Intro
Prahlada, as the
Bhagavatha text declares, was rooted in faith in Lord Narayana and His
universal absolute reality. Hence he was in Bliss
(Ananda) wherever he was and
whatever the set of circumstances. The very name Prahlada has ananda soaked in
it. Halada means ananda and prefix pra means that Ananda which is full.
Prahlada means "Full Bliss"- a person who is full of
ananda. How could he attain that state? He gave up attachment to his name and
form and sought the atma as the only reality and identified that reality with
Narayana.The mythological story of Prahlad, is
described in Vishnu Puran as the fourth incarnation of Vishnu,Nara-simhavatar
and a great devotee of Maha Vishnu.
Story
Prahlad was
the son of the Asura king Hiranyakashipu. The Asuras were super-humans who
lived in the underworld, unrighteous in act and were hostile to gods.
Hiranyakashipu wanted to be the undisputed ruler of the three worlds - the
heaven, the earth and the underworld. He performed severe penance to seek
blessing of Brahma for immortality.
Brahma, however, declined, saying "All living beings must
face death Hiranyakashipu. You can, however, choose your death wish."
Hiranyakashipu then asked for three conditions, as his death wish, "He be
killed by someone who is neither human nor a beast, in a time which is neither
during the day nor during the night, and in a place which is neither inside nor
outside." Brahma agreed and Hiranyakashipu got his death wishes granted.
Thus he became practically immortal.
Hiranyakashipu, with his new powers, attacked heaven and subdued
all the gods. He then declared himself to be the king of all the three worlds.
He soon ordered all people to worship him and no one else. His hostilities knew
no bounds. The gods approached Lord Vishnu for His help. Vishnu assured that He
will take rebirth when the time comes.
Soon Hiranyakashipu got a son. He was named Prahlad.
Hiranyaaksha,
the younger brother of Hiranyakasipu, was killed by Vishnu in his incarnation
as Varaha . In order to acquire invincible power,
Hiranyakasipu left for Mount Manthara to perform a rigorous penance. While he
was away doing penance his wife, Leelavathi, was taken by sage Narada to his
ashram to protect her and the child she was carrying, from the onslaught of
devas. He imparted to her the knowledge of the exploits of Narayana. Though she
did not pay much attention to the teachings of Narada, the child in the womb
absorbed them and started meditating on the Mahamantra,"OM
NAMO NARAYANA" while still in the womb.
Prahlad grew up to be a lovely boy. His father was unaware of the
fact that Prahlad was an ardent devotee of Vishnu. Hiranyakashipu, however,
wanted his son to be the king of the Asuras, strong and ruthless. One day
Hiranyakashipu lovingly asked his son, "Dear Son, what do you think is the
best thing in life?" Prahlad replied, "To renounce the world and seek
refuge in Vishnu." Hiranyakashipu was shocked to hear this. He could not
tolerate the idea that his son loves the sworn enemy of the Asuras, Lord
Vishnu. He felt that someone deliberately trying to brainwash his son,
undermining his future dreams. To find this out, Hiranyakashipu sent Prahlad to
his teacher.
The teacher lovingly asked Prahlad, "Who has taught you about
Vishnu?" Prahlad calmly replied, "Vishnu himself." The teacher
was furious. He called for his cane and beat Prahlad mercilessly. Prahlad
stayed quiet and completed his education. He quietly shared his feelings with his
friends without the knowledge of his teacher. His serene behavior and thoughts
of divine happiness appealed the young students. They believed that Vishnu is
all prevailing, caring and the true preserver of the universe.
After his graduation, Prahlad returned to his father.
Hiranyakashipu expected his son to behave like an Asura prince. So he lovingly
asked, "What worthwhile occupation did you learn from the teacher?"
Prahlad unhesitatingly said, "Father, the only worthwhile
occupation that I learnt is to dedicate my life in the work of Vishnu, the Lord
of Preservation." Hiranyakashipu shouted, "You wicked teacher, you taught my
son to worship my worst enemy, Vishnu!" The teacher repeatedly tried to
assure that he did not teach such a thing.
Prahlad tried to convince his father "Father, my friends in
the school believed me when I said Lord Vishnu reveals Himself to all who
devoted to Him. You should also do the same and humbly accept Vishnu as the
Lord of the Universe."
Hiranyakashipu raged in anger and ordered his subordinates to kill
Prahlad. They tried different means but Prahlad stayed in deep meditation of
Vishnu and nothing hurt him.Hiranyakashipu became thoughtful. "This boy is immortal and
fears nothing. Will he be the cause of my death?" He shouted in anger, "You
wicked wretch! Are you trying to destroy me and my race! The rulers of the
three worlds quake before me. What is the source of your power?"
"Oh father" replied Prahlad, "It is Vishnu. He is
the source of our power. He is present everywhere and protects all who believed
in Him."
Impatient Hiranyakashipu could not bear any longer. He pulled out
his sword and challenged Prahlad, "I will see how Vishnu can protect
you." Hiranyakashipu pointed towards the pillar outside the hall and
shouted, "Is He present in this pillar?"
"Yes father" was the calm reply from little Prahlad.
Hiranyakashipu outrageously ran towards the pillar shouting, "I will first
kick the pillar to prove that you are wrong and then I will kill you."
When Hiranyakashipu kicked the pillar with great force, to his
utter surprise, he saw the pillar burst open and Lord Vishnu emerged as
Nara-simha, half human and half lion. Hiranyakashipu remembered his first death
wish, "To be killed by some one who is neither human nor beast." It
was also the twilight hour, neither day nor night, the second death wish.
Nara-simha caught Hiranyakashipu and carried to the threshold of the courtroom.
The place was neither inside nor outside. This was Hiranyakashipus third death
wish. There Hiranyakashipu was killed by the fourth incarnation of Vishnu,
Nara-simha. Other three were fish, turtle and wild boar. After killing
Hiranyakashipu, Narasimha sat at his thrown and peace came back to the earth.
All the gods came to pay homage to the incarnation of Vishnu and
asked Prahlad, who was not the least afraid of the horrible beast, to pacify
him so that He comes back to his normal peaceful form. Narsimha was touched by
Prahlads devotion. He came back to his normal form and asked Prahlad to ask
for any boon. Prahlad humbly said, "Let my father be purified of all his
sins." Vishnu blessed Prahlad and asked him to reign in his place and
perform the duties of a just ruler. Prahlad ruled wisely and well ever after.
Once there was a
contest between Virochana, the son of Prahlada, and Sudharva, the son of the
sage Angirasa. It was agreed that whoever loses the contest should forfeit his
life to the winner. Both of them prayed to Prahlada to act as the judge for the
contest, being convinced that he would be totally impartial and fair. Prahlada
agreed to act a judge because he was pledged to uphold truth, without any other
consideration. After watching the contest, Prahlada declared Sudharva as the
winner and his own son, Virochana, as the loser.
Unable to control his joy over the verdict,
Sudharva embraced Prahlada and said, " Prahlada
because of your adherence to truth, you gave the verdict against your own son."Prahalda
knew that whoever lost the contest should forfeit his life. But that did not
deter him from pronouncing the verdict against his son
There is no greater Dharma than Truth.
Prahlada was
not swayed by any sense of paternal love. He shed no tears. He watched the
outcome of his judgement with a sense of fulfilment.
Recognising the utter dedication of Prahlada to
Truth and Righteousness, Sudharva declared, "Prahlada! Your
devotion to Truth will restore the life of your son. I am not claiming his life
as the reward of my victory. I am giving back your sons life to you.Prahlada! You
have stood by Dharma. There by you ,have your son.
In this manner Sudharva
praised Prahlada.
Consider the cases of Hiranyaksha and
Hiranyakasipu. They were not ordinary men. They were incarnations of Jaya and
Vijaya, the Divine guards at the gate of the Lords mansion in Vaikunta.
Hiranyakasipu developed
bitter hatred towards Vishnu as the slayer of his brother, Hiranyaksha. He
searched for Vishnu in every conceivable place, in the ocean, deep in the earth
and in the sky, but could not find him. Had Vishnu run away from Hiranyakasipu
out of fear? No. He was Omnipresent. But He could not proclaim it Himself. He
made Hiranyakasipus son Prahlada declare it.
There is a story relating to Prahlada. Once Indra
secured from Prahlada the gift of his character When character left
Prahlada, the Goddesses of Fame, Royal Prosperity and Prowess left him one
after the other. Prahlada allowed them to go. But when Truth started to leave, Prahlada
prayed to the Goddess not to leave him. The moment Truth stayed with Prahlada,
the deities representing Fame, Prosperity etc also returned.
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