Bhakt Prahlad is a legendary figure known for his devotion to Lord Vishnu. According to the mythological stories, Prahlad was the son of an evil king named Hiranyakashyap, who was granted a boon by Lord Brahma, the creator of the universe, that he could not be killed by any human or animal, nor in the day or night, nor inside or outside, nor by any weapon. Hiranyakashyap became arrogant and started to demand that everyone in his kingdom worship him instead of the gods. However, Prahlad refused to do so and remained steadfast in his devotion to Lord Vishnu, whom he considered the supreme being. This angered Hiranyakashyap who subjected Prahlad to various forms of torture and attempted to kill him multiple times. Holika Holika was the sister of the demon king Hiranyakashyap, and the aunt of Prahlada. Her story is an integral part of the festival of Holi that celebrates the victory of good over evil and the arrival of spring. Hiranyakashyap had a boon from Lord Brahma that made him virtually invincible. His sister, Holika also had a boon by Lord Brahma, which made her immune to fire. To get rid of Prahlada, Hiranyakashyap sought the help of Holika. She suggested that she would sit with Prahlada on a pyre of fire, in order to kill him. Holika and Prahlada were then placed in a bonfire, with Holika wearing a protective shawl, but to everyone’s surprise, the shawl flew off Holika and covered Prahlada, thus saving him from the fire. Holika was burned to death instead. The story of Holika is often retold during the festival of Holi, with people lighting bonfires to symbolise the victory of good over evil and the burning of Holika. The festival is also associated with the colourful powders and waters that are thrown during the celebration, which are said to represent the joy and vibrancy of spring. Lord Narsimha As Hiranyakashyap had received a boon from Lord Brahma that could not be killed by any man or animal, could not be killed during the day or the night, could not be killed indoors or outdoors, and could not be killed by any weapon. When all the attempts of Hiranyakashyap to dissuade Prahlad from his devotion to Lord Vishnu failed, he demanded to know where Lord Vishnu was. Prahlad replied that Lord Vishnu was present everywhere, including in the very pillar of the palace. In a fit of rage, Hiranyakashyap struck the pillar, and from it emerged Lord Narasimha. Lord Narasimha is an avatar or incarnation of Lord Vishnu. He has a human-like torso and the lower body of a lion, with a fierce and terrifying appearance. The name “Narasimha” is derived from the Sanskrit words “nara”, which means man, and “simha”, which means lion. Lord Narsimha was neither man nor animal, and was not born from a womb. Narasimha then proceeded to kill Hiranyakashyap by placing him on his lap and tearing open his chest with his claws. Lord Narasimha, being neither a man nor an animal and appearing at dusk, fulfilled all the conditions of Hiranyakashyap’s boon, and thus was able to defeat the demon king and protect Prahlada. Lord Narasimha is widely revered in Hinduism and is worshipped as a symbol of protection and victory over evil. His appearance is often associated with the triumph of good over evil, and his fierce form is believed to represent the power and strength of the divine. Prahlad is revered as an example of unwavering devotion to God, even in the face of extreme adversity. His story is often told to emphasise the importance of faith and trust in the divine, and to inspire devotees to follow in his footsteps.
