LORD VAMANADEVA, THE DWARF INCARNATION

The Lord appeared in His original form, with ornaments and weapons in His hands. Although this ever-existing form is not visible in the material world, He nonetheless appeared in this form. Then, in the presence of His father and mother, Prajapati Kasyapa and Aditi, He assumed the form of Vamana, a brahmana-dwarf, a brahmacari, just like a theatrical actor.

When the great sages saw the Lord as the brahmacari-dwarf Vâmana, they were certainly very pleased and performed all the ritualistic ceremonies, such as the birthday ceremony.

At the sacred thread ceremony of Vamanadeva, the sun-god personally uttered the Gayatri mantra, Brhaspati offered the sacred thread, and Kasyapa Muni offered a straw belt. Mother earth gave Him a deerskin, and the demigod of the moon, who is the king of the forest, gave Him a brahma-danda [the rod of a brahmacāri]. His mother, Aditi, gave Him cloth for underwear, and the deity presiding over the heavenly kingdom offered Him an umbrella. Lord Brahma offered a waterpot, the seven sages offered kusa grass, and mother Sarasvati gave Him a string of Rudraksa beads.

When Vamanadeva had thus been given the sacred thread, Kuvera, King of the Yaksas, gave Him a pot for begging alms, and mother Bhagavati, the wife of Lord Siva and most chaste mother of the entire universe, gave Him His first alms.

Having thus been welcomed by everyone, Lord Vamanadeva, the best of the brahmacaris, exhibited His Brahman effulgence, surpassing in beauty that entire assembly, which was filled with great saintly brahmanas.