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In Hinduism, Prahlad was a son of Hiranyakashipu, a Daitya. Prahlad is known particularly for his steadfast devotion to Lord Vishnu, while defying his father and not losing his faith despite Hiranyakashipu's several attempts to coerce and even kill him.
The Devotee
The story of Prahlad is told in the Seventh book of the Srimad Bhagavatam.
Hiranyakashipu had performed severe penance in order to obtain the boon of immortality from Brahma. However, on being denied the boon of immortality, he instead obtained a boon which prevented him from being killed by either man or animal, either at night or during the day, either inside or outside his abode, either on earth or in space, and either by an animate or by an inanimate weapon. Equipped with the power of this boon from Brahma, which Hiranyakashipu thought made it impossible for him to be killed, he began to attack the devas. While he was away on one of his campaigns, the divine sage Narada visited Hiranyakashipu's wife who was pregnant with Prahlad. Narada started reciting the stories of great devotees of Vishnu to her, but his narration was really directed at Prahlad, who was listening to the stories from within his mother's womb. Due to this fortuitous event, Prahlad was a convinced and confirmed devotee of the Lord right from his birth and he turned out to be not just an ordinary devotee, but one who set an extraordinary standard for exemplary devotion to the Supreme Almighty.
Attempts to kill Prahlad
Hiranyakashipu was furious at Prahlad for being a devotee of Vishnu, whom he despised. He attempted to show off his own greatness and tried to demonstrate how he was even greater than Vishnu, but Prahlad refused to be convinced. Hiranyakashipu then made many attempts to have Prahlad killed. These attempts included:
- having Prahlad hold a hot pole
- making him jump off a steep cliff
- getting an elephant to trample him
- piercing him with spears from all sides
- administering poison
- setting snakes on him to bite him
None of these could harm Prahlad, for he was always chanting and repeating the 'Om Namo Narayanaya' mantra.
Holi
Another one of Hiranyakashipu's attempts to kill him, was to have Prahlad sit on a burning pyre with his siter Holika. (This story however is not in the Bhagavatam, which is the original source for Prahlad's story). Holika had a special gift that prevented her from being harmed by fire. Once again Prahlad chanted Vishnu's name and in the battle of good against evil, Holika was burnt but Prahlad escaped unhurt. The burning of Holika is celebrated as the Holi festival which is popular in northern India.
Narasimha
In one of his confrontation with Prahlad, Hiranyakashipu asked him in rage if Vishnu was omnipresent, if he was in a particular pillar in his palace. When Prahlada answered that he was, to prove him wrong, Hiranyakashipu smashed the pillar, but to his surprise, Narasimha (Vishnu's avatar) emerged from the pillar. Narasimha (nara - meaning man, simha - meaning lion, thus Narasimha is half-man and half-lion) was neither human nor animal and he appeared during twilight (neither day nor night). Narasimha battled Hiranyakashipu, and while on the threshold of the entrance to the courtyard (neither inside nor outside the latter's abode), laid him on his thighs (neither on earth, nor in space), and using His nails (neither animate nor inanimate) ripped open Hiranyakashipu's stomach and killed him.
Places of Pilgrimage
The main places of pilgrimage associated Prahlad are those places where Sri Narasimha is believed to have manifested himself in order to aid Prahlad. They are Ahobilam, Kadiri, and Simhachalam all located in the present-day state of Andhra Pradesh in India.
Story of Prahlad from Sri Vishnu Purana
The holy text of Sri Vishnu Purana gives the following story about Prahlad. What follows is an approximate translation. Here is the relevant Sanskrit text extracted from Sri Vishnu Puran: Prahlad Ji Story from Sri Vishnu Purana
1
This is a conversation between Sri Maitrye and Sri Prashar. Maitrye Muni is questioning Prashar about the character of Sri Prahlad. Sri Prashar replied:
O Matrye! Listen to the charcter of the great souled, generous Prahalad.
In ancient times, Harinya Kashipu, who was the son of Diti, won over the entire universe because of the blessing of Lord Brahma. He took Indra's post. He himself become Sun, air, fire, moon and so on. He himself ruled as God of wealth, and death, and himself enjoyed all offerings to the sacred fire.
All Gods, scared, roamed about in disguise. He used to drink and listen to his own praise. All Sidhas, Gandharvas, and Naags used to worship him. He used to listen to his praise from them, and enjoy all the riches and affluence.
Once when he was sitting, busy in his drinking, his great Tejasavi son came to him. Seeing his son bowing at his feet, he picked him up and asked: 'Son. Tell me, in essence, every thing you have studied so far'.
Prahlad said: Father, just as you ordered, I'll tell you what is present in my heart as the essence. Listen carefully. Without a beginning, middle, and end, Him who is not born, neither increases nor decays, Sri Achutya, Him who is present in our innermost being, Him who is the doer behind everything done, the sole reason - I bow to him.
Hearing this, The daemon king got angry. With red eyes, and trembling lips he asked Prahlad's teacher: For what reason, did you teach these false praise of our enemy, ignoring my orders?
The teacher replied: You should not be mad, O Daemon King, because your son is not telling words born from my teaching.
Hirnyakashipu asked Prahlada - Who taught you these wrong things?
Prahlada replied: Vishnu teaches this entire world, sitting in hearts. Except him, who else teaches any thing?
Hrinyakashipu said: Who is this Vishnu, of whom he speaks again and again, in front of me - the ruler of this world.
Prahlada said; That which worlds cannot reach, that which is meditated upon by yogis, that supereme state, that from which this entire world came - that Vishnu, The Supreme Ruler.
Harinyakashipu said: In presence of me, who else could be called The Supreme Ruler. Why do you invite death.
Prahlada said: Vishnu is, not ony mine O Father, Yours as well of as these people, the Supreme Ruler, the provider and controller - For what reason do you get angry.
Harinyakashipu said: Who has entered the heart of this fool, because of whom he says such sinful worlds, such unfortunate words.
Prahlada said: Not only in my heart, That Vishnu is sitting in this entire creation. He molds me, you and this entire world in its respective thoughts and actions.
Harinyakashipu said: Take him away and teach him at the teacher's house. Who evil-minded has appointed him in the praise of the enemy.
Prashar said: Thus he lived at his teacher's house, serving his teacher. After a long time, Prahlada went to the daemon-king and the king asked him to sing him some tale.
Prahlad said: Him, Vishnu, from whom came this entire universe, and from whom came the person, from whom came the moving and unmoving creation, who is the sole reason behind every thing - May he be satisfied with us.
Harinyakashipu said: Kill this evil-souled, there is no point in his living any more. He is harmful to his own side.
Prahlada said: Vishnu is present in these weapons and well in me and those who attack me. By this truth, may these attacks fail.
Prashar said: Then, even after thousands of attacks by daemons, he remained as new, and didn't have the slightest pain.
Harinyakashipu said: O fool, give up the praise of the enemy. I give you the promise of fearlessness. Don't be foolish.
Prahlada said: How can fear remain in the heart, when the killer of fears, Ananta, is present there. Him, on remembering whom, all fears, birth, old-age, death are relieved.
Harinyakashipu said: Snakes, kill this extreme sinner with your teeth full of the fire of poison, without any delay.
Parashar said: Thes said, the snakes started attacking Prahlad. However, because of being attached to Krishna, he didn't feel any pain.
Snakes said: Our teeth broke, pearls are vibrating, heads heated up and hearts are trembling, but we couldn't even pierce his skill. Please tell us another work o demon king.
Harinyakashipu said: Let him be crushed by teeth of elephants.
Parashar said: The teath of elephants broke having reached his chest, because of remembering Govind. Prahlad said that: These teeth, like iron, broke not because of my strength. This was an experience of how remembering Janardhan destroys great dangers.
Harinyakashipu said: Light a fire and burn this sinner. O Air, you catalyse this fire.
Prahlada Ji said:
O Father, even being fueled by fire, this fire does not burn me. Look, all directions appear as cool to me as lotus petals.
Parashar said: At that point, Purohits praised the king and said:
Purohits said: O King, don't be angry at your own son. You should be angry at the Gods. Childhood is the abode of all foolishness. We will ask him to stop praising the enemy or we will produce a fiery creation, that will surely kill him.
Parashar Ji said: The king, thus requested, got Prahlad Ji out of the fire. Prahlad Ji then went to his teacher's house.
2
There at his teacher's house, Prahlada Ji said the following to his fellow students:
Prahlad Ji said:
Listen to me, o demons, born of Diti. Don't take this to be vain because there is no motive of greed etc. in this.
All beings attain birth, childhood, and then reach adulthood. Day by day, old age also comes. And then death. This is all clearly seen.
One who dies, also attain birth.
All these states, like being a fetus, birth, that result in a new birth, know them all to be certainly sorrow.
Like water satisfies thirst, and food satisfies hunger, only becase of immaturity beings think of these as comforts and joys, for these are all sorrows in reality.
Just like because of prolonged inactivity, exercise feels joyful, those who are blinded and their knowledge is covered, they think of sorrow as joy.
Where, this body, full of ignoble things, and where elegance, grace, beauty divine qualities.
In this collection of Skin, Blood, Liquids, Pus, Bones, if some fool can find attraction, he can also like hell
In fire, cold, and when hungry, food, and water when thursty feel joyful and comforting, and the other way around.
How much ever, a person collects, that much sorrow fills the heart of that person.
Whatever relations beings create in their minds as dear, corresponding griefs also get established in their hearts.
The articles one collects, even being far from them, the remain in his heart and their end too.
While alive, one faces great sorrows, and on death even more, in form of tortures from Yama and then again in form of another birth.
If you can think of even the slightest joy in birth, then say so. This entire world is full of sorrows.
In this ocean of extreme sorrows, I tell you truely, Vishnu is your only hope and protector.
Don't think that I am only a child, for that which resides in this body is eternal. The states, old-age, adulthood, birth etc. are laws of the body, not the soul.
Right now I am only a child, I shall endeavour for my best when I am grownup. On having grown up, I shall work for my best when I am old. And when old, I am incapable of doing any thing, what should I do, for I have no capacity left now.
Thus living with false hopes always, a person fails to achieve what is best for him.
In childhood, attached to playing, and when grownup attached to enjoyments, and when oldage arrives, unable to do any thing.
Thus an intelligent person should work for shrey (what is best) in childhoot itself, ignoring the states of this body.
If you don't consider, what I have just said, as vain, then for love for me, remember Vishnu, who frees from bondage.
And what effort in remembering. His remebrance is extremely auspicious and pure. Remebering his day and night, becomes the destroyer of sin accumulated.
Him, who is present in every place, in him, may your mind and friendship be always. From which, all your sorrows and worries will come to an end.
When this entire world is burning and being torched, which wise person will hold grudge against these sorrowful beings.
Even if others look full of joys, and I am extremely powerless, still I should be happy because the fruit of jealousy and anger is loss.
Even if others hold jealousy and anger, it is sorrowful for thoughtful because that would be delusion of others.
Thus I said various views. Now hear it in summary from me.
This entire world is a spread of Vishnu, present every where. Thus, the wise should see this all as that, without difference.
Giving up our demon nature, you and I, let us endeavour so we might attain freedom.
That peace which is not destroyed by fire, by sun, moon, air, other beings, Siddhas, demons, Yakshas, Demon King, Kinnars, Snakes, Humans, animals, or our own faults, or fever, ailments, jealousy, anger, foolishness, longing, greed etc. or any thing else, that ever lasting, and extremely pure, a person attains by residing his heart in Keshav.
Vain are the matters of this world, dont be satisfied with them. Remain same every where, O demons, for sameness is the worship of Achutya. On his being satisfied, what remains to be attained. Dharma, money, desires are puny, on taking refuge in that endless Brahm, without doubt you will attain the great fruit.
3
Seeing his such tendencies, and fearing from the Demon king, they told every thing to the King. The King, called his cooks.
Harinyakashipu said: O cooks, my son, extremely evil-minded and who follows the wrong path, cruel, kill him without delay. Give him the halahal poison in everything he eats. Don't think any more.
Sri Parashar said: They gave the poison to that great soul, just like his father had ordered. Prahlad Ji, ate that poison with his food, after inviting it with the name of Anant. Thereafter, he remained unchanged and healthy, the poison being made fruitless by the name of Anant. Seeing this, the cooks, afraid, went to the demon king and bowing to him, said:
Cooks said: O Demon King, we gave the poison as you said, extremely lethal and poisonous, but your son consumed it with his food and dissolved its effect.
Harinyakashipu said: O Demon priests, call the fiery creation without delay, to kill him.
Parashar said: The priests went to Prahlad Ji and said:
Priests said: You are born in the dynasty of Lord Brahma, famous among all 3 worlds. You are the son of the demon king Harinyakashiypu. What do you need from Ananta, or any one else? Your dad is the ruler of this entire world and you will too, in future. Thus, give up the enemy side. Father's order is supreme because father is the supreme guru among all gurus.
Prahlad Ji said:
Certailny, what you have said about this great kul (dynasty, family) is true. Lord Brahma's kul, it is famous in all 3 worlds. And my father is also famous in this entire world, this is certainly true. Father is the supreme teacher among all teachers, there is no doubt in this. Father is teacher and without doubt, to be worshipped with efforts. I don't even think that I have committed any wrong against him.
However, what you have said that what do I need from Ananta. What can be said about these words - these words are not at all meaningful and just.
Thus saying, Prahlad Ji became silent, to keep their respect. Then again laughing, he said - 'What do I need from Ananta - Praise be to these words. Praise be to these words, praise be to these words, my teachers'.
Prahlad Ji said:
Please listen, if you don't mind, what do I need from Ananta.
Dharma, Money, Desires and Moksha (freedom) are said to be the achievements attainable by a person. All 4 of these, from whom they come, what do I need from him - what should be said about these words.
From Ananta alone Marichi, Daksha etc. and others attained Dharma, and others attained wealth, and yet others attained desires. After coming to know his essence through knowledge, meditation and samadhi, great souls attained freedom, having destroyed all bondages.
Property, prosperity, greatness, knowledge, purity and good actions, as well as freedom, are all found by one essence - the worship of Hari.
From whom one attains the fruits of Dharma, wealth, desires as well as Mukti (freedom), o *, for him, what do I need from him - why do you say this for Achutya.
What more to say to you, you are my teachers. You can say right and wrong, and my wisdom is very little too.
What is the need to say much. He alone is the ruler of this world, he is the doer, the creater and the destroyer, as well as the maintainer, seated in the heart.
Hi is the enjoyer, the enjoyables and he alone is the sole owner of this world.
If I said some thing wrong, please forgive me for my childishness.
Priests said:
We wanted to save you from burning, thinking you won't say such things. We didn't know you are so wise. If you don't give up your words because of delusion, then we will create the fiery creation for your destruction, o fool.
Prahlad Ji said: Which being kills whom, and who protects whom. The soul itself kills and saves itself by good and evil deeds. From karmas (the fruit of good and bad deeds) is born every thing, and karmas decide the states. Thus, with all efforts, one should gather good karmas.
Sri Parashar Ji said: Listening this, the priest got angry and produced the fiery creation, which was alit and fierce. That fierce creation, trembled the earth with its feet and threw an arrow at the chest of Prahlad Ji.
But as soon as the lighted spear touched the heart of Prahlad Ji, it broke into a 100 pieces and fell on the ground. In whose heart, reside Lord Hari, even vajra breaks, what to talk of an arrow then.
Because of trying to harm the sinless one, the fiery creation attacked the priests themselves, and finished there after. Seeing the priests burn, the most wise Prahlad ji, ran toward them - saying: protect O Krishna, protect O Ananta.
Prahlada Ji said:
O omnipresent, the world form, o creator of this world, O Janardhan, Please save these Brahmans from the suffering of this Mantra fire. Like The Omnipresent teacher of this world, Vishnu is present among all beings, may these priests become alive. Like, thinking Vishnu as present every where, I saw him as present in even my enemies too, may these priests become alive. Those who came to kill me, who gave me poison, who tried to burn me, or crush me through elephants, who tried to kill me through snakes, towards them I remained friendly too, being same and never committing sin, similarly, by the same truth, may these priests of the demons become alive.
Sri Parashar Ji said: Saying thus, as soon as Prahlad Ji touched them, they all become alive.
Priests said: Long Live, Be full of Strength and power, May you have Sons, grand sons, wealth, prosperity - you are the best son.
Sri Parashar Ji said: Having said thus, the priests went to the demon king and told the entire happening as it is.
4
Sri Parashar Ji said: Having heard the failure of the fiery creation, Harinyakashipu asked the reason for such power from his son.
Harinyakashipu said: Prahlad you are very powerful. What is the reason behind your ability - is it born from Mantra or is it natural for you?
Sri Parashar Ji said: Thus asked by his father, Prahlad, the demon child, bowed to his father and said:
Prahlad Ji said: Neither from mantra, and nor is it from birth itself. This power is normal for some one whose heart resides in Achutya.
Who does not think bad for others, for him there is no reason for bad to happen.
Who ever causes suffering to others through actions, mind or words, from that seed is born an inauspicious fruit.
Thus, I don't think bad or thers, and neither do I do or say any thing that would cause sin to others either, thinking of Keshav as present every where as well as in myself.
Bodily, mental suffering, or divine or worldly - how can such a suffering take bearth when I remain auspicious minded every where.
Thus, the wise, seeing Hari as present at all places, should have unflinching Bhakti in all beings.
Sri Parashar Ji said: Thus hearing, the demon king, sitting on his seat got blind with anger and said this to his servants:
Harinyakashipu said: He is very evil minded. Throw him down from this 100 Yojan high palace, so that he falls over the mountain and hitting the stones his limbs/organs will break.
Then all those demons threw him from that palace and he too thinking of Hari in his heart fell down. At that time, Jagad-Dhatri Earth went near and took Prahlad Ji, the supreme devotee of the Creator of this world, Lorg Hari, in her lap.
Seeing Prahlad healthy, without any broken limbs, the demon king, Harinyakashipu said to the deceitful magical Shambraasur (Shambra Demon).
Harinya Kashipu said: I am unable to kill this eveil minded child. You know magic, please kill him by your magic.
Shambra said:
O Demon-king, I will kill him. Watch the power of my magic as I show you thousands of tricks, crores in number.
Sri Parashar Ji said: Then, with the intention of killing Prahlad, who was even minded everywhere, Shamra-Demon created many magics.
But, Oh Matrey, Even toward Sharmbra-Demon remaining anger-free remained Prahlad Ji, and with a concentrated mind kept thinking of Sri Madhusudan Bhagwan.
At that time, by God's order, in order to protect Prahlad Ji, Sudarshan Chakra, covored with fiery rays appeared. That fast-acting Sudarshan Chakra, while protecting the child, destroyed all the magics of Shamraasur one by one.
At that time, the demon-king asked the all-drying wind to kill Prahlad Ji. And that extremely unbearable cold and dry wind, saying 'as you say' entered the body of Prahlad Ji.
Feeling the air enter his body, the Demon-prince Prahlad Ji, took Lord Dharanidhar in his heart. Having situated in his heart, Lord Janardhan got angry and consumed that extremely fierce air, and it vanished.
Thus, on destruction of the wind and all magics, the greatly wise Prahlad Ji went to his teacher's home.
Therein, his Teacher started teaching him the policies-to-be-followed-by-a-king, the teachings of Sukra Ji, that result in kingdom.
Once his teacher, saw him well-versed and educated, he took him to the demon-king and said that Prahlad has completed his education.
The teacher said: Oh Demon-king, I have taught your son in education suitable for a king. Whatever has been said by Sukra Ji, Prahlad knows that well.
Harinyakashipu said: Prahlad! Tell me, how should a king behave with his friends. And how with enemies? And how should he interact with the neutrals? How should be interact with Nobles, servants, spies, citizens, prisoners and other people. And tell me properly, how should a king know what should be done and what should not be done, and how would he overcome barbarians etc. and how can one get rid of the hidden enemies? Tell me all this, and what ever else you have studied. I want to hear all this for I am eager to know the thoughts in your heart.
Sri Parashar Ji said: Then the gem of humbleness, Prahlad Ji, bowed to the feet of his father and holding palms together said this to the Demon-King Harinyakashipu.
Prahlad Ji said: Dear Father. There is no doubt that Teacher has given me instruction about all these topics and I have understood them too, but in my view these policies are not good.
Reasoning, Gifting, Punishment and Division - all these ways are told as means for interacting with friends etc. But Oh father, please don't be angry, I do not see any enemies or friends etc. and Oh strong-one, in the absence of these, what is the need for these policies either.
Oh Father, the soul of this entire world, the ruler of this world, having the form of this world, the Supreme Lord, in Sri Govinda, how can there be any distinctions of enemies or friends?
That Lord Vishnu Ji, is in you, in me and in others also, everywhere, then where can there by any place for the thought 'this is my friend and this is my enemy'?
Thus, O Father, we should completely giveup this trap that engages in bad actions, born of ignorance, and we should endeavour for our good.
O Demon-king, because of ignorance alone, men think of ignorance as knowledge. Don't children, because of knowledge, think of fire as a play-object?
Action is that which does not result in bondage, and Knowledge is that which becomes the means to freedom. Other than that, all actions are mere exertion, and other knowledges are mere fantasies.
O Fortunate-One, thus having reckoned these an vain, bowing to you, I tell the higher essence, please hear.
Who does not want to attain a kingdom, and who does not want to attain wealth? Even then, these both are attained only by them who were to get them.
Every one endeavors for attaining greatness, but the fate is the sole reason for prosperity, not endeavour.
O Lord, even incapable, unintelligent, weak and ignorant, because of their fate, attain different kinds of glories and kinddom etc.
Thus, one who desires great glory, should endeavor toward collecting good karma, and one who desires liberation should yearn for evenness.
Gods, Humans, Animals, Birds, Trees and plants - all these, even situated as if different from God Vishnu, are, in reality, forms of Sri Ananta (God) alone.
The person knowing this, should see this entire moving unmoving world accordingly, because all this, having the form of this entire world, is Bhagwan Vishnu.
Having known this, that beginningless Supreme Lord, Bhagwan Achutya becomes happy and on his being happy, all sufferings dissapear.
Sri Parashar Ji said: Hearing this, Harinyakashipu, rose from his royal seat in anger and kicked his son Prahlad on his chest.
And said the following, rubbing his hands burning in anger, as if about to destroy the entire world.
Harinyakashipu said: O Viprachite! O Raho! O Bal! (Servants) Tie him up properly and throw him in the ocean without delay. Otherwise, this entire world and also the demons etc. will start following this foolish evel soul.
We tried to stop him but this cruel-minded keeps praising the enemy. Alright! It is beneficial to destroy such cruel people.
Sri Parashar Ji said: Then the demons, following the order of their master, immediately tied him up and threw him in the ocean.
At that time, the entire ocean became restless because of Pralad Ji's movement and large waves started forming.
Seeing the entire earth drowning from those huge waves, Harinyakashipu said to his Demons.
Harinyakashipu said: O Demons, cover this evil-minded from all sides by mountains. Neither fire burnt him, neither did weapons cut him, nor did he died from snakes, and wind, poison and fiery-creation also failed to destroy him. Neither did magic killed him, nor being thrown from above, or being crused by elephants.
This child is extremely cruel-minded, and there is no use of his living anymore.
Thus, now, burried under mountains for thousands of years under the water, this evel-minded will give up his life himself.
Then, the demons covered him up with mountains, thousands of miles high.
At that time, having burried under mountains of stones, Sri Prahlad Ji praised Bhagwan Sri Achutya thus:
Prahlad Ji said:
Raghavendra Swami
Followers of the Madhva sect believe that Prahlad was reincarnated as Raghavendra Swami, in the seventeenth century.
"Prahlad"