The Story of Prahlada

Image by Mukul Banerjee via Flickr

The Sanakadhikas(sons of Lord Brahma) once went to have the darshan of Lord Vishnu in Vaikuntam(the exclusive place of Lord Vishnu). Jaya and Vijaya, the demigod  gate-keepers of Vaikunta, refused to allow the Sanakadhikas to enter. The Sanakadhikas got angry and cursed Jaya and Vijaya to be born as demons in the Bhooloka(the planet Earth) thrice. One of the demons thus born was Hiranyakashipu. He did severe penance and got many boons from God Brahma(God of Creation). The boons are

“Not to be killed by Demon, God or by Beast. Not by Day nor by Night. By no manufactured Weapons. Not Outdoors Nor Inside. Not in the Sky nor on Earth.”

Hiranyakasipu had a child by name Prahlada. Prahlada was a born devotee of Lord Vishnu. Hiranyakasipu did not like his son being a devotee of Lord Vishnu and tried all means to change him but could not. He challenged his son Prahlada that if Vishnu was everywhere as Prahlada claimed, he would hit a pillar and if Vishnu was not in the pillar, he would kill Prahlada. Prahlada stood his ground and said that Vishnu was there even in the words of Hiranyakasipu’s question.” Hiranyakasipu hits the pillar.

Out came Narasimha with a lion face and a human body, and killed Hiranyakasipu with his steel paws at twilight on his lap on the threshold of steps.

Narasimha took his devotee Prahlada on his lap and blessed with his AbhayaHastha(hand) on Prahlada’s head.
Nice to share the story of Prahlada and Vishnu’s Narasimha Avatar with you all today being celebrated as Narasimha Jayanthi.