_*Our ONAM! – By M E Cherian*_ (Please Read)...
Kerala is decked and prepared to celebrate thiru Onam. For Keralites, not just in Kerala but the world over, Onam celebrations are important. We can say that Onam is not a festival of a particular religion but that of a region. Regardless of caste and creed, all malayalis celebrate Onam. It has become a unifying factor among malayalis.
Although, all the "religions" now celebrate Onam, it does have its background from "Hinduism". It is said, many centuries ago, a righteous king called Mahabali ruled over Kerala. In his days there was plenty. People mutually loved each other. There was no corruption, untruth nor was there violence in his land. The devas (gods) were jealous of this. They devised a scheme. One of the devas decided to come to king Mahabali in the form of a poor monk seeking help. When the king asked what he wants, the poor monk responded that he needs three steps of land. The monk then transformed and took a step across the entire earth. The second step of the monk spanned the entire underworld. And for the third step the king stooped down and asked the monk to place his leg on his head. In that way Mahabali lost his kingship and his kingdom and was banished into the underworld (hell). The devas gave Mahabali permission to visit his people once a year. So the day Mahabali comes to see his kingdom is the day called thiru Onam. He would observe that there are no problem to his subjects, there is plenty, there is peace and they have no troubles. He sees around and leaves for his abode. This celebration is what is called thiru Onam. Who is this Mahabali? In which land did he rule? Can the devas be jealous? Even if they are jealous would they do something like this? Is there a historical truth to this story? Who is asking? Who wants to know! We do not want to know all that. It is Onam. That is enough.
*Do believers in Christ have Onam?* - Definitely there is...
Our Onam is the real Onam. The good Onam. The best Onam. We have a King and he is not Mahabali. *Christ Jesus, the one who became a Maha-Bali (Great Sacrifice) for us.* Although he bowed his head to such a gruesome death he was not banished into the underworld. He won over the gates of the underworld and ascended into the highest heavens. *He will come again. Not to come once a year and then return. He will return to remove all unrighteousness and weaknesses and rule the world in peace. Not for one day or a week’s celebration of Onam. But for a thousand years. Then for eternity it will be thiru Onam for us.*
_*Do you have the desire to participate in this Celebration? If you do, receive Christ as your Saviour, who became the Maha-Bali (Great Sacrifice) for you.* _
(Courtesy – Suvisheshakan magazine, September 1986)
Kerala is decked and prepared to celebrate thiru Onam. For Keralites, not just in Kerala but the world over, Onam celebrations are important. We can say that Onam is not a festival of a particular religion but that of a region. Regardless of caste and creed, all malayalis celebrate Onam. It has become a unifying factor among malayalis.
Although, all the "religions" now celebrate Onam, it does have its background from "Hinduism". It is said, many centuries ago, a righteous king called Mahabali ruled over Kerala. In his days there was plenty. People mutually loved each other. There was no corruption, untruth nor was there violence in his land. The devas (gods) were jealous of this. They devised a scheme. One of the devas decided to come to king Mahabali in the form of a poor monk seeking help. When the king asked what he wants, the poor monk responded that he needs three steps of land. The monk then transformed and took a step across the entire earth. The second step of the monk spanned the entire underworld. And for the third step the king stooped down and asked the monk to place his leg on his head. In that way Mahabali lost his kingship and his kingdom and was banished into the underworld (hell). The devas gave Mahabali permission to visit his people once a year. So the day Mahabali comes to see his kingdom is the day called thiru Onam. He would observe that there are no problem to his subjects, there is plenty, there is peace and they have no troubles. He sees around and leaves for his abode. This celebration is what is called thiru Onam. Who is this Mahabali? In which land did he rule? Can the devas be jealous? Even if they are jealous would they do something like this? Is there a historical truth to this story? Who is asking? Who wants to know! We do not want to know all that. It is Onam. That is enough.
*Do believers in Christ have Onam?* - Definitely there is...
Our Onam is the real Onam. The good Onam. The best Onam. We have a King and he is not Mahabali. *Christ Jesus, the one who became a Maha-Bali (Great Sacrifice) for us.* Although he bowed his head to such a gruesome death he was not banished into the underworld. He won over the gates of the underworld and ascended into the highest heavens. *He will come again. Not to come once a year and then return. He will return to remove all unrighteousness and weaknesses and rule the world in peace. Not for one day or a week’s celebration of Onam. But for a thousand years. Then for eternity it will be thiru Onam for us.*
_*Do you have the desire to participate in this Celebration? If you do, receive Christ as your Saviour, who became the Maha-Bali (Great Sacrifice) for you.* _
(Courtesy – Suvisheshakan magazine, September 1986)
Comments
Post a Comment