Which demon was defeated by the dwarf avatar Vamana?

The demon defeated by the dwarf avatar Vamana was Mahabali, the powerful king of the asuras.

Mahabali had conquered the three worlds and displaced Indra, ruler of the devas. Vishnu incarnated as Vamana, appearing as a young dwarf Brahmin, to restore cosmic balance without simply destroying the generous and respected king. During Mahabali’s sacrificial ceremony, Vamana requested only three paces of land.

Mahabali agreed, despite warnings from his teacher Shukra. Vamana then expanded into the cosmic form Trivikrama. His first two strides covered the earth and heavens; with no space remaining for the third, Mahabali offered his own head. Vamana placed the final step there and sent him to Sutala, the netherworld.

The story is more nuanced than a straightforward defeat: Mahabali is usually portrayed as a virtuous ruler whose humility and devotion earned Vishnu’s favor. In Kerala tradition, his annual return is celebrated during Onam. Mahabali is also called Bali or Bali Maharaja, so those names refer to the same figure.