NARASIMHA – 4th AVATAR In the last avatar, Lord Vishnu as Varaha the wild boar, killed the asura Hiranyaksha and rescued the earth from him. Soon after that, Hiranyakashipu, a brother of Hiranyaksha, was very angry with the death of his sibling and wanted to take revenge. He ordered the Asuras, “Go destroy all good people on earth, put out their sacrificial fires & kill their cows. I will practice meditation and become the master of all the three worlds -Heaven, earth & the nether regions”. He went to Mount Mandara chala and began austere penance. He stood still for a long time and focused his thoughts on Lord Brahma. A big ant hill and grass grew on him but he did not move. While he was away in penance, Gods attacked the asuras. They found Hiranyakashipu’s pregnant queen Kayadhu in the palace bur sage Narada took her to his ashram to protect her. There she learned about the glory of Vishnu, and the child within also absorbed all the knowledge. Meanwhile, Hirayakashipu was still in meditation. Finally, Lord Brahma appeared before him and said, "I am very pleased with your prayers, so ask for a boon." Hirayakashipu asked Lord Brahma that he should live forever. Brahma refused, saying, "All living beings must face death. You can, however, choose your death wish." Hiranyakashipu then asked for the following conditions, as his death wish, "'O Brahma, let not death come to me either by man or beast, by day or by night, with a weapon or without a weapon, or indoors or outdoors, Brahma said, "May it be so!" After getting such a boon Hiranyakashipu lost no time in conquering and bringing both earth and heaven under his rule. He then announced, "None shall mention the name of Vishnu because no one is greater than me, not even Vishnu!" In the meanwhile, Hiranyakashipu's wife Kayadhu gave birth to a baby boy, Prahlad. Prahlad grew up to be a lovely child, and was devoted to Lord Vishnu since he had heard about the Lord even when he was in his mother’s womb. Hiranyakashipu was not aware that Prahlad was a devotee of Vishnu. Hiranyakashipu wanted his son to be the king of the Asuras, strong and ruthless. One day Hiranyakashipu lovingly asked his son, "Dear Son, what do you think is the best thing in life?" Prahlad replied, "To give up the world and seek protection in Lord Vishnu." Hiranyakashipu was shocked to hear this. He sent Prahlad to live with a guru of the asuras. In the school, the guru lovingly asked Prahlad, "Who has taught you about Vishnu?" Prahlad calmly replied, "Vishnu himself." The teacher was furious. He cruelly beat Prahlad with a cane. After finishing his studies Prahlad returned to the palace. Hiranyakashipu asked, "My son, what did you learn in the Guru's ashram?" The son replied, "One must take the name of Vishnu." This angered Hiranyakashipu and he shouted. "Don't utter such words again!" He called for the teachers. They were terrified before Hiranyakashipu, and cried, “It's not our fault, Your Majesty! What your son says is not taught by us." Hiranyakashipu scolded his son. Prahlad stood before his father with his hands folded and said, "O father! You have developed hatred for Vishnu. If you wish well for yourself, you too should adore him!" Hiranyakashipu was very angry and ordered his subordinates to kill Prahlad by throwing him from the mountain top. But Prahlad rolled down the mountain softly. The name of Vishnu was on his lips. He was not hurt. He smiled and got up. The king got angry on hearing the reports about Prahlad. He sentenced him to death by drowning; Prahlad escaped. Then he tried to poison him. But even poison did no harm to Prahlad. Hiranyakashipu grew more furious. He sent poisonous snakes at him but nothing could hurt him. The demon king sent a mad elephant but the elephant lifted Prahlad in its trunk and placed him on its back. The king decided to throw his son into fire and burn him alive. His sister Holika had a boon that fire would not hurt her. She was made to sit on a big bonfire with Prahlad in her lap. The flames encircled the bodies of both of them. When the fire was extinguished they were amazed to see that Prahlad came out safe while Holika was burnt to ashes. The next day the king challenged his son in the open court, "Prahlad! Where is this Vishnu, my enemy, whom you worship?" Prahlad replied, "Lord Vishnu is present everywhere. There's not a single place where He's not found." Angrily, Hiranyakashipu asked, “Is he in this pillar?” by pointing to a pillar in the palace. “Yes” replied Prahlad. Hiranyakashipu laughed at the silly idea and said “if so, let your lord Vishnu come from here” and hit the pillar with his mace. Much to his surprise! The pillar cracked with a thundering sound and Lord Vishnu appeared there in the form of Narasimha. The top half of his body was like a lion and the lower half, that of a man. His paws had long nails on them. It was also the twilight hour, neither day nor night. Lord Narasimha caught hold of Hiranyakashipu and placed him on his thighs. He sat on the threshold, which is neither inside nor outside the palace, and pierced his nails into the body of the demon. Hiranyakashipu died on the spot. Lord Narasimha then coronated Prahlad as the king and blessed him. 1. What is the moral of the story? .