The Childhood Story

Mihir Fichadiya
Aug 9, 2017 · 3 min read

A very long time ago, there was a village and in that village lived an evil king, named Hiranyakashyap, who had the boon of immortality used to force his people to pray him and not to god. He wanted to be the ruler of Earth and Heaven. Hiranyakashyap had a son named Prahlad, he was a great devotee of lord vishnu and prayed all the time. Hiranyakashyap threatened Prahlad to pray him but Prahlad denied. Hiranyakashyap eventually becomes so angry and upset at his son’s devotion to Vishnu (who he sees as his mortal enemy) that he decides he must kill him. The demons tried to use their illusionary powers on Prahlad but none of their powers could stand before him. He tried to influence Prahlad against Lord Vishnu but failed and Prahlad was still as devoted as ever to Lord Vishnu. He ordered him to be trampled underfoot by an elephant. The enraged elephant was unable to crush the body. They thrown him over a precipice, but, as Vishnu resided in the heart of Prahlada, he came down upon the earth as gently as a flower drops upon the grass. They tried Poison, burn, starvation, throwing into a well, enchantments, and other measures on the child one after another, but to no purpose. They failed in all their attempts because Lord Vishnu was protecting his devotee.

As a last hope, the king called his demoness sister, Holika for help. Holika has a distinctive cloak that when worn prevented her from being harmed by fire. By preparing a bonfire Hiranyakashyap asked Holika to sit with his son Prahlad in her lap in the hope that he will become a victim to fire. Without any fear of death Prahlada started chanting the mantras of Lord Vishnu. As the fire grew, a strong breeze started swaying the cloak. The cloak flew from Holika and covered Prahlad. It was then that she was charred to death and Prahlad remained unharmed. Since then, the night is celebrated as Holika Dahan.

Hiranyakashyap eventually becomes so angry and upset went to meet Prahlada as he refuses to acknowledge his father as the supreme lord of the universe and claims that Vishnu is all-pervading and omnipresent. To which Hiranyakashyap points to a nearby pillar and asks if ‘his Vishnu’ is in it. The king got up from his throne in fury and hit the pillar with his mace. And to his surprise! The pillar cracked with a thundering sound and Vishnu appeared there in the form of Narasimha. The half body of a Lion and other half of a man, with big teeth and huge fingernails. The demon king Hiranyakashyap tried his best to escape from Narsimha. But at last, Narsimha caught hold of him and dragged him towards the threshold. There, he put Hiranyakashyap on thighs and tore his belly with his terrifying nails.Even after killing Hiranyakashyap none of the gods were able to calm Narasimha’s fury, So all the gods and goddesses called His consort, the goddess Lakshmi, but she was also unable to do so. Then, at the request of Brahma, Prahlad was presented to Narasimha. He was pacified when Prahlad touched his feet. Lord Narsimha then asked Prahlad to seek some boon. Prahlad said: “You are my true Lord. If you wish to grant me a boon, kindly bless me that no desire may arise in my mind for anything.” Lord Narasimha then made Prahlad the King.

This used be my Lunch-time story narrated by my mom.

    Mihir Fichadiya

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