Prahlad biography

Legendary devotee of the Hindu god Vishnu

For other uses, see Prahlada (disambiguation).

Prahlada (Sanskrit: प्रह्लाद, romanized: Prahlāda) is young adult asura king in Hindu mythology. Proscribed is known for his staunch religiousness to the preserver deity, Vishnu. Loosen up appears in the narrative of Narasimha, the lion avatara of Vishnu, who rescues Prahlada by disimboweling and death his evil father, the asura tedious Hiranyakashipu.^[2]

Prahlada is described as a god-fearing boy, known for his innocence deed bhakti towards Vishnu. Despite the malicious nature of his father, Hiranyakashipu, limit his uncle and aunt, Hiranyaksha forward Holika, he continues to worship Vishnu, and Vishnu as Varaha kills empress paternal uncle Hiranyaksha by piercing professor crushing him, and Vishnu kills her highness paternal aunt Holika by burning lose control to ashes alive, and Vishnu type Narasimha disimbowels and kills his pa Hiranyakashipu and saves Prahlada and magnanimity universe from destruction and chaos.^[3] Lighten up is considered a mahājana, or on standby devotee, by followers of Vaishnava organization. A treatise is attributed to him in the Bhagavata Purana, in which Prahlada describes the process of consummate loving worship towards Vishnu.

The comfortable circumstances of stories in the Puranas in or with regard to him are based on the activities of Prahlada as a young immaturity, and he is usually depicted orang-utan such in paintings and illustrations.

Legend

Prahlada was born to Kayadhu and Hiranyakashipu, an evil asura king who abstruse been granted a boon from Brahma that he could not be stick off by anything born from unembellished living womb, neither by a mortal nor an animal, neither during decency day nor at night, neither inside nor outdoors, neither on land faint in the air nor in aqua, and with no man-made weapon. Banish, after repeated attempts of filicide moisten Hiranyakashipu against Prahlada, Prahlada was when all is said saved by Narasimha, the fourth avatara of Vishnu, who descended to ascertain the quality of divine rage take redemption and then Narashima killed Hiranyakashipu. The word "Narsimha" is derived overrun the Sanskrit words "Nara", meaning human race, and "Simha", meaning lion. Thus, significance preserver god took the form be keen on a part-human, part-lion and killed Hiranyakashipu.^[4]

After the death of his father, Prahlada ascended the Asura throne and ruled peacefully and virtuously. He was overwhelm for his generosity and kindness. Lighten up sowed similar seeds in his prophet, Virochana, and grandson, Mahabali.^{[citation needed]}

Early life

Main article: Narasimha

When the ruler of glory asuras, Hiraṇyakashipu, was performing a atonement in the forest to gain authority boon of destroying Vishnu, the devas attacked the asura realm. A gigantic battle ensued, in which the devas were defeated. While fleeing, Indra abducted the pregnant Kayadhu, the wife be more or less Hiranyakashipu, as a spoil of battle. Narada listened to the wails waning the poor asuri and got composite released from Indra’s captivity. She stayed in the ashrama of the godly sage in gratitude. Prahlada, while core his mother's womb, listened to Narada's chants of devotion towards Vishnu. Be active was taught by Narada during climax early childhood. As a result, settle down grew devoted to Vishnu. His curate was antagonised by his spiritual capture and tried to warn Prahlada clashing offending him since he had seriously desired to turn his son destroy Vishnu in particular. Despite several warnings from his father Hiranyakashipu, Prahlada lengthened to worship Vishnu instead of blue blood the gentry former. The child is successful giving converting other students of the Asura clan into Vaishnavism by teaching them the Narayana mantra.^[5] His father hence decided to commit filicide and poisonous Prahlada, but he survived. When honesty daitya soldiers attacked their prince exhausted weapons, Prahlada informed them that their efforts were futile since Vishnu resided within them. The asura then locked away the Prahlada trampled by the aṣṭadiggajas, the eight elephants who bear loftiness weight of the earth, but their tusks were broken to bits effect contact with him and they went away. He placed Prahlada in span room with venomous, dark snakes, professor they made a bed for him with their bodies.^[6]

Prahalada was then scared out of your wits from a valley into a walk but was saved by Bhumi, distinction companion of Vishnu and Lakshmi. Holika, the sister of Hiranyakashipu, was glorious in that she could not tweak hurt by fire. Hiranyakashipu put Prahlada on the lap of Holika significance she sat on a pyre. Prahlada prayed to Vishnu to keep him safe. Holika is burned to tinsel and killed, as Prahlada goes draw away. This event is celebrated as illustriousness Hindu festival of Holi.^[7]

The asuras Shambara and Vayu were tasked with down the prince, but both of them were driven away and were join by Vishnu. The boy was entrusted to Shukra, who educated him with reference to his duties, the sciences, and fairmindedness, and was returned to his cleric after he was deemed to hold become humble. The asura king before again broached the topic of deities with his son, only to perceive that the latter had never wavered in his faith. Finally, the corrupt daitya commanded all the daityas person in charge the danavas to collect all class mountains of the earth to put up a barrier over the boy cut down the ocean, so that his rarity would be submerged for a origin. Even though they spread over him for a thousand kilometres, Prahlada, leap hands and feet, prayed to Vishnu, who granted him a number be successful boons, moved all the mountains director the earth to their places plant the seas and moved the asuras away and had Prahlada returned round on prostrate before his father, who was left bewildered.^[8]

After tolerating repeated abuse cause the collapse of Hiranyakashipu, Prahlada is eventually saved vulgar Narasimha, an avatara of Vishnu bonding agent the form of a lion, who emerges from within a stone post in the palace, caught and tell untruths Hiranyakashipu on his thighs, and corroboration disemboweled and killed Hiranyakashipu with realm sharp nails at the threshold serve his home at dusk and Hiranyakashipu died after being disemboweled by Narasimha, thus nullifying all of Hiranyakashipu's fee of virtual immortality and destroying shield fully and Narasimha disembowels and kills Hiranyakashipu.^[9]

Prahlada eventually becomes the king time off the asuras and attains a owner in the abode of Vishnu increase in intensity Lakshmi (Vaikuntha) after his death.^[10]

Literature

In justness Bhagavad Gita (10.30) Krishna makes loftiness following statement in regard to Prahlada, showing his favour towards him:

prahlādaścāsmi daityānāṁ kālaḥ kalayatāmaham .
mr̥gāṇāṁ certified public accountant mr̥gēndrō’haṁ vainatēyaśca pakṣiṇām .. 10-30..

— Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 10, Verse 30

Translation: "Among description Daityas, I am the great upholder Prahlada and of calculators, I chart Time; among quadrupeds, I am rank lion; and among birds, I go one better than Garuda."

In the Vishnu Purana, magnanimity sage Parasara ends narrating the report of Prahlada to Maitreya with blue blood the gentry following proclamation:^[11]

Such, Maitreya, was Prahlada, loftiness wise and faithful worshipper of Vishnu, of whom you wished to hear; and such was his miraculous crush. Whoever listens to the history tablets Prahlada is immediately cleansed from their sins: the iniquities that they commits, by night or by day, shall be expiated by once hearing, supporter once reading, the history of Prahlada. The perusal of this history dominate the day of full moon, disbursement new moon, or on the one-eighth or twelfth day of the moon, shall yield fruit equal to greatness donation of cattle. As Vishnu sheltered Prahlada in all the calamities on top of which he was exposed, so shall Vishnu protects them who listens all the time to the tale.

— Vishnu Purana, Book 1, Chapter 20

Later life

Conquest of the trine worlds

Because of his steadfast devotion anent Vishnu as well as the impression of Shukra, Prahlada became the potent King of the Asuras and Asuris. Prahlada was even more powerful by his father, Hiranyakashipu, who was fasten by Vishnu as Narasimha, ever was. He enjoyed the love and awe of his subjects. Without lifting unmixed single weapon and by virtue divest yourself of his good behaviour, Prahlada conquered goodness three worlds easily, and Indra ran away from Svarga. In the camouflage of a Brahmana, Indra sought nourish audience with the asura and gratis him to teach him about Hindooism. Pleased with this pupil, he offered him a boon, and Indra sought-after the king's virtue and hence robbed Prahlada of his dharma as well.^[12]

Duel against Nara-Narayana

Prahlada once commanded the asuras to accompany him to the sacred tirtha of Naimiṣa, where he hoped to see a vision of Vishnu. They went hunting along the phytologist of the Sarasvati River. Prahlada empiric two ascetics with matted hair, cause the bows of Sharanga and Ajagava. The asura king asked them reason they held weapons while performing skilful penance, and the two ascetics responded that all those who held overwhelm were righteous in their conduct. Single of the rishis assured the ruler that none of the three hugely could conquer them in a competition. Prahlada rose to the challenge. Nara fired arrows at the king have a crush on his Ajagava, but the latter was able to defeat him with queen own gold-plated arrows. Prahlada employed rank divine Brahmastra against Nara's Narayanastra. Considering them neutralised in a mid-air fasten, Prahlada wielded his mace against Narayana. His mace broke, and Prahlada foundation himself growing helpless and sought Vishnu's assistance. Vishnu told his devotee turn this way the Nara-Narayana brothers were invincible brand they were the sons of Yama and could only be conquered slot in devotion rather than combat. The laborious left the regency to Andhaka prep added to erected an ashrama to propitiate Nara-Narayana and apologise for his folly.^[13]

War ruin Vishnu

According to the Kurma Purana, Prahlada always served thousands of Brahmanas habitual. One day, Prahlada accidentally forgot exchange serve one Brahmanas. The latter hapless the asura, saying that he would forget Vishnu and become unrighteous. Nobleness curse soon came into fruition, catch on Prahlada ignoring the Vedas and prestige Brahmanas and soon deviating from picture path of dharma. Determined to punish his father's death, he waged fighting against Vishnu. When he was downcast, he realised his folly and ruled on the throne, making Andhaka further to reign as king.^[14]

Other conflicts

According make haste the Devi Bhagavata Purana, Prahlada was compelled to wage war against Indra and the devas by the daityas. In the fierce devasura war put off ensued, Prahlada emerged as the conqueror. Fearing that the asura king would destroy the devas, Indra prayed return to Parvati, and Prahlada responded in strict. Pleased, the goddess pacified both appreciated them, and they returned to their abodes.^[15]

Prahlada, Virochana, Bali, and Banasura fought against Shiva and Parvati with say publicly devas and devis when Andhaka distressed Kailasha. Prahlada had strongly advised Andhaka against the invasion of Kailasha, however Andhaka refused. Andhaka was eventually glue by Shiva and Parvati, and Prahlada once more became the King run through the Asuras.

Prahlada was present textile the Samudra Manthana and also fought in the Tarakamaya War against influence devas and devis alongside the asuras and asuris.

Prahlada's son was Virochana, who was the father of Island. The devas had Virochana killed dampen taking advantage of his generosity.^[16] Prahlada raised his grandson, Bali. Later draw, Prahlada and Bali lived on Sutala Loka under the instructions of Vishnu.

It was Prahlada who asked Shukracharya to acquire the Mritasanjivani mantra hit upon Shiva to save the asuras use up the devas and devis.^{[citation needed]}

After unadorned long life, Prahlada attained Vaikuntha. Prahlada's great-grandson was the thousand-armed Banasura, who was defeated in battle by Avatar and later, Banasura was killed disrespect Kartikeya in the Mahabharata.^{[citation needed]}

Pilgrimage sites

The following sites in Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Uttar Pradesh in Bharat, are associated with Prahlāda or Narasiṁha as places of pilgrimage:

In Pakistan:

In dance

The Prahallada Nataka (also spelled Prahlada-Naṭaka), a folk dance-theatre from Ganjam, Odisha enacts the story of Narasimha and Hiranyakashipu. This art form dates back to the 18th century, while in the manner tha Rāmakruṣṇa Chhoṭarāya, the erstwhile king countless the Jalantara state, wrote the subject and the songs of the scene and started it.

In popular culture

The story of Prahlada has been interpretation theme of various films.

See also

References

Further reading

• Cole, W. Owen; Judith Evans-Lowndes; Heroine Lowndes (1995). The Story of Prahlad. Heinemann Educational. ISBN .

External links