Vamana is the fifth avatar of Vishnu. With Asura King Mahabali becoming all too powerful, Vishnu takes the form of a small boy and arrives at Mahabali's place where the king grants him anything. Vamana in turn, asks for just three paces of land, causing much amusement to Mahabali, who is confident that the young boy has asked for something trivial. Vamana then becomes bigger and bigger, covering the earth with his first step and the heavens with the second. Mahabali, realising he is outwitted, sticks to his promise and humbly offers his head for the third tract; Vamana places his foot on the king's head and sends him to patal (the netherworld).