Category: Tale from Scriptures

Author – Awadhesh Sharma

King Shantanu of Kuru dynasty was on a hunting expedition in the forest along the River Ganga. On the way he noticed a woman coming from the direction of the river. She was of a flawless beauty resembling an Apsara or nymph. The king was mesmerised by her charm.  The lady also saw the king and was attracted to him. As she came closer, the king introduced himself and praised her celestial beauty and elegance. She was pleased with his compliments and listened to his speech eagerly. Encouraged by her receptive manners, the king asked her to become his wife.

The lady thought for a moment and then spoke to him. She consented to become his queen provided the king met certain conditions during their life together. The condition stipulated that the king would not stop or scold her for her actions, whether for good or ill. She would remain with him as long as he followed these terms. If she was stopped or scolded, she would leave him immediately.  Shantanu assented. The king brought her to his capital Hastinapur, the city of elephants, and there they solemnised their marriage.

Shantanu fathered eight sons with his wife. As each of the first seven children was born, she cast them into the stream. The king mourned but said nothing for fear of loosing her altogether. When the eighth child was born, she seemed full of mirth and departed to drown the newborn baby. The grieving king lost patience. He followed and said to her, “Do not kill him! Who are you? Why do you harm your sons? Stay, wicked child killer; do not incur this dreadful sin!”

She responded stating that she would not kill their last son, but she could not live with him any longer, in accordance with the terms of the agreement they made before their union. She further indicated that she was the celestial river Ganga in human form. Their eight sons were the Vasus, deities of wealth. Sage Vasishtha had cursed them for their transgression to be born in human form. Vasus had approached her for redemption. She had promised to give them birth as human and free them from the curse as soon as they were born, except for the eighth Vasu. Her eighth son would have a long life.

Promising to return their eighth son to the king later, Ganga disappeared taking the child with her.  She named her son Devavrat and took him to different realms. Devavrat was brought up and trained by eminent sages and scholars. Brihaspati the teacher of deities and Sukracharya the teacher of demons taught him political science and other branches of knowledge. Parashuram trained him in warfare. Indra bestowed celestial weapons on him.  Sages Vasishtha, Chyavan, Sanatkumar and Markandey also taught him spiritual disciplines.

Years later, Shantanu was roaming on the banks of the Ganga reminiscing his past. He observed the flow of the river had become shallow. Walking upstream he noticed a youth who was blocking the water flow with a dam made up of arrows. When the king tried to speak to him, he vanished from the scene. Shantanu intuited that his surviving son would have looked like him by now. He addressed Ganga and asked for his son. Ganga appeared before him with their son Devavrat and presented him to the king. Shantanu returned home with his son and installed him as prince. Devavrat delighted the subjects with his valour and conduct and helped his father in royal responsibilities. 

One day Shantanu visited a forest near river Yamuna. He smelt a wonderful fragrance. He searched for its source and traced it to a lovely girl. On enquiry, she told him that she was the daughter of a fisherman and her name was Satyavati. She ferried people across the river as instructed by her father.

The king was so impressed by her fragrance and beauty that he wanted to marry her. He went to her father to ask for her hand. The fisherman consented on a condition that her son should be consecrated as king after him.  The king could not accept this condition. Devavrat was already appointed the prince and was on track to be the next king. The king returned home disappointed and felt disheartened. Devavrat noticed his condition and learned from a reliable elder the reason for his father’s state of mind.

He went to the fisherman and asked for his daughter as wife for his father. The fisherman repeated his condition. Devavrat declared that he renounced his claim to the kingship to satisfy the condition. To allay any chance of claim to the throne from his children, he further vowed to remain celibate, and never marry throughout his life.

Hearing his vows, celestial deities and sages showered flowers on him from the sky and said, “He is Bhishma” referring to his terrible vow. He became known as Bhishma.

Bhishma brought Satyavati to Hastinapur and presented her to his father. When Shantanu learnt about his vow, he felt obliged and offered him a boon that would allow him to die at time of his choosing. To dispel any danger to the kingdom in the future, Bhishma vowed to protect the kingdom and remain loyal to the throne of Hastinapur.

Shantanu wedded Satyavati. The couple had two sons named Chitrangad and Vichitravirya. After Shantanu’s death Bhishma installed Chitrangad as king. Chitrangad died in a battle with a Gandharva. Bhishma then installed Vichitravirya who was still a child, and acted under Bhishma’s instructions.

When Vichitravirya attained a marriageable age, Bhishma attended the Swayamvar that the king of Kashi had arranged for his three daughters, named Amba, Ambika and Ambalika. He announced his presence, as he was not invited, and abducted all the three girls for his half-brother Vichitravirya. He overcame resistance from king Salva and other potential suitors, and brought the girls home.

Ambika and Ambalika wedded Vichitravirya but Amba refused stating that she loved Salva and had chosen him as her husband. She was allowed to return to her lover but Salva refused to accept her. She returned to Bhishma and asked him to marry her. Bhishma could not marry due to his vow. Amba held Bhishma responsible for her predicament, and planned her revenge. She approached Parashuram for help, who unsuccessfully advised Bhishma to accept Amba as his wife. Then they fought for many days, and finally Bhishma defeated Parashuram. Later Amba prayed to Shiva, who granted her a boon to be able to be an accomplice in Bhishma’s death.

Vichitravirya died of consumption without producing an heir. On Bhishma’s suggestion, Satyavati summoned her son Vyas Dvaipayan. Sage Parasar had begotten Vyas on Satyavati before her marriage to Shantanu. Through the system of Niyoga with Vyas, Ambika gave birth to Dhritrastra and Ambalika to Pandu. Bhishma managed the kingdom until they grew to adulthood.

Pandu was installed as king since the elder brother Dhritrastra was blind from birth. Bhishma arranged their marriage. Dhritrastra married Gandhari and Pandu married Kunti and Madri. Hundred sons were born to Gandhari. They were called Kauravas. Duryodhan the eldest was their leader. Pandu had five sons, called Pandavas. Yudhisthir was the eldest who later became king. Pandu died due to a curse when his sons were still children. In his absence, Dhritrastra was invested with the throne under protection of Bhishma.

Bhishma engaged Guru Dronacharya as a teacher to educate all the princes. From early childhood Duryodhan displayed animosity towards Pandavas. His attitude was dangerous for harmony in the family.

Bhishma often counselled Duryodhan but he would not listen to him. King Dhritrastra was unable to take any action against his son. Bhishma also despised Karna whom he believed to be one of the main advisors of Duryodhan.

Bhishma became aware of the incident of Lakshagrih, the House of Lac only after Pandavas had escaped and returned home after marrying Draupadi. Duryodhan had conspired to burn Pandavas with their mother Kunti alive in the Lakshagrih.

Pandavas revered Bhishma highly. On his advice Yudhisthir designated Krishna as the chief guest of honour during his consecration as king of Indraprasth.

During disrobing of Draupadi at the game of dice, Bhishma remained a silent witness. He fought against Arjun, from the side of Kauravas during their confrontation with the army of Matsya king Virat.

When Pandavas returned from exile, Bhishma tried to convince Dhritrastra to return their share of the kingdom but could not prevail over Duryodhan’s contention.

During the peace mission of Krishna, Bhishma supported his proposal and witnessed his cosmic expansion in the assembly hall.

In the Mahabharat war, he accepted the role of commander in chief of the Kauravas army on the condition that he would not kill any of the Pandava brothers. Also, he barred Karna from joining the fight during his leadership of the army.  He set up specific rules of the war that both parties accepted.

Bhishma fought for ten days. During the war he killed innumerable warriors. He even forced Krishna to break his vow of not taking a weapon to use in the war. On Yudhisthir’s request, Bhishma told him the tactics of how he could be killed.

On the tenth day, Shikhandi, the reincarnated Amba as male, attacked him. Bhishma considered Shikhandi a woman due to his previous birth, and as such, declined to engage in combat with him. From behind Shikhandi, Arjun pierced his body with arrows, felling him from his chariot. He remained suspended on the arrows, which were embedded all over his body except the head. This was the end of his fighting in the war.

Both Kaurava and Pandava chiefs visited him on his makeshift deathbed to offer respects. Bhishma asked for a support for his head. Duryodhan brought pillows, which he declined to accept. Arjun hit arrows below his head that made a fitting head-support for him. He further asked for water. Arjun pierced the earth with an arrow. Fresh water sprang out from the earth and poured in his mouth.

Karna also came to pay his respect and obtained blessings from him.

Bhishma did not die during the war thanks to the boon from his father that enabled him to choose his own time of death. Pandavas won the war. However, Yudhisthir remained grieving over the immense loss of life and utter destruction in the war.

Krishna knew that Bhishma was the storehouse of knowledge. He brought Yudhisthir to Bhishma who lay suspended on the bed of arrows. Krishna praised him for his knowledge and virtues and freed him from pain by touching his body. Bhishma informed them that he would relinquish his body in auspicious Uttarayan when the sun moved to the northern direction

Krishna requested him to dispel Yudhisthir’s grief. Bhishma agreed and gave a long sermon that continued for many days. He explained the nature of Dharma, duties of kings, duties of people in their different stages and classes, and answered queries from Yudhisthir on many spiritual, political and social issues.

Bhishma declared that Krishna was an incarnation of the supreme god Vishnu. He enumerated thousand names of Vishnu, known as Vishnu Sahastranam.

After the sermon, Yudhisthir’s grief was dispelled and he took up the kingship. When the time of Bhishma’s departure arrived, Yudhisthir came to see him. He noticed Bhishma surrounded by celestial sages. Bhishma greeted him and confirmed that his time of death was now and took leave of all.

Bhishma brought his breath under yogic control and released it through the top of his head.  His life breath flew in the sky like a shining star. Pandavas cremated his body on the banks of River Ganga. Bhishma’s mother Ganga came to the site of cremation, lamenting. Krishna reminded her of the reason of her son’s birth and assured her that he had attained his position in heaven.

His death anniversary is commemorated as Bhishma Ashtami, on the eighth day of bright fortnight in the month of Magh (January-February).

Bhishma is the eldest character of the epic Mahabharat. He was a grandfather of both Kauravas and Pandavas.

In the epic, Bhishma Parva describes in detail his exploits in the war, and Shanti and Anushasan Parvas contain his discourses on various disciplines.

Author – Awadhesh Sharma

The earliest source referring to Savitri and her accomplishments is found in the Van Parva, Forest Book, of the Mahabharat.   Pandavas were spending their twelve-year exile in the forests. Various sages visited Pandavas during this period and narrated motivating stories to soothe their feelings over their misfortune.

Once sage Markandey visited Pandavas after Draupadi was freed from king Jayadrath who had abducted her during their absence.  Yudhishthir recounted the tale of their tribulations and told him about the incidence of Draupadi’s abduction. Markandey narrated the story of Ram who was exiled for fourteen years. His wife Sita was abducted in the forest. Ram recovered her, returned home and eventually became a king. Ram had only one brother with him in the forest. His conditions were harsher than that of Pandavas.

Yudhishthir noted that he was not grieving for himself or brothers but for Draupadi who was subjected to unforgiving treatments. Subsequently Markandey narrated the story of princess Savitri who endured challenging tasks and situations. She overcame them and attained all the greatness that wellborn women might aspire to.

There was a king named Ashvapati who ruled over Madra, an ancient kingdom in India. He was merciful, truthful and devoted to the wellbeing of all creatures in his kingdom. He was childless and longed for progeny to fulfil his obligations to his ancestors as per tradition. He performed severe penance and offered oblations with recitation of Savitri Mantra, also known as Gayatri Mantra, to acquire his progeny. After a long period of penance, goddess Savitri became pleased with his devotion and appeared before the king in person.

Goddess Savitri is the daughter of the solar deity Savitur. She and Gayatri are identified as consorts of Brahma. The goddess offered the king to ask for a boon.  The king requested her to bless him with offspring. The goddess conceded that the king would soon have a magnificent daughter and promised that his wish would be fulfilled.

Soon the queen Malava, wife of Ashvapati, became pregnant and in due course delivered a baby girl. As the baby was born as a result of the boon from goddess Savitri, the king named the baby, Savitri. Savitri grew up with time and attained a resplendent form with all the splendours of an intelligent princess.

When Savitri reached a marriageable age, despite her extraordinary beauty and attributes, there were no proposals for marriage from suitable candidates. Suitable princes were shy of her beauty and accomplishments, and did not dare to approach her or her parents to ask for her hand. Savitri’s parents became worried about her future.

One day Savitri came to the king’s court to pay him respect. After traditional civilities, the king introduced the issue of her marriage. Savitri opted to select her husband herself, following the system of Svayamvar, a recognised process for a woman to choose her husband.  The king consented to her choice and arranged for her travel to various regions to select a suitable spouse. Savitri supported by priests and assistants left in search of her potential partner.

Sometime later, when the roaming sage Narad was with the king Ashvapati, Savitri returned home after completion of her mission and presented herself to the king. Looking at the princess, Narad enquired about the actions being taken to arrange her matrimonial relationship. Ashvapati spoke to him about her trip and asked Savitri to describe the progress of her journey in detail.

 Savitri told them that she had found a proper person for marriage. His name was Satyavan, and he lived in a forest with his parents. His father Dyumatsen was a king of Shalva kingdom. When Satyavan was still a child, his father lost his sight. A bordering king, former enemy of Dyumatsen, attacked the blind king and seized power from him. Dyumatsen along with his wife and infant son took shelter in the forest, where they practiced austerity. Now Satyavan, born in a palace and raised in a forest hermitage, was available for marriage. 

Hearing her account, Narad became apprehensive.  The king asked Narad about the reason for his anxiety. Narad said that Savitri had unknowingly erred. The king suspected that Satyavan might lack attributes necessary to be a partner of Savitri. He requested Narad to elaborate further. Narad described Satyavan’s attributes, which were highly noble. He said, “Satyavan has the ardour of the sun. He is Brihaspati’s equal in intelligence. He is as brave as Indra and as forbearing as the earth.” Narad also listed other qualities that Satyavan possessed. Then the king asked Narad about Satyavan’s weaknesses.  Narad said that his one and only weakness that undermined his strength was his short life. Satyavan would die in one year from now.

The king was alarmed and along with Narad asked Savitri to reconsider and nominate another person for groom. Savitri refused to change her decision. Finally the king conceded and gave her his blessing to marry Satyavan. To formalise the relationship, the king visited Dyumatsen in his forest hermitage and confirmed Savitri’s wedding with Satyavan. The wedding of Savitri and Satyavan was solemnised in the forest with royal rituals.

Ashvapati offered gifts to his daughter appropriate to his position.  After the wedding, Savitri began living with her husband and in-laws in their forest hermitage. She discarded her royal jewelleries and dresses, and embraced plain and rough clothes. She performed her duties diligently. Despite being busy with chores of family responsibilities, she remained always conscious of Narad’s prediction about her husband’s death.

As time passed and the expected date for her husband’s death remained only three days away, Savitri requested permission from Satyavan and in-laws to fast, chant prayers and observe mental and physical purity. They agreed. She took vows to perform her penance for the welfare of her husband and observed fast for three days.

When three day fasting was over, her husband and in-laws insisted that she should ingest fluids and food. She declined to break her fast and convinced them that she would eat and drink after sunset that day. This was the predicted day of Satyavan’s death and this impending event tormented her.

In the morning, Satyavan started for the forest to collect eatable roots and fruits and firewood for the family. Savitri was worried about him and did not wish to leave him alone. She followed him into the forest. In the forest, Satyavan collected eatables and then started splitting wood near a Banyan tree for fuel. Suddenly he felt extreme pain in his chest and fell to the ground unconscious. Savitri went to him and started massaging him to soothe his pain.

As she was helping Satyavan, Savitri noticed a terrifying person with red eyes and noose in hand coming towards her husband. She asked him to identify himself, as his form was not of a common human being. He responded in a human voice that he did not normally talk to creatures, but had made an exception in her case due to her moral purity. He introduced himself as Yamaraj, the lord of death, and told her that he had come to take away Satyavan’s life. Normally his assistants performed this task but as Satyavan was righteous, handsome and virtuous, Yamaraj himself had come. Yamaraj tied Satyavan’s life in the noose and started toward the direction of his realm. Savitri followed him.

Yamaraj noticed her behind him. He asked her to return to her husband and perform his funeral rites. Savitri responded by stating that it was her Dharma to follow her husband. As Yamaraj was taking away her husband’s life, she needed to follow him. Yamaraj became very pleased with her intention and told her to request a boon, other than the return of her husband’s life. Savitri requested that her father-in-law regain his eyesight and become as mighty as the blazing sun.

Yamaraj accepted her request and advised her to turn back as she was already very tired. Savitri responded that she could not be tired when she was near her husband. She said, “It is known that even a single meeting with a virtuous person is greatly desired, but she was blessed with friendship and marriage with such a person.”

Yamaraj said, “Your speech pleases my heart and enhances the wisdom of wise. Choose a second boon, other than the life of Satyavan.” Savitri asked that her father-in-law regain his lost kingdom and never stray from Dharma.

Yamaraj conceded to her request and asked her to turn back.  Savitri said, “All beings on earth are governed by you and your ordinances and it is by ordinance that you take them away. The eternal Dharma of the virtuous is to do no harm to any creature by deed, thought and word, and practice kindness and generosity. Mostly people follow this according to their capability, but it is only the virtuous people, who show compassion even to their enemies.”

Yamaraj said, “Your words are to my ears like water to a thirsty person. Choose a further boon, other than the life of Satyavan. Savitri answered, “My father has no son. May my father be blessed with sons to continue his patriarchal lineage.

Yamaraj granted her this request and asked her to return as she had now travelled far. Savitri replied that she was not far when she was close to her husband. She requested Yamaraj to listen and said, “You are a mighty son of Vivasvan. You are known on earth as Vaivasvat and Dharmaraj. People trust virtuous people even more than they trust themselves. Everyone desires the friendship of the virtuous.

Yamaraj said, “I have never heard such words as you have spoken. Choose a fourth boon, other than the life of your husband.” Savitri requested, “May numerous sons be born to Satyavan and myself.” Yamaraj bequeathed the requested boon and patiently asked her to return.

Savitri again lauded the importance of virtues and Dharma. Yamaraj felt obliged to grant her another boon of her choice. Savitri responded, “Please return life to Satyavan. To make your fourth boon true, my husband has to be alive.”  Yamaraj realised the import and approved her request and released Satyavan’s life from his noose. He said to Savitri, “Lady, you are delight of your family. I have released your husband. He will have a long life and you will have sons with him.”

Having secured her husband’s life, Savitri returned to where Satyavan had fallen on the ground. As she touched him, Satyavan regained consciousness. He opened his eyes as if he awoke from sleep. It was already late in the night and they hurried back to their hermitage. Dyumatsen and his wife were relieved after seeing their son and daughter-in-law safely returned.

Soon Dyumatsen regained his eyesight and his kingdom. King Ashvapati was blessed with sons. Satyavan and Savitri became parents of many sons. After his father, Satyavan ruled his kingdom for a long period.

Sage Markandey concluded the story by telling Yudhishthir that Savitri rescued herself, her parents, parents-in-law and her husband from calamity. In the same way Draupadi, like Savitri, is also a highborn woman renowned for her character, and she would save you all. The story demonstrates the importance of having patience, hope and caring attitude.

The story of Savitri has become a part of Hindu tradition and is celebrated as the Vat-Savitri festival.  Women perform rituals during this festival for the welfare and long life of their husband. They fast, worship Vat or Banyan tree and tie a sacred thread around it. They also listen to the story of Savitri. Venerating the banyan tree also exhibits the significance of plants and trees in our lives. The celebration continues over three days in the Vikram Samvat calendar month of Jyestha (May–June). Observance of this festival highlights the determination, courage, devotion and love for her family displayed by a woman.

Author – Awadhesh Sharma

Holika-Dahan, the lighting of bon-fire, is an important element of Holi, the Hindu festival of colours. It is  performed on the night before the celebration of the festival. The festival has become popular all over the world, and its celebration with colours and the performance of Holika-Dahan have been adapted to local conditions.

Traditionally, in Indian villages, Ashrams and rural settlements, a green stick of castor-oil plant was vertically placed in the ground and combustible materials such as drywood and dry cattle-dung cakes were collected around it for Holika-Dahan. Just before lighting the fire, the green stick was removed and then combustibles were burnt.

The green stick symbolised Prahlad, who remained safe from the bon-fire and the combustible materials symbolisd Holika, who burnt to ashes. Prahlad, the son of a demon king Hiranyakashipu, was a Vishnu Bhakta, devotee of Lord Vishnu. Holika, the sister of Hiranyakashipu, was immune to fire by the effects of boons that she had received from deities. She was deputed by her brother to burn Prahlad for being a devotee of Vishnu. Legends of Prahlad are described in Hindu scriptures including the Bhagavat and Vishnu Purans.

Events in the legend relate to the primeval period following the new Creation of  the World after cosmic dissolution. Brahma created a number of psychic sons and daughters Including four Kumaras, Narad, Daksh Prajapati, Marichi and other sages with immense abilities.

Once, four Kumaras named Sanak, Sanandan, Sanatan and Sanatkumar went to Vaikunth, the abode of Vishnu, to worship him. Although they were older than stars and planets, they always looked like small children. Two gatekeepers of Vaikunth, named Jay and Vijay, assuming them to  be ordinary youngsters, stopped them at the gate, barring their passage towards Vishnu. An argument ensued  and considering gatekeepers’ behaviour to be comparable to that of mortal creatures, the Kumaras cursed them to be born in the mortal world with Tamasic, demonic attributes. The gatekeepers realised the power of Kumaras and begged for forgiveness. At that moment, Vishnu appeared before them. He welcomed the Kumaras, who worshipped him and departed. Vishnu rebuked the gatekeepers for their poor behaviour. The gatekeepers requested Vishnu for emancipation from the curse of Kumaras. Vishnu said to Jay and Vijay, ‘You two will be born thrice into the mortal world as cursed by the Kumaras, and I will incarnate myself to kill you each time to liberate you from the curse.’

In the first birth after the curse, Jay and Vijay were born as Hiranyaksh, golden eye and Hiranyakashipu, golden body as twin sons of sage Kashyap and mother Diti.

Daksh Prajapati begot a number of daughters. Thirteen of his daughters including Aditi, the boundless and Diti, the beautiful chose sage Kashyap, the son of Marichi, as their husband.  Devatas, celestial deities, were born to Aditi. Once Kashyap was performing his Sandhya Vandan, evening worship with fire sacrifice as usual at the time of dusk. Diti came to the sage in the Ashram and desired to become mother, as her sister Aditi had already become a mother. Kashyap explained to her that the dusk was the time for prayer and worship. He said, ‘During this period, Lord Shiva along with his Gana, attendants, roams around with all his three eyes open that include the setting sun, the rising moon and the flame of the sacrificial evening fire. Their sighting is generally inauspicious for such desire’. However, she insisted and conceived with twins. She prayed to sage Kashyap and Shiva for the wellbeing of the babies in her womb. In time, Diti gave birth to two beautiful sons, named Hiranyaksh and Hiranyakashipu. Both were very strong and after performing penance and meditation pleased Brahma and received occult power. Both were of Tamashi Pravriti or demonic nature and were recognised as Daitya, Rakshas, Asura  or demon. They later became king of demons. Both the deities and demons were half-brothers from Kashyap, the same father, but their characteristics were quite opposite.

Brahma created the first humans, Manu and Shatrupa, and asked them to procreate, to spread the human race. At that time, Earth, which was needed to provide for sustenance of humans, was submerged in the sea.  On request from Manu and Shatrupa, Brahma prayed to Vishnu, who came out from Brahma’s nostril as air and converted into a gigantic boar. The boar plunged into the sea and tried to lift the Earth to bring it to the water’s surface. The demon king Hiranyaksh obstructed his passage. A duel ensued between them, and eventually, the boar killed Hiranyaksh and brought the Earth onto the water’s surface. This Boar form of Vishnu is also known as Varah-avatar, the third incarnation of Vishnu.

After Hiranyaksh, his brother Hiranyakashipu became the king of demons. He decided to take revenge and inflict injury and death to Vishnu for his brother’s death. Hiranyakashipu realised that his brother Hiranyaksh was equal in strength to him, but Vishnu had killed him. It was possible that he would meet the same outcome, so he wanted to become immortal prior to challenging Vishnu. He acknowledged that immortality could be achieved through penance and so he started his mission of gaining immortality. His penance continued for a long time and it became so severe that the heat of his sacrament started inflicting deities. They approached Brahma to convince the demon to abandon his penance. Brahma obliged and appeared before Hiranyakashipu and asked him to forsake his penance. In return, he was ready to grant any boon of his choice, other than his immortality, which was against the rule of nature.  Hiranyakashipu agreed and requested, ‘Grant me that none among your creatures shall kill me. Let me not die by day or by night, on earth or in the sky, by man or beast. Let no weapons kill me, neither inside a dwelling nor outside. Let none of the living or insentient kill me, no deities, Asuras or Nagas.’ Brahma granted the boon and Hiranyakashipu returned home with golden splendour. He believed that he had indirectly obtained immortality.

When Hiranyakashipu departed for performing the penance, his wife Lilawati, also known by name Kayadhu, was pregnant with her son. In absence of Hiranyakashipu, Indra the leader of deities abducted her with intention to kill the baby after his birth and destroy the dynasty of the demon. On the way, the wandering sage Narad encountered Indra and rebuked him for his ignoble action. Finally, Indra freed Lilawati, who went with Narad for safety. She resided in his Ashram and regularly listened to spiritual discourses that were conducted by Narad and other sages. When time approached, Lilawati gave birth to a baby boy, who was named Prahlad. Lilawati along with her son was united with her husband Hiranyakashipu after his return home with Brahma’s blessings. Hiranyakashipu was very pleased to see his son, Prahlad. He assumed his kingship and defeated all opponents including deities, and became the Lord of the Earth and Heaven. He declared himself God and demanded that he alone should be worshipped. He searched for Vishnu, the killer of his brother, to take revenge but could not find him. Deities fled or became subservient to him.

As a baby in the womb, Prahlad had heard spiritual stories. He was very virtuous by nature and a great devotee of Vishnu. Prahlad respected his parents but for him Vishnu was the supreme god of the universe. His propensities were not consistent with his father’s expectations. Hiranyakashipu hoped that an appropriate education could influence Prahlad’s mind, as he was still a young boy and he would accept him God. He deputed teachers Sanda and Amarka, the sons of Daitya’s teacher Sukracharya to teach Prahlad. 

In a short period, Prahlad mastered the Vedic knowledge but remained steadfast in his devotion to Vishnu. During his stay at the Gurukul, Prahlad was also able to convince fellow students with his idea of Vishnu being the ultimate God, and convert them into Vishnu’s devotee. Hiranyakashipu was enraged by his son’s behaviour. He persisted in his attempts to change his son’s attitude but in vain. Thinking that punishment would be effective, Hiranyakashipu put his son in a prison without food and water, but Prahlad endured and survived. Then he was sent to the torture house where sages and devotees were persecuted. He remained unharmed despite furious attacks. Next, Hiranyakashipu ordered him to be crushed under the feet of elephants. Instead, miraculously, elephants placed a garland on his neck. Prahlad was flung from a cliff of a mountain but he landed softly on the ground. Hiranyakashipu’s anger increased with failures of his efforts with intentions initially to reform and then to kill Prahlad.

He ordered Prahlad to be bitten by venomous snakes. Prahlad was left in the middle of such snakes but they did not bite him. He was left in a jungle filled with wild animals but remained unharmed. Hiranyakashipu’s sister Holika was immune to fire. She was ordered to take Prahlad with her into a burning fire. But the fire did not burn Prahlad, and instead, Holika burnt to ashes. Prahlad was thrown into the sea to drown but he returned alive. He was given Kalkoot poison to drink, but survived. Prahlad remained devoted to Vishnu, who is also known by many other names including Narayan and Hari, whom Hiranyakashipu considered his greatest enemy.

Hiranyakashipu then decided to kill Prahlad himself. He asked him, ‘Tell me where is Vishnu, your saviour.’ Prahlad explained to his father that Vishnu was everywhere, even in himself, Hiranyakashipu and in the pillar standing in front of him. He is the protector of the world. Hiranyakashipu, in his anger and arrogance, struck the pillar with his sword to check if Vishnu was present there. At that moment Narasimha, a person with a half man and half lion body, appeared from the pillar. He was very angry and frightening. Hiranyakashipu thought that he would never be killed due to Brahma’s boon and engaged in a fight with him. Narasimha overwhelmed him and lifted Hiranyakashipu in his lap and sat at the door of a house. It was dusk, neither day nor night. By lying on Narasimha’s lap, Hiranyakashipu was neither on earth nor in the sky. Narasimha himself was neither a human nor a beast. Using his glinting talons, Narasimha ripped open the heart of Hiranyakashipu and killed him within limitations of the terms of the boon. All deities appeared at the scene and offered prayers to pacify Narasimha. On their request, Prahlad also offered prayers, which soothed and settled Narasimha. Narasimha crowned Prahlad the king of demons and declared him Bhakta Shiromani, the greatest of Vishnu Bhakta.

It was Lord Vishnu who had appeared as Narasimhadev to protect Prahlad from the tyranny of his father Hiranyakashipu. Narasimha is the fourth incarnation of Vishnu. Prahlad ruled his kingdom justly for a long time. After Prahlad, his son Virochan became king of Daityas. King Bali, who was well known for generosity, was the grandson of Prahlad and a son of Virochan. He donated his kingdom and his body to Vaman, the dwarf Brahmin, who was the fifth incarnation of Vishnu. The legend of Prahlad demonstrates the victory of humane virtues over evil forces, and inspires millions to follow the path of righteousness.