Prahalad :that gives a lot of pleasure

The word Prahalad means one who gives pleasure. References to Lord Narasimha and bhakta Prahalad are found in a wide variety of the Puranic scriptures, with seventeen versions of the main narrative, some in more detail than others. The Srimad Bhagavatam, Agni Purana, Brahmanda Purana, Vayu Purana, Harivamsa, Brahma Purana, Vishnudharmottara Purana, Kurma Purana, Matsya Purana, Padma Purana, Shiva Purana, Linga Purana, Skanda Purana and ofcourse Purana Ratnam Vishnu Purana. There is also a short reference in the Mahabharata as well as in Narasimha tapani Upanisad. Also Srimad Ramanayam gives hint of this unique avataram of God. There is no other story in Sanatana Dharmam covered in so many scriptures. That itself makes story of Prahalad unique that everyone should know.Narada Maharishi was the guru of Prahalad. Even before Prahlaada was born he got Gnyaanopadesham from Naarada Maharshi. That knowledge helped Prahalad in his God Realisation and Bhagavat Anubhavam.

Kashyapa Prajapathi's wife Dithi gave birth to Hiranyaksha and Hiranyakashipu who did not follow vedic ways of life. Varaha Bhagavan (avatar of Lord Vishnu ) killed Hiranyaksha to save Bhumi Devi. At the death of Hiranyaksha, Hiranyakashipu also was filled with sorrow and it burnt his own heart like fire. He hated Vishnu and Vishnu's very name was like poison to him. He desired to eliminate Lord Vishnu. Hiranyakashipu now being theKing of the Rakshasa, wanted to gain more power to accomplish his goal, went to Mandara Parvata and began doing tapas - the severe order of penance. Brahma was pleased with his devotion. He appeared to Hiranyakashipu and granted him a unequalled boon that Hiranyakashipu will not die of any being created by Brahma. Death of Hiranyakasipu will not occur during the day or during night , either on land, in water, in fire, in air, in space, inside the house or outside, with a living object or a non living object, by neither animal or a man or any devatas. Thus he became practically immortal.
After this blessing the demon crossed all bounds in oppression. Hiranyakashipu conquered the worlds and became a tyrant. He banned all poojas on Vishnu and declared himself as God. Anyone who opposed him was killed. He did not listen to the words of Rishis or mahaans. Hatred for Vishnu made him illogical and unreasonable in action.

Hiranyakashipu had a son named Prahalad born of his wife Kayatu. Prahalad was born in Narada Maharishi's ashram when Hiranyakasipu was way doing penance. Right from his very childhood Prahalad was attracted towards Vishnu and had sincere devotion to God. Prahalad had not obeyed the orders of his father not to worship Vishnu. Hiranyakasipu could not force Prahalad's mind as he had no control over it. The king wanted his favorite son to get educated properly. He entrusted the job to Shanda and Amarka, the sons of Sukracarya. However even in the Gurukul, Prahalad was always in Bhagavat Dyanam and refused to accept his father as a Supreme. Over a period, Prahalad even started educating his fellow colleagues in school about the greatness of Vishnu.When Shanda and Amarka, observed that all the students, the sons of the demons, were becoming advanced in Vishnu Bhakti because of the association of Prahalad, they were concerned and afraid of consequences. They approached the King of the demons and described the situation as it was.

When Hiranyakasipu understood the entire situation, he was extremely angry, so much so that his body trembled. However composing himself, he himself explained that Vishnu was their enemy and hence Prahalad should not worship him. However Prahalad counter argued that Vishnu was Parmatma and Hiranyakashipu was wrong in claiming that he was Supreme. Hiranyakasipu was by nature very cruel, and feeling insulted, he began hissing like a snake trampled upon by someone's foot. His son Prahlada was peaceful, mild and gentle, his senses were under control, and he stood before Hiranyakasipu with folded hands. According to Prahlada's age and behavior, he was not to be chastised. Yet with staring, furious, crooked eyes, Hiranyakasipu rebuked him for being a traitor of family values. Prahalad reminded Hiranyakashipu that Sriman Narayana was the father of all in the universe and everyone belonged to his family.

Angry at Prahalad for praising Vishnu, the king finally decided to kill his son Prahlada. He orders his servants to kill Prahalad after torturing him. The servants tried many things ; however were not successful. Everytime, Sri Hari saved his parama Bhakta from harm. After tying a stone to Prahalad's body, he was thrown into the river but Bhoomi Devi himself stopped him from drowning. They threw sharp weapons on him, the weapons turned to a garland. They tried to get Prahalad trampled under the feet of an elephant but the elephant lifted Prahalad lovingly by the help of his trunk and put him on its back. They lit a pyre and tried burning Prahalad. However the firewall was cool and pleasant to Hari Bhakta Prahalad. They threw angry venomous snakes at him. The snakes ran way fearing Garuda. They tried raining arrows on Prahalad. However the arrows turned into flower petals and fell at Prahalads feet. They tried drowning him. Hari nama had lifted Prahalad from the ocean called Samsara. Hence they could not drown him. In the end they royal guards went to Hiranyakashipu and reported that they were able to kill Prahalad.

The father even tried to poison the son using his mother Kayatu but to no avail. Hiranyakashipu 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 but each time he attempts to kill the boy, Prahlada is protected by Vishnu's mystical power. When asked, Prahlada refuses to acknowledge his father as the supreme lord of the universe and claims that Vishnu is all-pervading and omnipresent. An arguement begins between the two where in Bhakta Prahalad reiterates that Sriman Narayana is Supreme. Prahalad counsels Hiranyakashipu to give up wrong ways and get into the fold of Hari Bhaktas.

Hiranyakashipu gets fustrated as he is neither able to kill his enemy Prahalad nor convince him to follow his footsteps. Hiranyakashipu asks Prahalad where he gets the strength from. Prahalad replies that he derives the strength from Vishnu. On asked where is Vishnu, Prahalad says that Vishnu is Omnipresent and shows his presence only to those who worship him. He asks Prahalad if Sri Hari is in a pillar in the Royal Court. The pillar that Hiranyakasipu pointed out is the one that was constructed by himself. Hiranyakasipu was sure that the pillar did not have Vishnu's presence as the pillar was contructed by himself. However Prahalad replies that Vishnu is present in each and every object in the pillar. Enraged by this, Hiranyakashipu, unable to control his anger, smashes the pillar with his mace. Then from within the pillar came a fearful sound, which appeared to crack the covering of the universe. This sound reached even the abodes of the demigods like Brahma, and when the demigods heard it, they thought, "Oh, now our planets are being destroyed!"

While showing his extraordinary prowess, Hiranyakasipu, who desired to kill his own son, heard that wonderful, tumultuous sound, which had never before been heard. Upon hearing the sound, the other leaders of the demons were afraid. None of them could find the origin of that sound in the assembly.and then following a tumultuous sound, Vishnu in the form of Narasimha appears from it and in defence of Prahlada moves to attack his father.Sri Hari, in the form of Narasimha had the head of a lion and the body of a man. (Nara = Man : Simham = Lion). The eyes of this terrible figure were dazzling and they looked like molten gold. The hair on the head and the moustache and the beard stood straight and erect. The sharp and pointed jaws chattered harshly; the tongue quivered like a sword and was sharp as a dagger. His eyebrows were close knit. The ears were raised and stood erect. The mouth gaped like a mountain cave. The two nostrils looked like wells turned upside down. The body was huge and mountain-like. It seemed to touch the skies and to stop the very clouds. It had countless arms. The body was covered with a white substance like silver. The very sight of the sharp claws made one tremble.

To prove that the statement of His servant Prahalad was substantial -- in other words, to prove that the Supreme Lord is present everywhere, even within the pillar of an assembly hall SriHari, exhibited a wonderful form never before seen. It was in Vaishaka month, under Swathi Nakshatra, on a Pradosham day. The form was neither that of a man nor that of a lion. Thus the Lord appeared in His wonderful form in the assembly hall. While Hiranyakasipu looked all around to find the source of the sound, that wonderful form of the Lord, which could not be ascertained to be either a man or a lion, emerged from the pillar. In amazement, Hiranyakasipu wondered, "What is this creature that is half man and half lion?" Hiranyakasipu studied the form of the Lord, trying to decide who the form of Nrisimhadeva standing before him was. The Lord's form was extremely fearsome because of His angry eyes, which resembled molten gold; His shining mane, which expanded the dimensions of His fearful face; His deadly teeth; and His razor-sharp tongue, which moved about like a dueling sword. His ears were erect and motionless, and His nostrils and gaping mouth appeared like caves of a mountain. His jaws parted fearfully, and His entire body touched the sky. His neck was very short and thick, His chest broad, His waist thin, and the hairs on His body as white as the rays of the moon. His arms, which resembled flanks of soldiers, spread in all directions as He killed the demons, rogues and atheists with His conchshell, disc, club, lotus and other natural weapons.

This terrible form split the pillar and came out. Hiranyakashipu's courtiers had crowded the hall; but not one dared to look at him, not to speak of ever approaching him. A fight began between Lord Narasimha and Hiranyakasipu. The Lord used his many hands and innumerable weapons against him. He was waiting for sandhya kalam ( twilight ) to occur. Once Sandya Kalam occured Making a loud, shrill sound of laughter, Lord Narasimha who is extremely strong and powerful, captured Hiranyakasipu. As Hiranyakasipu moved his limbs here, there and all around, very much afflicted at being captured. The Lord carried him to the threshold of the hall. He sat on the threshold and placed the demon on His lap, supporting him with His thighs, and in the doorway of the assembly hall the Lord very easily tore the demon to pieces with the nails of His hand. Lord Narasimha mouth and mane were sprinkled with drops of blood, and His fierce eyes, full of anger, were impossible to look at. Licking the edge of His mouth with His tongue,Narasimha, decorated with a garland of intestines taken from Hiranyakasipu's abdomen, resembled a lion that has just killed an elephant. The God, then turned toward the demon's soldiers. These soldiers had come in thousands to fight with Him with raised weapons and were very faithful followers of Hiranyakasipu, but Lord Nrisimha killed all of them merely with the ends of His nails.The hair on Nrisimhadeva's head shook the clouds and scattered them here and there, His glaring eyes stole the effulgence of the luminaries in the sky, and His breathing agitated the seas and oceans. Because of His roaring, all the elephants in the world began to cry in fear. After the enemies were destroyed, Narahari (Vishnu) sat on the throne of the Rakshasa King, glaring at those around him.

Thus even though Hiranyakashipa asked for a boon so that it was difficult to kill him, he forgot the fact that Paramaatma is more powerful and his duraasha, ahankaaram only lead to his downfall. However Lord Narasimha was furious and roared. Brahma , Siva , King Indra , Devatas, Rishis, Pitrus, Siddhars, Vidyadharas, Nagas, Manus, prajapatis, Gandharvas, Caranars, Yakshas, Kimpurushas, Vaitalikas , The Kinnaras, The associates of Lord Vishnu in Vaikuntha and all others praised the Lord for his extraordinary Avataar and requested that the Lord to pacify himself. However the Lord was still not satisfied. It was only after he saw Prahalad and made him sit on his lap and Prahalad spoke to Narasimha, was the Lord pleased. Lord Narasimha then made Prahlad the King. Prahalad requests Lord to bless him so that he will always be in service of the devotees of the Lord. He requests God to enable him so that he can teach others the correct path of bhakti. Pleased with his selfless request, the God promises Prahalad that he will not kill any of his descedents.

The Bhakti of Prahlaada is uncomparable. Although Prahalad was born in a family of asuras, he was the greatest of all devotees. Though he was kid and his father tortured him so much, he never thought about anything other than Shri Hari. Hence Mahaavishnu saved him. Prahlaada comes first in the list of Bhaktas and is a maarga-darshi for us. Prahlada Maharaja was the best among exalted devotees. Anyone who with great attention hears this narration concerning the activities of Prahlada , the killing of Hiranyakasipu, and the activities of the Lord Sundera Simhan Narasimhan, surely reaches the spiritual world, where there is no anxiety.

Based on this story, it is believed by followers that Narasimha protects his sincere devotees when they are in extreme danger. He saved Adi Sankara from being sacrificed to the goddess. Swami Vedanta Desikan, great poet, devotee, philosopher and master-teacher writes about Nrusimha Bhagavan as follows :-

Tvayi Rakshathi Rakshakai: Kim Anyai:,

Tvayi Cha Arakshati Rakshakai: Kim Anyai:,

Ithi Nischita Dhee: Srayaami Nityam,

Nruhareh: Vegavathee Tataasrayam Tvam!

"O kamasikha Narasimha! you are sarva sakthan. When you are resolved to protect some one, where is the need to seek the protection of anyone else? When you are resolved not to protect some one, which other person is capable of protecting us?. There is no one. Knowing this fundamental truth, I have resolved to offer my Saranagati at your lotus feet alone that rest at the banks of Vegavathi river." (Kamasika Ashtakam )

The beauty of Narasimha is unparalleled. So are Narasimha Bhaktas as who sing divine songs on his form.

ஆடி ஆடி அகம் கறந்து ,

இசை பாடி பாடி கண்ணீர் மல்கி ,

எங்கும் நாடி நாடி நரசிங்க என்று ,

வாடி வாடும் இல் வாழ் நூதலே

( transliterating in english )

Aadi Aadi Agam Karandhu,

Isai Paadi Paadi Kanner Malgi,

Engum Naadi Naadi Narasinga Endru,

Vaadi Vaadum Il Vaazh Noothale!

"I will dance and melt for you, within my heart, to see you, I will sing in praise of you with tears in joy, I will search for Narasimha and I am a householder who still searches to reach you(to attain Salvation)." (Swami Nammalvar in Tiruvaimozhi Divya Prabandha)

Draupadi - the second Krishna in Mahabharath.

Draupadi, also known as Krishnaa is the adopted daughter of King Drupada of Panchala, who becomes the wife of the five Pandavas. Draupadi's real name was Krishna, She was called Draupadi and Yajnaseni, from her father; Parshati, from her grandfather Prishata; Panchali, from her country; Sairindhri, `the maid-servant' of the queen of Virata; Panchami, `having five husbands;' and Nitayauvani, `the ever-young.'

King Drupada of Panchala and Dronacharya were students of the same teacher and the king had promised Dronacharya to provide some help at later point of time. However when Dronacharya requested assistance, Drupada declined saying that he did not know him. This angered Dronacharya a lot. Later on when Pandavas wanted to offer Guru Dakshina to Dronaacharya, Drona requested them to defeat and humiliate Drupada. King Drupada of was defeated by the Pandava prince Arjuna on behalf of Drona, who subsequently took half his kingdom to humiliate him. To revenge on Drona, he performed a fire-sacrifice (yajña) to obtain a means of besting him. He wanted a son who would kill Dronacharya and daughter to be married off to Arjuna. Draupadi emerged from the Yagna, as a full grown, in the bloom of her youth,as a beautiful dark skinned young woman, together with her brother Dhrishtadyumna from the sacrificial fire. Draupadi was a damsel of dark complexion but of great beauty, "as radiant and graceful as if she had descended from the city of the gods. She had a wavy beautiful,long hair and a body which had the aromatic smell of a blue lotus.As this dark hued damsel of incomparable beauty emerged from the flames it is said that the gods in heaven, the apsaras, the three worlds and even the rishis stared momentarily, dumbstruck at her beauty. She was one of the most beautiful princesses and almost every king wanted to marry.

Infact Draupadi was so beautiful that once while she was having a bath, the a palace maid embraced her wanting to enjoy her. Draupadi was very pious and God-fearing. She never feared fighting for what she belived was right. She had prayed to Shiva to grant her a husband with five desired qualities. However while doing the prayer, she repeated a particular part of Mantra 5 times. Unfotunately, the manta ends with " give me a husband" Shiva, pleased with her devotion, grants her wish as she requested. Hence she ends up getting married to five brothers.

As per Narada and Vayu Puranas, Draupadi was composite Avatar of Goddesses Shyamala (wife of Dharma), Bharati (Wife of Vayu), Sachi (wife of Indra), Usha (wife of Ashwinis) and hence married their earthly counterparts in the form of the five Pandavas. Once the wives of Indra, Dharmadeva, Vayu, Ashwini Kumars wanted to play a practical joke on Chatur Muka Brahma. They try and tease Brahma using their beauty trying to seduce him. Enraged at a jest by Bhrati, Shyamala, Sachi and Usha, Brahma cursed them to human birth and live a life with multiple husbands. They prayed to Parvati who thought of the solution wherein they will be born as one woman, Draupadi and hence share the earthly body for a smaller period of time.

Drupada intended that Arjuna alone win the hand of his daughter. Upon hearing of the Pandavas' supposed death at Varanavata he set up a swayamvara for Draupadi intending to bring Arjuna out into the open. The swayamvara was proclaimed, and princes assembled from all parts to contend in the lists for the hand of the princess; for although in such contests the lady was entitled to exercise her swayamvara or own choice, it generally followed that the champion of the arena became her husband The princes vying for Draupadi's hand had to shoot five arrows at a revolving target, while looking only at its reflection in a bowl. Drupada was confident that Arjuna alone could accomplish this task. He was right. Arjuna won Draupadi and took her home. Due to Kunti uninformed remark to share Her amongst brothers, Draupadi became a wife to all five brothers. Thus, Brahma's curse and Shiva's boon had taken their effect.

Draupadi maintained the reputation of her husbands, her parents and parents-in-law. She said, "I was born to the great king Drupada, I have become the daughter-in-law of the world famous king Pandu, I have married the great Pandavas who are proud of themselves and I have given birth to sons who are heroes. How can I be a servant?" These words of Draupadi will move one’s heart. She wanted her parents to be proud of her, she wanted her children to feel that they are the children of a great mother, she wanted her husbands to feel that they were married to a great woman and she wanted her parents in law to be proud of her and she wanted to please them. Draupadi herself was always behaving in a manner in which she maintained the reputation of her family and her great country.

She understood that Lord Krishna was not a close friend and a relative of the Pandavas, but the Supreme Sriman Narayanan in human form. To demonstrate this bhakti to Rukmini and Satyabhama, Lord Krishna took them to Indraprastha, were in when combing the hair of Draupadi, they see that every hair on her head resonates with words "Krishna Govinda". That was the extent of her deep devotion to the Lord. It had impregnated into each single hair of her head. That was also a reason why Lord Krishna immediately responded to help her whenever needed. During the Rajasuya yaga, when Krishna's Sudarshana Cakra kills Sisupala and returns to the lord, it cuts the lords finger. Draupadi, immediately bandages the wound with a piece of cloth she was wearing. Note that the cloth that she was wearing was one designed for a Empress of all those asembled there. As a queen, she could have just ordered servants to look after Krishna's finger. However her selfless act of helping the lord pleases Krishna so much that he feels indebted to her till the end. Krishna treats Draupadi as his sister, pledges his friendship to Draupadi and vows to show the world the greatest example of friendship. He protects her whenever she asks him for help.




Many years later, when Dushasana brought Draupadi to the court of the Kauravas with the intention of humiliating her in public, she appealed to Krishna for his Divine intervention and to save her honour. In times of grave crisis, only Madhava (God) can save man. Believing in this, Draupadi prayed to Krishna for succour. Her faith in the Lord’s name saved her. And Draupadi’s plea for help was heard by Lord Krsna all the way in Dwaraka and for the kindness she had shown him a long time before, Lord Krsna remembered that the tying of a bandage improvised by her at one time in the past repaid her kindness with not just one garment, but an endless colorful stream of saris, so she would not be publicly humiliated. Embolded by the Lords assistance in miraculous ways, Draupadi declares that she will tie her hair only after washing with the Kaurava's blood. This key incident is often considered to mark a definitive moment in the story of Mahabharata. It is the one of the driving reasons that ultimately led to the Mahabharata war. Swami Desikan sums up the deeds of the God with the statement " Panchali kuzhal muditaar " in his Tiruchinnamalai

Apart from this, Krishna also saved her from Jayatradha's lust and many times more during the vanavasa time. Krishna was instrumental in Pandavas getting Akshaya Patram from Surya Bhagavan to help. Draupadi offered a morsel of left over spinach to Krishna with devotion and Krishna, in return, appeased the hunger of thousands of Duruvasa’s disciples when they came to her as guests. Whenever he got a chance, Krishna showcased to world the qualities of Draupadi. Be it during Rajasuya Yagnam , be it in vanavasa time, or be it in the battlefield og Kurushetra. When Aswattama ( son of Dronacharya ) kills the Upa-Pandavas at night, the Pandavas want to kill him. However Draupadi pardons him as he is Guru-putra.The heart of a mother is well exposed when Draupadi comments “Do not make his mother, Drona’s wife, cry the way I do in my chastity shedding tears constantly in distress over a lost child“. She knows the pain of loosing children, so did not want another mother to experience it!

Draupadi is regarded by most Hindus as the exemplification of bhakti to God. The story of Draupadi is also a lesson of courage, determination, faith, hope and victory and the loss that comes with it all.She stands as the epitome of unshakeable faith . She is counted aong the pati-vrata stree in mahabharath along with Damayanti, Ghandari, and others. Many a heroine may have been scripted in many a story but none can equal this great Draupadi. She showcases best the spirit of Mahabharath.