Prahalada – A Great Devotee of Vishnu – Indian Mythology

Initially, Hiranyakashipu suspected that the teachers he had appointed for his son were responsible for Prahalada’s piety, but they denied the charges. In fact, they were not responsible for Prahalada’s devotion, which was rooted in his exposure to Narada – The Divine Musician-Sage’s daily discourses on the glory of Vishnu while he was still in his mother’s womb.

When Hiranyakashipu and his brother Hiranyaksha went to the Mandara mountains to conduct penances, Indra saw his chance and attacked their kingdom. He abducted Hiranyakashipu’s wife, who was carrying Prahalada, and wanted to kill the child as soon as it was born. However, Narada advised him to desist from this crime, for the unborn child would be a devotee of Vishnu. Indra yielded Prahalada’s mother to Narada, who allowed her to stay in his hermitage till her husband could return to her.

As Hiranyakashipu failed to persuade his son to abandon his devotion, he became increasingly angry and tried to have him killed. He ordered his servants to push Prahalada from a cliff, but the boy survived by the grace of Vishnu. He then tried to have him executed by being crushed by an elephant, but the elephant would not do it. He tried to have him burned, but he escaped unscathed from the flames.

In a desperate attempt to kill his son, Hiranyakashipu employed his sister Holika, who had power over fire, to do the deed. She took Prahalada on her lap and entered the flames, but by the grace of Vishnu, the flames left Prahalada untouched and instead consumed his aunt. This event is said to be the origin of the festival of Holi.

Finally, in a last-ditch effort to kill his son, Hiranyakashipu tried to do it with his own hands. At this point, Vishnu appeared in his Narasimha (man-lion) incarnation and killed Hiranyakashipu. Prahalada became the king of the Asuras and ruled his kingdom for many years. He had a son named Virochana – Son of Prahalada, and his grandson Bali is famous for his “gift” to Vishnu in his Vamana – The Dwarf avatar.

Some closely related entities in Hindu mythology include:

• Hiranyakashipu: The Asura-King and Prahalada’s father, who was a powerful and feared ruler.
• Khyathu (Dhanavi): Prahalada’s mother and Hiranyakashipu’s queen, who was a devoted follower of Vishnu.
• Narada: A sage who advised Indra to spare Prahalada’s life and allowed his mother to stay in his hermitage.
• Indra: The king of the Devas, who abducted Hiranyakashipu’s wife and tried to kill Prahalada.
• Hiranyaksha: Hiranyakashipu’s brother, who was killed by Vishnu.
• Holika: Hiranyakashipu’s sister, who was consumed by flames while trying to kill Prahalada.
• Virochana: Prahalada’s son and the king of the Asuras.
• Bali: Prahalada’s grandson, who is famous for his “gift” to Vishnu in his Vamana avatar.
• Vishnu: The god who appeared in his Narasimha incarnation to kill Hiranyakashipu and save Prahalada.
• Narasimha: The man-lion incarnation of Vishnu, who killed Hiranyakashipu.
• Vamana: The dwarf incarnation of Vishnu, who is said to have been “gifted” by Bali.