Presentation by

Nischala Vanampally

Gurur Bramha Gurur VishnuGurur Devo MaheswaraGurur Sakshat ParabramhaTasmai Sri Guravey Namah

Guru is Brahma, Visnu and Maheswara.

Guru, as Brahma, plants the seed of bhakti.

Guru, as Visnu, nourishes the creeper of bhakti.

Guru, as Maheswara, destroys all obstacles in

the path of bhakti. Guru is non-different from the

supreme lord. To that guru, I offer my

obeisance's.

• Demonic King Hiranyakashippu.

• Envious to Lord Narayana and His devotees.

• Wanted to live forever.

• Wanted to Control the Universe.

Meditation on Mountain Mandara to impress Lord Brahma

Lord Brahma appeared and offered benediction.

Hiranyakashipu sought the following desires:

1) I shall not die:• During the day or night• Inside or Outside of any house• By any man or any beast• By any weapon or anything living or dead• On the ground or in the sky• In any month of the year

2) All the mystic powers

Lord Bramha grants all his wishes

During this time Hiranyakashippu’s wife, Kayadhu gave birth to a saintly son in the ashram of Naradamuni.

He was named Prahlad.

That he had become immortal.

And the entire universe was under his rule.

Hiranyakasippu then thought ...

Demigods Prayed to Lord Vishnu

Prahlad grew up and became an ardent devotee ofLord Vishnu.

Hiranyakashippu, however, wanted his son to be astrong and ruthless king like himself.

Prahlad to Gurukul

Prahlad was put under ‘Shanda and Amarka’ in Gurukul.

Then once Hiranyakashipu took Prahlad on his lap.

He asked, “O my dear son, what have you learned?”

sravanam kirtanam visnoh

smaranam pada-sevanam

arcanam vandanam dasyam

sakhyam atma-nivedanam

iti pumsarpita visnau

bhaktis cen nava-laksana

kriyeta bhagavaty addha

tan manye dhitam uttamam (S.B. – 7.5.23-24)

Hearing, chanting, remembering, serving His lotus feet, worshiping, offering prayers, being a servant, being dear, and offering ones soul to the Lord are accepted as pure devotional service.

One who has dedicated his life to the service of Krsna through these nine methods should be understood to be the most learned person, for he has acquired complete knowledge.

Hiranyakashipu threw Prahlad off his lap.

He also ordered to throw Prahlad:

From the top of a mountain cliff. Into a pit filled with poisonous

snakes. Into the ocean. Into the fire. Into a huge pot of boiling oil. Under the feet of a big elephant.

Hiranyakashipu was disturbed and upset ...

But none of them could even hurt Prahlad..!

Teach Prahlad again about material enjoyment

Hiranyakasippu firmly ordered his teachers to ..

But Prahlad preached to his classmates about devotion to the Supreme Lord that one should do from very young age.

Hiranyakasippu became furious!He asked: “Where is your Supreme Lord?”

Prahlad said, “O father, Lord is everywhere.”

Pointing to a pillar: “Is he here?”“Yes father!”Hiranyakashippu then knocked down a pillar.

Lord Narasimha in half man and half lion form appeared from the pillar.

Lord Narasimha then fought with Hiranyakashipu.

It was twilight. Lord Narasimha captured Hiranyakashipu and placed him on his lap in the doorway and ripped his belly with the nails of His hands and killed him.

Lord Narasimhadev killed Hiranyakashipu without contradicting any of Lord Brahma’s benedictions.

The killing took place :

neither inside nor outside but at the door way;

neither on ground or in sky but on the Lord’s lap;

neither day nor night but at twilight;

neither by man nor beast but as half man half beast incarnation;

neither by anything living nor dead not by the weapon but by the Lord’s nails;

not in any month of a Normal year but in the extra month of a leap year;

Narasimhadeva sat on the throne with great anger.Even demi-gods feared to go near Him.Lord Brahma asked Prahlad to go & calm Him down.

Narasimhadeva calmed down by seeing Prahlad.By the touch of the Lord, Prahlad offered prayers.

Narasimhadeva took Prahlad on his lap with tears of love.

namas te narasimhayaprahladahlada-dayinehiranyakasipor vakshah

Sila-tanka-nakhalaye I offer my obeisances to Lord Narasimha who gives joy to Prahlada Maharaja and whose nails are like chisels on the stonelike chest of the demon Hiranyakasipu.

 

ito nrisimhah parato nrisimhoyato yato yami tato nrisimhahbahir nrisimho hridaye nrisimhonrisimham adim saranam prapadyeLord Nrisimha is here and also there. Wherever I go Lord Nrisimha is there. He is in the heart and is outside as well. I surrender to Lord Nrisimha, the origin of all things and the supreme refuge.

 

tava kara-kamala-vare nakham adbhuta-sringamdalita-hiranyakasipu-tanu-bhringam

kesava dhrita-narahari-rupa jaya jagadisa hare O Kesava! O Lord of the universe! O Lord Hari, who have assumed the form of half-man, half-lion! All glories to You! Just as one can easily crush a wasp between one’s fingernails, so in the same way the body of the wasplike demon Hiranyakasipu has been ripped apart by the wonderful pointed nails on Your beautiful lotus hands.

Quiz Time

What was the name of the father of Prahlad Maharaj?

What was the name of the mother of Prahlad Maharaj?

On which Mountain, Hiranyakashipu performed meditation?

For what Hiranyakashipu performed meditation?

Name the Supreme Lord Incarnation we covered?

Who was the spiritual Master of Prahlad Maharaj?

Who were the two teachers of Prahlad Maharaj at gurukul?

What did you learn from this story of Prahlad Maharaj

References

1. Srimad Bhagavatam2. The Fearless Prince3. Gokul Bhajan Harikatha’s4. Google Images

Vānchā kalpa tarubhyaś ca

krpā-sindhubhya eva ca

Patitānām pāvanebhyo

vaisnavebhyo namo namah

Thank You!Hare Krishna!