Son of the demon king Hiranyakashipu. As a boy, he was beaten, trampled, and cast into fire and water. But he saw only God everywhere, and repetition of the Name of God saved him. Once, Prahlada asserted that God was everywhere, and Narayana appeared in his man-lion form from within a pillar to destroy the king. (Glossary for the Vahinis)
Prahlada was old enough to be sent to school. Chanda and Amarka were the gurus assigned to teach him. They taught him that only artha (wealth) and kama (desire) were important, not Dharma (righteousness) and moksha (liberation).
(Prahlada instructs his friends)
They also taught that Hiranya was God. Collecting many other children of demons in their school, Chanda and Amarka taught them demonic qualities. Day and night, they rained upon them teachings opposed to Lord Narayana.
Empty brains can be filled with anything. But Prahlada‘s heart was full of contemplation on Narayana. He did not imbibe any demonic teachings. Still, he pretended to listen, and that made the gurus happy. After a few days, the gurus took Prahlada to his father.
Taking Prahlada in his lap with affection, Hiranya asked while patting his head, ‘Son, what did the gurus teach you?’ Prahlada said, ‘Father, I have learnt teachings from the scriptures. I know the nine kinds of devotion: Shravanam, Kirtanam, Vishnu smaranam, Pada sevanam, vandanam, Archanam, dasyam, sakhyam, Atma nivedanam.’
Hiranya said, ‘Indeed, you may reach me by any of these paths.’ ‘Not you, father. These are meant for reaching Lord Narayana,’ replied Prahlada. Hiding his displeasure, Hiranya asked again, ‘Let me hear you summarize the essence of all scriptures in one sentence.’ ‘Om Namo Narayanaya,’ said Prahlada.
Hiranyakashipu became silent. He turned and glared at the gurus, who looked at each other in bafflement. They thought, ‘This boy is a big danger to us,’ and felt afraid for their lives. Hiranya roared, ‘Take him away and teach him demonic qualities!’ This was the first time that he didn’t show anger toward Prahlada directly.
But the gurus were not able to change Prahlada. After a few months, they brought him to the King again. As before, Prahlada repeated, ‘Om Namo Narayanaya’ in answer to his father’s questions. Hiranyakashipu became furious and threw Prahlada aside.
He thought, ‘School is not doing any good to my son. I shall teach him.’ He said, ‘Son, no Narayana or any other imaginary being has my powers. The five elements are under my control, as are the orbits of the Sun and the Moon. I am the undisputed Master.’
Prahlada burst out laughing, ‘Father, you have conquered everything, but not your senses! One who bows to inner enemies can never subdue external ones. First of all, reduce your ego and cultivate Love for God. Then your kingdom will grow, and you will prosper.’ Flying into a rage, Hiranya caught Prahlada by his neck and held him down. ‘You are teaching ME?’ he roared. Despite the best efforts of gurus, no one could change Prahlada. Teachings learnt later in life or from others’ experiences can be changed. But the Lord’s Name was imprinted in Prahlada’s heart at a tender age—it was impossible to erase it. Realizing that such a boy would pose danger to his authority in the future, Hiranya decided to kill his own son!
Hiranyakashipu summoned his men and had them stab Prahlada with their swords. But Prahlada was unshaken by this torture. ‘What is this body worth, composed of the five elements? You are punishing only my body. I’m not related to it. It is only a garment, to which I have no attachment.
Father! You have body-consciousness, which is the root cause of ‘I’ and ‘mine.’ You trust the perishable body to be permanent and forget the eternal Atma.’ Leelavati could not watch the atrocities. She fell at her husband’s feet and prayed for him to stop. Not able to assuage her grief, Hiranyakashipu instructed his men to take Prahlada away and kill him elsewhere. Even the demons did not have the heart to harm the innocent child. But the King’s command had to be followed. The boy was taken outside and tied to the ground. Elephants were made to walk over him Why would one without attachment to his body experience any pain? Moreover, Prahlada believed in Narayana and hence, there was no question of suffering for him. He remained unharmed.
Then poisonous serpents were brought and let loose on him. The only words he uttered incessantly were, Om Namo Narayanaya. Nothing happened to him. They threw him off a cliff, in vain. When the minions of the king hurled their javelins at him, Prahlada would not wince or utter a cry, but only prayed to Vishnu calling Him, ‘Oh Pannagasaayi!’ (Oh Lord, resting on the serpent couch!). (Poem). He was ever smiling. When he was thrust into a blazing fire, he was calmly glowing in the name of Narayana. When he was pushed into the sea, he continued to chant the name of Narayana. He was unconcerned about the deha (body). He was contemplating only the Dehi (Indwelling Spirit). (SSS Vol.24) The demons, along with Chanda and Amarka, returned to the king and reported the miraculous events. ‘O King! When we attack your son, he only called on Narayana. He has no trace of fear, anger or hatred. With a charming smile, he repeats, Om Namo Narayanaya. His face shows no pain or sorrow. There is some unknown Power protecting him. To harm Prahlada is a task beyond us.’
Hiranyakashipu now doubted if the demons were carrying out his orders or lying to him. He decided that the boy be put to death in front of his eyes! He had a bowl of deadly poison brought, called Prahlada near and instructed him to drink it. Smiling all the while and chanting Om Namo Narayanaya, Prahlada calmly quaffed it. Hiranyakashipu glared at him, expecting him to collapse. All the demons watched with bated breath. But Prahlada didn’t die. Hiranya thought, ‘Chanda and Amarka were right. Maybe there is some spirit or ghost in Prahlada. It cannot be Divine power because only my power is Divine’! Then he called for experts in mantras and other sciences to rid Prahlada of the ‘evil spirit’. (SSB 1995, pp. 134-139)
A lone Prahlada could attempt to transform only his father. Even the teachers were good men. But owing to the perverse nature of the father and his threats, they tried to teach wrong things to Prahlada. But Prahlada ventured even to teach to the preceptors. They were so much influenced by Prahlada’s teachings that they came to Hiranyakashipu and said: ‘Oh Lord of the Rakshasas! Your son is not an ordinary boy. He is endowed with great qualities. It is not right for you to punish such a child.’ (SSS Vol.24)
Nothing seemed to work. Frustrated and dispirited, Hiranyakashipu addressed Prahlada, ‘You say ‘Narayana, Narayana’ all the time. Where is this Narayana?’ He said that God is present everywhere, as scientists talk about the atom. ‘Do not fall into doubt that He is here but not there. Wherever you look, you will find Him,’ he said. Hiranyakashipu said, ‘Really? Is God present everywhere? Fine, show Him to me.’
Prahlada replied, ‘Father! Steeped in slavery to the senses and in body-consciousness, you want to see God. It is impossible. You struggle hard to earn fame and worldly security but you do not yearn for God. God grants whatever you want. You desire that your power and fame increase. You live under the dominance of ego and attachment. As long as the feelings of ‘I’ and ‘Mine’ prevail, it is impossible for you to grasp the Atma principle.’
Even today, men search for God while identifying with the body and reinforcing their feelings of ‘I’ and ‘Mine’. They will not find God, no matter how long they try. The principle of the non-dual Atma must first be understood. You must offer yourself to God! Meaning what? All actions must be performed with divine feelings. In the food he ate, the water he drank, and the difficulties he underwent, in everything, Prahlada saw only Narayana, Narayana, Narayana. This divine principle is unchanging. If you put sugar in coffee, in tea, in water, in anything, it lends sweetness. In the same way, Prahlada introduced the sweetness of Narayana into all his actions.
Sweeter than sugar,
Tastier than curd,
More relishing than honey,
Exuding nectarine taste upon repetition,
Such is the Name of the Lord.
‘Father! You are mistaking sugar for nectar. But really, even nectar is tasteless when compared to the sweetness of God’s Name. This sweetness is not present in anything else. Instead of repeating such a sweet Name, you spend life feeding your ego. You are committing crimes against society based on the strength of Brahma‘s boons. Your ego will ruin you completely. You need humility to attain God. Father! Education without character, worship without sacrifice, wealth without effort, politics without principles —these sins are the basis for all the misery in the world.’
‘Father, you are a great scientist, but without human values. Your demonic tendencies show no signs of abating. First, bring your senses under control. Without control over your senses you can never perceive the omnipresent Lord.’ Prahlada advised his father in many ways. But no matter how bright a bulb is held in front of a blind man, he cannot see the brightness. Prahlada continued, ‘You do not have the eyes of divine love. You are blind in wisdom. How do you expect to see God? Your body is filled with the six enemies: lust, anger, greed, hatred, jealousy and pride.’
As is the color of the eyeglasses, so is the vision. Prahlada said, ‘When your heart is full of anger, lust, jealousy, attachment and ego, how do you expect to see God? Wherever I look I see Narayana. Inside, outside, above, below... He is present everywhere!
‘Father! The whole world is like an iron ball being burnt in fire. Where does this fire reside? The heat is within the ball, outside it, everywhere. Antar Bahisya Sarvavyaapya Narayanah Sthitah—Narayana is present inside, outside, everywhere.
This world is similarly engulfed in the fire of jnana. Father, heat is experienced only by touching. Unless you experience something, you cannot understand it. Your ignorance is the root cause of all this confusion. Listen to my words. God is present wherever you look.’ (SSB 1995, pp. 139-141)
But this foolish man, Hiranyakashipu didn’t leave his stubborn stand. He subjected his son, Prahlada, to innumerable ordeals because he was a devotee of Narayana. Prahlada is the supreme example of the devotee who always centred his thoughts on Vishnu regardless of whether he was subject to pain or pleasure. ‘Namo Narayana’ was his response to every ordeal. He was ceaselessly repeating the names of the Lord without any concern for the tortures to which he was subjected by the demons deputed by Hiranyakashipu.
He was neither afraid nor distressed. Prahlada was fully conscious that the body composed of the five elements was perishable while the In-dweller was eternal. Hence he did not care what happened to the body. All his thoughts were ever concentrated on God. (SSS Vol.19), 8-10-1986
Prahlada loved Hari (God) and his father Hiranyakashipu hated Hari. The father went on arguing and denying the existence of God, whereas the son went on establishing His existence. (SSS Vol.25)
The Lord resides not only in the hearts of devotees, but also in the hearts of the evil-minded. Once, the child Prahlada approached his mother, Leelavati, and told her, ‘Mother, there is only one difference between me, who is a devotee of Hari and my father, who hates Hari. Ever contemplating on the nectarine sweetness of the Lord, repeating His name, and constantly remembering Him, I am immersed in the bliss of love of the Lord, like one intoxicated. My father, in his hatred of Narayana, has turned his heart into stone and installed Him in it.’
While asserted that God is nowhere, his son Prahlada affirmed that God is everywhere. As a consequence, God was nowhere for the father, though He was everywhere for the son. (SSS Vol.18)
‘Where is God?’ asked Hiranyakashipu. Prahlada replied that God is omnipresent. ‘You can find Him wherever you seek Him.’ Hiranyakashipu asked: ‘Is He in this pillar?’ ‘There is no place where He is not,’ said Prahlada. Hiranyakashipu smote the pillar with his mace. (SSS Vol.24)
Out emerged a most terrifying form: Narasimha (Man-Lion) Avatar. It wasn’t human, it wasn’t animal. The head was a lion’s but the body, human. Hiranya immediately recalled Brahma‘s boon—’neither by man or by animal.’ He told himself that his death seemed imminent. After fighting with him for some time, Narasimha pulled Hiranyakashipu by his hand and laid him across His thighs.
Hiranya recalled, ‘I wanted to be killed neither on earth nor in the sky. Now I am on the thighs of this being, above the ground and below the sky. I asked for immunity against the living and the non-living. The nails on this being’s claws are neither living nor non-living. It is the hour of twilight, neither day nor night.’ Hiranya did not have the sense to remember the name of Narayana in his last moments. He only kept remembering Brahma‘s boon and how all the conditions had been satisfied. The tendencies cultivated through our lifetime predominate during our final moments and form the basis for our next birth. Not having repeated Narayana’s name during his lifetime, Hiranyakashipu wasn’t able to do it at death. Narasimha Avatar completed His task. (SSB 1995, pp. 142-143)
Prahlada with the Lord
All were terrified by Narasimha‘s ferocious form. They shivered with fright. Prahlada alone gazed at Him with unblinking eyes, full of tears of joy. Narasimha asked him, ‘Child, doesn’t My form frighten you?’ Prahlada said, ‘Lord Narayana, Yat Bhavam Tat Bhavati—As is one’s thought, so is Your Form. Those who think of You as terrible see you as such. To me, You are the very form of Love and Bliss. Why should I be afraid? All forms are Yours. I am not looking at this particular name and form. I am looking at Your Divine Form and repeating your Divine Name. So I have no fear.’
Hiranyakashipu‘s body was laid on the floor. Prahlada went close to the body and paid his respects. ‘For birth and death our own actions are responsible, not God. Each person reaps his own happiness and sorrow. My father brought this death upon himself. This is not God’s doing,’ thought Prahlada. No one can escape the consequences of one’s actions.
You cannot tell what you might experience and when. So be ever ready. No one is exempt from this vigilance. Even Hiranya’s invincibility was won because of past good deeds. But he could not enjoy God’s boons because of his wicked actions. In the end, he was destroyed by the destiny he had carved for himself. Prahlada prayed for a good afterlife for his father. After Prahlada’s prayer many gods began arriving there and discussing the events. Before terminating His Avatar as Narasimha, the Lord asked Prahlada what he wanted. Prahlada said, ‘O Lord, I want nothing but You. I should never be distant from You, although You are everywhere. I must live in You, You must live in me, and I must experience this unity. I do not have any other desires. It is meaningless if I waste this life by desiring petty things.’ Then the Lord appeared in His full glory as Narayana and said, ‘Prahlada, My child! Children like you are examples to this world. Now take charge of your father’s kingdom. Teach human values to these demons and ensure that they come closer to Me.’ (SSB 1995, pp. 143-144)
Devotion and Faith in Lord Srihari occupied the foremost olacw in the mind of Prahalada. He used to contemplate on the divine name of Hari incessantly, just like inhaling and exhaling of breath in the human body. However, his father Hiranyakashipu used to oppose this HariNamasmarana (contemplation of the divine name of the Lord Vishnu) vehemently. He had diametrically opposite opinion about Hari and considered Him as his enemy number one. He had not only faith in God, but used to argue that there is no other God except himself. He was such an egoist. As a result, he used to create hurdles in the devotional path of his son Prahlada. However, unmindful of the obstacles Prahlada used to contemplate on the divine name of Lord Narayana, incessantly. Hiranyakashipu could not bear defiant attitude of Prahlada and ordered that little child to be trampled upon by elephant, keeping aside the fatherly love and affection totally. He arranged to release the most venomous snakes to bite the young lad. He subjected Prahlada to great pain and suffering...... ‘God is nowhere’ to those who do not believe in His existence. Prahalada believed in His omnipresence and therefore could see Him everywhere, where as Hiranyakashipu could not see Him, for he lacked faith. Finally Prahlada established the truth ‘Bhavasuddhi (Purity in thoughts) is Jnanasuddhi (confers wisdom)’,
‘Born as a human being due to merit in past lives
Turned into an evil person due to bad thoughts
Deviated from the path of wisdom and gave up humanness;
Can there be greater demon than such a person.’
(Beacons of Divine Wisdom, Part 1, pp. 145-146)
Hiranyakashipu made the young Prahlada seated on his lap and endearingly enquired, ‘Dear son! What did the gurs teach you?’ Prahlada replied smilingl:
‘Father! The teachers taught me many things;
I have understood the four objectives of life,
Dharma (righteousness), artha (material well-being)
Kama (desire) and Moksha (liberation).
I have studied many things; in fact,
I have understood the very essence of education.’
(Beacons of Divine Wisdom, Part 1, p. 148)
All the while, there was no word except ‘Om Namo Narayanaya!’ from the mouth of Prahlada. There can be no pain and suffering to who has absolute faith in Lord Narayana. Is it not? The gurus employed by Hiraanyakasipu to teach hatred towards Narayana to Prahlada reported to him thus:
‘While the demons were thus torturing him
Prahlada extolled Lord Hari thus:
Oh! Lord reclining on the serpent!
Oh! Destroyer of the demons!
Oh! Lord of the Universe!
Oh! Protector of from calamities!
Oh! Purifier of all! Never did he shed tears
Nor shivered with fear, Oh! King!’
The servants who were entrusted with the job of subjecting Prahlada to physical torture, also reported ‘Oh! Great King! This boy has no fear at all! He does not fear for anything. While he was being trampled upon by the elephants, or bitten by the snakes or falling from the mountain heights, he was simply smiling and chanting ‘Om! Namo Narayanaya’! To mend him is beyond our capacity. (Beacons of Divine Wisdom, Part 1, p. 151)
It took a thousand tears for the scientist to discover the truth that the entire universe is filled with atoms. Where as, Prahlada discovered the fact much earlier. He declared that God is omnipresent. With this conviction, he replied to his father thus:
‘Never doubt that god is here and there.
Wherever you search for Him, He is present there
Listen! Oh! The foremost of demons!’
He further explained the truth, ‘Oh! Father! You wish to realise God with body attachment. You are longing for the worldly pleasures; not for the Divine grace. You are leading a life full of ego and a feeling of I and mine. Ego will lead to downfall. If you wish God, you must develop humility and obedience. You are a great scientist. But, you have developed ego and demonic qualities. First and foremost, control your mind, control your senses! Otherwise. You will not be able to have the darshan of the omnipresent God.’ (Beacons of Divine Wisdom, Part 1, p. 152)
The name Prahlada acquired meaning due to the constant contemplation by Prahlada on Lord Narayana. The name denotes one who experience bliss in full by constant contemplation on Lord Narayana’s name. He belonged to the lineage of demons. His form was that of a human being. And finally his Citta was divine. Prahlada was an embodiment of pure devotion, having attained the unity of thought, word and deed. He followed this Bharatiya samskriti (Indain cukture) in letter and spirit and set an example to the people of Bharat. (Beacons of Divine Wisdom, Part 1)