Prahlada: The Boy Who Never Stopped Praying

Many centuries ago, there was a mighty demon king named Hiranyakashipu. He was so powerful that even the gods feared him. He had performed great penance to win a special boon — that no man or animal could kill him, neither indoors nor outdoors, neither day nor night, neither on the ground nor in the air. He believed himself to be the greatest being in the universe and commanded that everyone worship only him.

But his own son, Prahlada, was different from the very beginning. Even as a baby, whenever the priests would chant Vishnu's names nearby, little Prahlada would stop crying and smile peacefully. As he grew older, his love for Lord Vishnu only grew stronger.

Every day Prahlada would pray, sing Vishnu's praises, and tell his school friends wonderful stories about the Lord's kindness and power. His father Hiranyakashipu was furious.

"Stop this nonsense at once!" the demon king bellowed. "There is no god but me! Worship me!"

But calm little Prahlada looked up at his fearsome father and said quietly, "Father, Lord Vishnu is everywhere — in the trees, in the water, in every rock, and even within you. He is the creator of all life. How can I not love Him?"

Hiranyakashipu tried everything to break Prahlada's faith. He had his soldiers throw the boy off a high cliff — but Prahlada landed softly, still praying. He had wild elephants trample him — but the animals became gentle and calm in his presence. He threw the boy into a blazing fire — but the flames did not touch him. He had the demon princess Holika sit with Prahlada in a fire — for Holika had a magical cloak that protected her from flames — but in that fire, Holika's cloak flew away and covered Prahlada instead, and Holika was burned while Prahlada walked out unharmed.

This day is remembered every year as Holi — the Festival of Colours — celebrating that goodness and devotion always triumph!

Finally, furious at his failure, Hiranyakashipu grabbed a stone pillar in his great palace hall and bellowed, "You say Vishnu is everywhere. Is he in this pillar too?"

"Yes, Father," said Prahlada without fear. "He is in that pillar too."

The demon king laughed and struck the pillar with his fist. Suddenly, with a sound like a thousand thunderbolts, the pillar split open — and out stepped the magnificent form of Lord Narasimha, half lion, half man, blazing with golden light. At twilight, at the threshold of the hall, balanced on Narasimha's lap — not inside, not outside, not day, not night, not on the ground, not in the air — Hiranyakashipu's boon was broken.

Prahlada was safe. He grew up to be a kind and wise king, beloved by all. His story has inspired millions for thousands of years.