Sri Vamana Dvadasi: Appearance of Lord Vamanadeva
Appearance Day of Srila Jiva Gosvami
Festival
All day
What is Vamana Dvadashi?
Lord Vamanadeva, the dwarf incarnation of Lord Vishnu, came as a small brahmana boy to take back the three worlds from King Bali. Devotees celebrate His appearance on Sri Vamana Dvadashi, the twelfth day of the bright fortnight of Bhadra. In 2027 that day is Sunday, 12 September, which is also the appearance day of Srila Jiva Gosvami.
Significance
Srimad-Bhagavatam calls the day Sravana-dvadashi. On it the moon stands in the Sravana star, and the auspicious Abhijit moment arrives at midday. The Lord first appeared before His mother in the form of Narayana, with four hands and weapons. Then, at once, He changed His form:
Then, in the presence of His father and mother, He assumed the form of Vāmana, a brāhmaṇa-dwarf, a brahmacārī, just like a theatrical actor.
Srimad-Bhagavatam 8.18.12
Srila Prabhupada explains that this shows the Lord's body is never material. Vamanadeva can appear in any form and remain the same person with the same potency, as Bhagavad-gita 4.9 teaches about His divine appearance and activities.
How to observe it
Read or hear the pastime of Vamanadeva and Bali Maharaja in the eighth canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam, chant extra rounds of japa, and pray for the Lord's shelter. Parsva Ekadashi comes the day before, on Saturday, 11 September, and its fast is broken at Kurukshetra on the morning of 12 September between 6:05 AM and 10:14 AM. After that, devotees celebrate the Lord's appearance with a festive meal of His mahaprasadam.
Questions
When is Vamana Dvadashi in 2027?
Sri Vamana Dvadashi is on Sunday, 12 September 2027 in the Vaishnava calendar for Kurukshetra. It falls on the twelfth day of the bright fortnight of Bhadra, the day after Parsva Ekadashi.
Who is Lord Vamanadeva?
Lord Vamanadeva is the dwarf brahmana incarnation of Lord Vishnu. He is the fifth of the ten best-known incarnations that Jayadeva sings of, and the fifteenth in the longer list of Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.3. As the Brahma-vaivarta Purana and Srimad-Bhagavatam, Canto 8, describe, He appeared to restore the heavens to the demigods and to humble King Bali.
Why did Vamanadeva ask Bali Maharaja for three steps of land?
He asked for only three steps so that the generous king would agree at once. Then the Lord expanded to cover the earth and the heavens, and Bali offered his own head for the third step.
When should I break the Parsva Ekadashi fast on Vamana Dvadashi 2027?
Break the fast of Parsva Ekadashi (Saturday, 11 September) on Sunday, 12 September, between 6:05 AM and 10:14 AM at Kurukshetra. Vamana Dvadashi itself is then a day of worship and feasting.
Reviewed by ISKCON Kurukshetra · Updated
Key facts
- Date
- Sunday, 12 September 2027
- Also on this day
- Appearance Day of Srila Jiva Gosvami
- Incarnation of
- Lord Vishnu, as a dwarf brahmana (fifth of the ten avataras; fifteenth in Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.3.19)
- Described in
- Srimad-Bhagavatam, Canto 8
Seva for this day
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