Prahlad
Victory of good over evil
Prahlad
Victory of good over evil
There once was a demon named Hiranyakashapu who had a great plan, who knew just what to do.
Remember the demon who hid the Earth in the sea and was killed by Lord Vishnu so easily?
Well, Hiranyakashapu was the demon’s brother. And he wanted revenge; to make the Lord suffer.
He thought “Vishnu is he who runs this whole world so if I conquer creation, it will make his head swirl.
Lord Brahma was so impressed that he offered a wish and Hiranyakashapu answered as quick as a swish.
So, Hiranyakashapu began doing intense meditation and suffered great pain as his preparation.
“Make me so strong that no man can defeat me, no god can impede me, no animal harm me.”
So, with this power,
he
became the Great Demon King! He conquered the world and great sadness did sing.
Later, he had a child, Prahlada his son who saw Lord Narayana in everyone.
And to the King’s dismay, Prahlada did worship the one cosmic being the he couldn’t usurp.
The King hired tutors to teach Prahlada his views but nothing would work and the King’s anger grew.
He got other children to teach his son to worship the King but Prahlada taught them and the Lord’s glories they’d sing.
Finally, enraged, the king threatened his son saying “You have to admit that only I am the one. I am far greater than Lord Vishnu if you worship him further then I will kill you.”
But, Prahlada just laughed and said “Oh, father dear, when one loves the Lord, he has nothing to fear.
Your threats are nothing, no, nothing to me for Lord Narayana has set my soul free.”
But
the king just mocked him
“You say you don't care you say your Lord Vishnu resides everywhere. I challenge your God!”
Laughed the rude, evil king
“I challenge you to prove that he’s in everything.”
Then going to a pillar that stood next to his chair he laughed and asked
“Is your Lord Vishnu in there?”
“Oh yes,” His son answered; his smile ever wide, “there isn’t a place He doesn’t reside.”
So the King took an ax and gave a coarse shout
“Come out you Lord Vishnu! Come out, yes, come out!!” Then, with that sharp ax he smashed the pillar in two from which a great creature from the rubble did grew.
Half man/ half lion, he was the great Narasimha; the fourth incarnation of Lord Narayana.
With a terrible strength no other can bring, he took one mighty swipe and killed the bad king.
Though his father was dead, Prahlada was filled with joy for Vishnu had saved this one little boy. And the Lord looked down with eyes bold and keen “Your faith is the greatest that I’ve ever seen.”
Prahlad
victory of good over evil
Credits
Written by: Sanyasananda
Illustrated by: Maria Fonseca
Graphic Design: Ashwini Salvi
Published by: Swati Sharan