Shrimad Bhagwat Puran – Chapter 3: Hiranyakashipu and Narasimha Avatar

Hiranyakashipu and the Narasimha Avatar

In the Varaha Avatar, Lord Vishnu rescued the Earth and slew the demon Hiranyaksha. The death of Hiranyaksha filled his brother Hiranyakashipu with grief and rage. He vowed to take revenge on the gods and attain immortality, causing chaos in all three worlds.

Hiranyakashipu's Severe Penance

Hiranyakashipu went to the Mandarachal mountain and began a severe penance to please Lord Brahma. For years, he stood, subsisting only on air. His penance was so intense that fire emanated from his body, scorching all three worlds. The gods, terrified, went to Lord Brahma and pleaded with him to break Hiranyakashipu's penance.

Seeing the fear of Indra and other gods, Lord Brahma said, "O Devas! I promise to break Hiranyakashipu's penance. The entire world is burning due to his austerity, so we must immediately go to that ascetic." Lord Brahma, riding on a swan, approached Hiranyakashipu and spoke in a grave voice, "O Hiranyakashipu! I am pleased with your penance. Ask for a boon." Hiranyakashipu opened his eyes, bowed to Lord Brahma, and asked for the boon of immortality.

Prahlad's Devotion and Hiranyakashipu's Tyranny

Lord Brahma said, "O Hiranyakashipu! That which is born is destined to die. I cannot grant the boon of immortality. Ask for some other boon." After much thought, Hiranyakashipu asked for a boon that would make him invincible. He said, "Let me not be killed by man or beast, nor by day or night, nor inside or outside a house, nor on the earth or in the sky, nor by any weapon, nor by any missile." Lord Brahma said, "Tathastu" (So be it) and departed. Having received the boon, Hiranyakashipu became arrogant and declared himself God. He established his dominion over all three worlds and imprisoned the gods.

Hiranyakashipu's son, Prahlad, was a supreme devotee of Lord Vishnu. He was engrossed in Vishnu devotion even from his mother's womb. Hiranyakashipu made numerous attempts to turn his son away from Vishnu devotion, but Prahlad did not waver from his path of devotion. He threw his son from a mountain, gave him poison, and tried to burn him in fire, but each time Lord Vishnu protected him. Prahlad would say, "Father, Lord Vishnu is the truth, He is the sustainer, He is the liberator. We should worship Him alone." Hiranyakashipu, driven mad with anger, decided to kill Prahlad. Lord Vishnu, hearing the call of His devotee, was moved.

Slaying of Hiranyakashipu by the Narasimha Avatar

Hiranyakashipu said to Prahlad, "If your God is omnipresent, is He also in this pillar?" Prahlad fearlessly replied, "Yes, Father, He is also in this pillar." The enraged Hiranyakashipu struck the pillar, and from it arose a terrifying roar, and Lord Vishnu appeared in His Narasimha Avatar. Lord Narasimha had the body of half a lion and half a man. He seized Hiranyakashipu, laid him on His lap, and tore open his belly with His nails. It was the time of twilight, neither day nor night. He took him to the threshold of the house, which was neither inside nor outside, neither on the earth nor in the sky. Thus, Lord Vishnu, respecting the boon granted by Lord Brahma, slew Hiranyakashipu.

Lord Narasimha seated Prahlad at His feet and blessed him. He freed the gods and established righteousness. Peace was established in all the worlds. Chants of victory for Lord Vishnu filled the air. Everyone was astonished by the devotion of devotee Prahlad. Their hearts were filled with even greater reverence for the Lord.

Towards the Vamana Avatar

After the slaying of Hiranyakashipu, the fear of the demons somewhat diminished. However, the influence of the demons still persisted. In the next avatar, Lord Vishnu will appear in the form of Vamana and test King Bali, bringing even greater peace and security to the gods and humans. With the end of this chapter, we have taken an important step towards the next chapter, where the story of the re-establishment of dharma and justice will continue.