Prahlad engrossed in loving thoughts of Shri Krishna
The Festival of Holi reminds us of Prahlad, the crest jewel of all saints (Bhakt Shiromani), and his steadfast devotion towards the Supreme Lord Shri Krishna.
One day creator Lord Brahma's 4 divine son called Kumars went to visit Lord MahaVishnu in His divine abode Baikunth. Upon reaching the gates of Baikunth, they were stopped by Jay and Vijay, the gatekeepers of Baikunth. Infuriated at being stopped from entering Baikunth, the Kumar brothers cursed Jay and Vijay to be born as demons on earth who would fight relentlessly against their dear Lord. Jay and Vijay were born on earth as Hiranyakashipu and Hiranyaksh.
Hiranyaksh was a cruel demon who tortured all who he came in contact with. He was eventually killed by Lord Varah. The death of his brother infuriated Hiranyakashipu and to avenge his death, Hiranyakashipu performed severe penances to please Lord Brahma with the aim of seeking a boon from Him that would make him almost invincible. Upon attaining that boon, Hiranyakashipu became very arrogant and forbade his subjects from worshiping God. He ordered everyone to treat him as God and perform their worship to him.
One day creator Lord Brahma's 4 divine son called Kumars went to visit Lord MahaVishnu in His divine abode Baikunth. Upon reaching the gates of Baikunth, they were stopped by Jay and Vijay, the gatekeepers of Baikunth. Infuriated at being stopped from entering Baikunth, the Kumar brothers cursed Jay and Vijay to be born as demons on earth who would fight relentlessly against their dear Lord. Jay and Vijay were born on earth as Hiranyakashipu and Hiranyaksh.
Hiranyaksh was a cruel demon who tortured all who he came in contact with. He was eventually killed by Lord Varah. The death of his brother infuriated Hiranyakashipu and to avenge his death, Hiranyakashipu performed severe penances to please Lord Brahma with the aim of seeking a boon from Him that would make him almost invincible. Upon attaining that boon, Hiranyakashipu became very arrogant and forbade his subjects from worshiping God. He ordered everyone to treat him as God and perform their worship to him.
As per the will of God, Prahlad was born as the son of Hiranyakashipu. Since childhood, Prahlad spent most of his time in the loving remembrance of God. Hiranyakashipu could not tolerate his own son performing exclusive devotion to his arch-rival Shri Krishna and ordered his soldiers to kill Prahlad. The soldiers tried every possible way to kill Prahlad but were unsuccessful in their efforts each time.
Hiranyakashipu's soldiers trying to kill Pahlad
For God has promised His loving devotees -
अनन्याश्चिन्तयन्तो मां ये जनाः पर्युपासते ।
तेषां नित्याभियुक्तानां योगक्षेमं वहाम्यहम् ॥
तेषां नित्याभियुक्तानां योगक्षेमं वहाम्यहम् ॥
गीता 9.22
ananyaashchintayanto maan ye janaah paryupaasate .
teshaan nityaabhiyuktaanaan yogaksheman vahaamyaham
teshaan nityaabhiyuktaanaan yogaksheman vahaamyaham
Gita 9.22
“Those who constantly meditate upon Me and selflessly serve Me, I protect what they have and give them what they don’t have”.
When all the soldiers failed, Hiranyakashipu decided to kill Prahlad with his own hands. In his fit of fury Hiranyakashipu asked Prahald, ”Where does your God live”? Prahlad replied “everywhere including your heart”.
At this Hiranyakashipu pointed towards the stone pillar in his palace and asked Prahald, “Does your God dwell in this pillar too”? “Sure, He does”, replied Prahlaad. The demon smashed the pillar with his mighty club. The Almighty, Omnipresent Supreme Lord appeared from that pillar in the form of half lion and half man. This form of the Lord is known as Lord Narsingh. He picked up Hiranyakashipu, placed him on His thighs and killed him with His sharp claws, thereby saving Prahlad from his father's wrath.
Before ascending to His Divine abode, Lord Narsingh told Prahlad to ask for a boon, which perplexed little Prahlad, as he had learnt while in his mother’s womb that one should never ask for anything from God.
When all the soldiers failed, Hiranyakashipu decided to kill Prahlad with his own hands. In his fit of fury Hiranyakashipu asked Prahald, ”Where does your God live”? Prahlad replied “everywhere including your heart”.
At this Hiranyakashipu pointed towards the stone pillar in his palace and asked Prahald, “Does your God dwell in this pillar too”? “Sure, He does”, replied Prahlaad. The demon smashed the pillar with his mighty club. The Almighty, Omnipresent Supreme Lord appeared from that pillar in the form of half lion and half man. This form of the Lord is known as Lord Narsingh. He picked up Hiranyakashipu, placed him on His thighs and killed him with His sharp claws, thereby saving Prahlad from his father's wrath.
Before ascending to His Divine abode, Lord Narsingh told Prahlad to ask for a boon, which perplexed little Prahlad, as he had learnt while in his mother’s womb that one should never ask for anything from God.
While Hiranyakashipu was performing penances to please Lord Brahma, Indra, the king of celestial abodes, abducted Hiranyakashipu’s wife Kayadhu. At that time she was pregnant with Prahlad. Sage Narad intervened in the situation, rescued Kayadhu and gave her shelter. While sage Narad preached to Kayadhu, Prahlad carefully listened to the teachings. He learned them well and perfected his devotion before birth. Now, although Prahlad was merely a 5 year old child, yet he was an accomplished devotee of the Supreme Lord.
So Prahlad answered:
So Prahlad answered:
Hiranyakashipu's wife Kayadhu was carrying Prahlad. While Kayadhu dosed Prahlad carefully listened to teachings of Sage Narad
|
अहं त्वकामस्त्वद्भक्तस्त्वं च स्वाम्यनपाश्रयः ।
भा. 7.10.6
|
ahaṃ tvakāmastvadbhaktastvaṃ ca svāmyanapāśrayaḥ ।
bhā. 7.10.6
|
“O My Master! What are you saying? It would be out of place for a servant to ask the Master to do things for the servant! Haven’t You accepted me as your servant (daas)? "
God was spellbound. He smiled at Prahlad’s astute devotion but still told him to ask for a boon, as it was customary. Prahlad humbly answered, “If it is obligatory I shall ask” -
God was spellbound. He smiled at Prahlad’s astute devotion but still told him to ask for a boon, as it was customary. Prahlad humbly answered, “If it is obligatory I shall ask” -
|
यदि रासीश मे कामान् वरांस्त्वं वरदर्षम । कामानां हृद्यसंरोहं भवतस्तु वृणे वरम्॥
भा 7.10.7
|
yadi rāsīśa me kāmān। varāṃstvaṃ varadarṣama । kāmānāṃ hṛdyasaṃrohaṃ bhavatastu vṛṇe varam॥
bhā 7.10.7
|
“Please grant me a boon that all desires of self-happiness including the seed of desire, are eradicated from my mind forever”.
Thus, Prahlad taught mankind that pure devotion is totally free from all kinds of desires. These desires are of two types: worldly desires which range from this earth to the abode of Brahma the creator (bhukti), and mukti.
Thus, Prahlad taught mankind that pure devotion is totally free from all kinds of desires. These desires are of two types: worldly desires which range from this earth to the abode of Brahma the creator (bhukti), and mukti.
|
यो न कामयते किञ्चित्। ब्रह्मभूयाय कल्पते ॥
महाभारत
|
yo na kāmayate kiñcit। brahmabhūyāya kalpate ॥
mahābhārata
|
|
विहाय कामान्यः सर्वान् पुमांश्चर्ति निःस्पृहः । निर्मो निरहंकारः स शान्तिमधिगच्छति ॥
गीता 2.71
|
vihāya kāmānyaḥ sarvān। pumāṃścarti niḥspṛhaḥ । nirmo nirahaṃkāraḥ sa śāntimadhigacchati ॥
gītā 2.71
|
|
यदा सर्वे प्रमुच्यन्ते कामा येऽस्य हृदिश्रिता । अथ मर्त्योऽमृतो भ्वत्यत्रब्रह्म समश्नुते ॥
कठो. 2.3.14
|
yadā sarve pramucyante kāmā ye'sya hṛdiśritā । atha martyo'mṛto bhvatyatrabrahma samaśnute ॥
kaṭho. 2.3.14
|
All these verses are explaining one and only one thing “abandon all desires”. The extent of these desires ranges from luxuries of the material realm to the desire for liberation. A devotee attains the state of complete bliss when his mind stops making all desires. The root cause of stress and agony is desires.
Saint Narad, Guru of Prahlad, further clarified this in Narad Bhakti Sutra:
Saint Narad, Guru of Prahlad, further clarified this in Narad Bhakti Sutra:
|
तत्सुखसुखित्वम्
नारद भक्ति दर्शन
|
Tatsukhasukhitvam
Narad Bhakti Darshan
|
“In Your pleasure lies my pleasure”.
All desires for self pleasure are the reason for our unhappiness. The state of no-desire is unnatural and thus unattainable. However, the jeev can attain God’s grace by replacing the desire for self-happiness with the desire to please-God. God is self-complacent yet when the jeev desires to please Him, the all-gracious Lord graces that jeev. The Gopis had one and only one desire and that was to please Shri Krishna. Shri Krishna is so gracious that He considers Himself indebted to the Gopis for their exclusive, pure and selfless devotion unto Him.
All desires for self pleasure are the reason for our unhappiness. The state of no-desire is unnatural and thus unattainable. However, the jeev can attain God’s grace by replacing the desire for self-happiness with the desire to please-God. God is self-complacent yet when the jeev desires to please Him, the all-gracious Lord graces that jeev. The Gopis had one and only one desire and that was to please Shri Krishna. Shri Krishna is so gracious that He considers Himself indebted to the Gopis for their exclusive, pure and selfless devotion unto Him.
Lord Narsingh picked up Prahlad in His arms. His anger abated and He started dancing in joy.
Hiranyakashipu had a sister Holika who had the boon that fire won’t burn her. So Hiranyakashipu ordered Holika to sit in pyre with Prahlad on her lap. The idea was that Holika would live while Prahlad would die. Hiranyakashipu’s plan was thwarted by God; He saved Prahlad whereas the fire consumed Holika.
The auspicious occasion of Holi, is a commemoration of how Prahlad was saved by the Lord's intervention. On this day we must prudently remember the great ideology of Bhakt Prahlad and firmly resolve to selflessly devote every living moment of our life in the loving remembrance of God. And that remembrance is only to please the Lord and by His grace attain the goal of our lives, which is God realization.
Hence, a devotee must aim only for divine bliss. This bliss is achievable only by selfless devotion like bhakt Prahlad.
Hence, a devotee must aim only for divine bliss. This bliss is achievable only by selfless devotion like bhakt Prahlad.
|
श्री कृष्ण कृपा हेतु गोविंद राधे, साधन केवल भक्ति बता दे ।
भक्ति मन से हो नित गोविंद राधे, भाव निष्काम अनन्य बना दे । - कृपालु त्रयोदशी
- जगद्गुरूत्तम स्वामी श्री कृपालु जी महाराज Performing devotion to the lotus feet of Shri Krishna is the only way to attaining His grace. Devotion means keeping the mind constantly engaged in the selfless loving thoughts of Shri Krishna alone.
- Kripalu Trayodashi
- Jagadguruttam Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj |
|
