Prahlada

When the ruler of the asuras, Hiraṇyakashipu, was performing a penance in the forest to gain the boon of destroying Vishnu, the devas attacked the asura realm. A great battle ensued, in which the devas were defeated. While fleeing, Indra abducted the pregnant Kayādhū, the wife of Hiranyakashipu, as a spoil of war. Narada listened to the wails of the poor woman and got her released from Indra’s captivity. She stayed in the ashrama of the divine sage in gratitude. Prahlada, while inside his mother's womb, listened to Narada's chants of devotion towards Narayana. He was taught by Narada during his early childhood. As a result, he grew devoted to Vishnu. His father was antagonised by his spiritual inclination and tried to warn Prahlada against offending him since he had greatly desired to turn his son against Vishnu in particular. Despite several warnings from his father Hiranyakashipu, Prahlada continued to worship Vishnu instead of the former. The child is successful in converting other students of the Asura clan into Vaishnavism by teaching them the Narayana mantra.[5] His father then decided to commit filicide and poison Prahlada, but he survived. When the daitya soldiers attacked their prince with weapons, Prahlada informed them that their efforts were futile since Vishnu resided within them. The asura monarch then had the boy trampled by the aṣṭadiggajas, the eight elephants who bear the weight of the earth, but their tusks were broken to bits upon contact with him. He placed Prahlada in a room with venomous, dark snakes, and they made a bed for him with their bodies.[6]

Prahalada was then thrown from a cliff into a valley but was saved by Bhudevi, the consort of Vishnu, who turned the valley into a bed of flowers. Holika, the sister of Hiranyakashipu, was blessed in that she could not be hurt by fire. Hiranyakashipu put Prahlada on the lap of Holika as she sat on a pyre. Prahlada prayed to Vishnu to keep him safe. Holika burned to death, even as Prahlada was left unscathed. This event is celebrated as the Hindu festival of Holi.[7]

The asuras Shambara and Vayu were tasked with slaying the prince, but both of them were driven away by Vishnu. The boy was entrusted to Shukra, who educated him regarding his duties, the sciences, and justice, and was returned to his father after he was deemed to have become humble. The asura king once again broached the topic of God with his son, only to discover that the latter had never wavered in his faith. Finally, the wicked daitya commanded all the daityas and the danavas to collect all the mountains of the earth to construct a barrier over the boy in the ocean, so that his son would be submerged for a millennium. Even though they spread over him for a thousand miles, Prahlada, bound hand and foot, prayed to Vishnu, who granted him a number of boons, and returned to prostrate before his father, who was left bewildered.[8]

Prahlada shows his father that Vishnu exists everywhere

After tolerating repeated abuse from Hiranyakashipu, Prahlada is eventually saved by Narasimha, an avatar of Vishnu in the form of a man-lion, who emerges from within a stone pillar, places the king on his thighs, and kills him with his sharp nails at the threshold to his home at dusk, thus nullifying all of Hiranyakashipu's boon of virtual immortality.[9]

Prahlada eventually becomes the king of the daityas and attains a place in the abode of Vishnu (Vaikuntha) after his death.[10]

Because of his steadfast devotion to Vishnu as well as the teachings of Shukracharya, Prahlada became the mighty King of the Asuras. Prahlada was even more powerful than his father, Hiranyakashipu, ever was. He enjoyed the love and respect of his subjects. Without lifting a single weapon and by virtue of his good behaviour, Prahlada conquered the three worlds easily, and Indra ran away from Svarga. In the disguise of a Brahmin, Indra sought an audience with the asura king and asked him to teach him about Sanatana Dharma. Pleased with this pupil, he offered him a boon, and Indra sought the king's virtue and hence robbed Prahlada of his dharma as well.[12]

Prahlada once commanded the asuras to accompany him to the holy tirtha of Naimiṣa, where he hoped to see a vision of Vishnu. They went hunting along the banks of the Sarasvati River. Prahlada observed two ascetics with matted hair, bearing the bows of Sharanga and Ajagava. The asura king asked them why they held weapons while performing a penance, and the two ascetics responded that all those who held power were righteous in their conduct. One of the rishis assured the king that none of the three worlds could conquer them in a duel. Prahlada rose to the challenge. Nara fired arrows at the king with his Ajagava, but the latter was able to defeat him with his own gold-plated arrows. Prahlada employed the divine Brahmastra against Nara's Narayanastra. Seeing them neutralised in a mid-air collision, Prahlada wielded his mace against Narayana. His mace broke, and Prahlada found himself growing helpless and sought Vishnu's assistance. Vishnu told his devotee that the Nara-Narayana brothers were invincible as they were the sons of Yama and could only be conquered in devotion rather than combat. The king left the regency to Andhaka and erected an ashrama to propitiate Nara-Narayana and apologise for his folly.[13]

According to the Kurma Purana, Prahlada always served thousands of Brahmins daily. One day, Prahlada accidentally forgot to serve one Brahmin. The latter cursed the asura, saying that he would forget Vishnu and become unrighteous. The curse soon came into fruition, with Prahlada ignoring the Vedas and the Brahmins and soon deviating from the path of dharma. Determined to avenge his father's death, he waged war against Vishnu. When he was defeated, he realised his folly and abdicated his throne, allowing Andhaka to reign as king.[14]

According to the Devi Bhagavata Purana, Prahlada was compelled to wage war against Indra and the devas by the daityas. In the fierce devasura war that ensued, Prahlada emerged as the victor. Fearing that the asura king would destroy the devas, Indra prayed to Mahadevi, and Prahlada responded in kind. Pleased, the goddess pacified both of them, and they returned to their abodes.[15]

Prahlada, Virochana, Bali, and Bana fought against Shiva and the devas when Andhaka attacked Kailasha. Prahlada had strongly advised Andhaka against the invasion, but Andhaka refused. Andhaka was eventually defeated by Shiva, and Prahlada once more became King of the Asuras.

Prahlada was present during the churning of the ocean and also fought in the Tarakamaya War against the devas.

Prahlada's son was Virochana, who was the father of Bali. The devas had Virochana killed by taking advantage of his generosity.[16] Prahlada raised his grandson, Bali. Later on, Prahlada and Bali lived on Sutala Loka under the instructions of Vishnu.

It was Prahlada who asked Shukracharya to acquire the Mritasanjivani mantra from Shiva to save the asuras from the devas.

After a long life, Prahlada attained Vaikuntha. Prahlada's great-grandson was the thousand-armed Banasura, who was humbled in battle by Krishna.

• Kapila
• Narada
• Bhakti Yoga
• Jaya-Vijaya
• Narasimha
• Hiranykashipu