Vaali (Sanskrit: वाली, nominative singular of the root वालिन् (Valin), also known as Bali, was king of Kishkindha in the Hindu epic Ramayan. He was the husband of Tara, spiritual son of Indra, biological son of Vriksharaja, the elder brother of Sugreeva and father of Angada. He was killed by Rama, an avatar of Vishnu. Vaali was invincible during Treta Yuga. Vaali defeated some of the greatest warriors like Ravana. Vaali was blessed with the ability to obtain half the strength of his opponent. Rama killed Vaali by hiding behind the trees. However, during first attempt, Rama could not recognize which one is Vaali and which Sugriva due to their similar looks. Thus, during the next attempt, Sugriva wore a garland of red flowers and went to battle with Vaali. This time, Lord Rama could recognize which was Vaali and shot an arrow that killed him.[1]
Contents
1Early life
2The Disagreement
3Vaali's boon
4War with Ravana
5Rama meets Sugriva
6After Vaali's Death
7Reborn as Jara
8References
9External links
Early life
Vaali was the husband of Tara. As one myth goes, fourteen types of gem or treasure were produced from the churning of the ocean during the time of Kurma Avatar. One gem is that various Apsaras (divine nymphs) were produced and Tara was an Apsara produced from the churning of the ocean. Vaali who was with his father Indra, helping them in the churning of ocean, took Tara and married her.[1]
Vaali was very courageous. This can be understood from the fact that, when Tara tried to stop him and begged him not to go to fight Sugriva, by saying that it is Lord Rama who is helping Sugriva and has come to Sugriva's rescue; Vaali replied to Tara that even if he is fighting against God he cannot ignore a challenge for a fight and remain quiet. He adds that even if the caller for the fight had been his own son Angada, he would still go to fight.[2]
The Disagreement
According to Ramayana, a raging demon came to the doors of Kishkindha and challenged Vali to a fight. Vali accepted the challenge. And when he came forth, the demon ran got terrified and ran into a cave. Vali entered the cave and told Sugrieva to wait outside. When Vali did not return and he heard demonic voices from inside the cave and blood oozing from inside the cave, he, mistakenly, concluded that Vali was dead. He closed the cave with a large boulder and presumed kinship over Kishkindha. However, inside the cave, Vali killed the demon and returned home. Upon seeing Sugrieva act as a king, Vali thought his brother had betrayed him. Sugrieva tried to explain but Vali didn't listen. Sugrieva ran off to Rishyamook Parvat as it is the only place where Vali couldn't come because of the curse of Rishi Matang according to which if Vali set his foot on Rishyamook Hills, he would die.
Vaali's boon
Vaali was granted a boon by Lord Brahma after sitting in penance. Vaali asked Brahma to for a boon such that in any duel, Vaali's opponent would loses half his strength to Vaali. Brahma granted the boon happily. Already Vaali was extremely powerful with his power almost equal to 70,000 elephants. Thus Vaali became invincible. It is said that no one could defeat Vaali in head-on battle.[3][4]
War with Ravana
Ravana comes to know about Vaali and his strengths through Narada. Hearing Narada praising Vaali, Ravana became extremely arrogant and went to Kishkinda. There Vaali was in meditation. Ravana challenged Vaali to come and fight. First Sugriva fought with Ravana and was defeated. Ravana then reached Vaali and challenged him. Vaali and Ravana then fought a fierce battle. Vaali defeated Ravana and tied him with his tail (carried him on his shoulders in some other versions). Vaali then arrested Ravana. Vaali started carrying Ravana under his armpit for years.[5] Ravana could not bear the insult and asked Vaali for friendship.[6] Immediately Vaali released Ravana, thus demonstrating that Vaali was the greatest and most powerful being on the Earth.[7]
