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)