org/ 10.25215/0802.108