Bali

ബാലി

Bali, the monkey king, is the principal deity worshipped by the Aashari (Viswakarma) community. Among Theyyam traditions, he is generally cl… Learn the full story, rituals, and temples on Theyyakkalam.

Communities: Vannan

Deity type: Others

Origin & Sacred Story

Bali, the monkey king, is the principal deity worshipped by the Aashari (Viswakarma) community. Among Theyyam traditions, he is generally classified among the animal deities, as his origin is rooted in the Vanara race of the Ramayana. Bali was the son of Indra, the elder brother of Sugriva, and the king of Kishkindha. According to the epic, Sugriva eventually caused Bali to be slain by Lord Rama, the incarnation of Vishnu.

A lesser-known traditional account narrates Bali's birth differently. Aruna, the charioteer of the Sun and brother of Garuda, once desired to witness the celestial dance in Indra's court. Disguising himself as a woman, Aruna entered Amaravati. Enchanted by this feminine form, Indra united with Aruna, and Bali was born from that union. Later, Surya (the Sun God) also became attracted to Aruna in the same form, and Sugriva was born. Since the monkey king Riksharaja had no heirs to rule Kishkindha, Indra entrusted both children to him. They grew up with deep brotherly affection, and after Riksharaja's death, Bali became king of Kishkindha.

Bali possessed an extraordinary boon granted by Indra: whenever an opponent fought him, half of the opponent's strength would automatically pass to Bali. This made him virtually invincible in battle. It is said that when Ravana challenged him, Bali gained half of Ravana's strength, defeated him with ease, wrapped him in his tail, and carried him around the world. Some local traditions even claim that Hanuman once defeated Bali in single combat.

The enmity between Bali and Sugriva began during Bali's battle with the demon Mayavi, the son of the demon architect Maya. Pursuing Mayavi into a cave, Bali instructed Sugriva to guard the entrance. Misled by the demon's illusion, Sugriva believed Bali had been killed and sealed the cave. Eventually, Bali escaped on his own, but believing that Sugriva had deliberately betrayed him, he banished his younger brother and took Sugriva's wife Ruma as his own. Unable to forgive what he considered betrayal, Bali became Sugriva's enemy, while Sugriva fled to Rishyamukha Mountain, where Bali could not enter because of a sage's curse.

While living in exile, Sugriva formed an alliance with Lord Rama, who was searching for Sita. Rama encouraged Sugriva to challenge Bali to combat and, during the duel, slew Bali with an arrow fired from behind the Sapta Sala trees. As Bali lay dying, he questioned Rama about the justice of his actions. Rama replied that Bali had violated dharma by taking his younger brother's wife, whom he should have regarded as his own daughter-in-law. Rama then revealed his divine form and granted Bali moksha (liberation).

According to local Theyyam tradition, Vaduka Raja once worshipped Bali in his royal palace. A Viswakarma artisan from the Mannummal family, who worked there, worshipped the deity with great devotion. Pleased with his prayers, Bali followed him to Mannummal Tharavad in Eramam, accompanying the artisan's palm-leaf umbrella (vellola mekkuda). From there, the worship of Bali spread to Morazha, Vadakkum Kovil, Kurunthazha, Vellarangara, Kokkanisseri, Mangad, and eventually to many Viswakarma temples throughout the region.

Cultural Significance

As the clan deity of the Viswakarma (Aashari) community, Bali Theyyam is traditionally performed by the Vannan community.

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