The Legend of Holi: Prahlad, Hiranyakashipu, and the Triumph of Devotion
The story behind the Holi festival varies across different cultures and regions. However, one of the most well-known stories behind the Hindu festival of Holi revolves around the legends of Prahlad and Hiranyakashipu.
According to Bhagwat Puran, there was a powerful demon king named Hiranyakashipu who hated Lord Vishnu. His younger brother obtained a boon from Lord Brahma and, by gaining power, assaulted the defenseless Bhoomi, pulling her beneath the cosmic ocean. The devatas appealed to Vishnu to save the earth, goddess, and creation. Answering their plea, Vishnu assumed the avatar of a wild boar (Varaha) to rescue them. Hiranyaksha attempted to defeat him, after which he was slain by Vishnu. Hiranyaksha had an elder brother named Hiranyakashipu who seeks revenge for his brother's death. He similarly obtains boon from Lord Brahma by performing Tapasya, and assured that no devatas or asuras could kill him. After obtaining bonn, he immediately conquers three worlds(bhulok, devalok, pataala lok). After that, he became arrogant and demanded that everyone worship him instead of Vishnu. He tried his best to prevent his son Prahlad from worshipping Vishnu, but his son gradually turned into a devotee of Lord Vishnu from childhood.
Hiranyakashipu eventually became so angry and upset at his son’s devotion to Vishnu (whom he saw as his mortal enemy) that he decided he must kill him. Hiranyakashipu sent demons who tried their illustrious powers on Prahlad, but none of their powers could stand before him. He tried to influence Ra against Lord Vishnu but failed, and Prahlad remained a devotee of Lord Vishnu. He ordered him to be trampled underfoot by an elephant. The enraged elephant was unable to crush the child's body. They tried poison, starvation, burning, throwing into wells, and other measures on the child, one after another, to no avail, as Lord Vishnu was protecting his devotee. As a last resort, the king called upon his demoness sister, Holika, for she had a distinctive cloak that supposedly prevented her from being harmed by fire. By preparing a bonfire, Hiranyakashipu asked Holika to sit with his son Prahlad, hoping that he would become a victim of the fire without any fear of death. As the fire grew stronger, a sudden breeze started swaying the cloak, and it flew from Holika and covered Prahlad. It was then that she was charred, and Prahlad remained unharmed. Since then, the night is celebrated as Holika Dahan (killing of Holika) and is now popularly known as the Holi festival, a festival of colors.
At the end of the story, Lord Vishnu himself comes as Lord Narasimha and kills Hiranyakashipu. The city in which Hiranyakashipu lived is called Haridoi, which is derived from "haridroi," meaning betrayer of Lord Vishnu.
Holi, Hindu mythology, Prahlad, Hiranyakashipu, Lord Vishnu, devotion, triumph, festival of colors, legend, Narasimha, Holika Dahan