Prahlad was born to King Hiranyakashipu, a powerful asura (demon) king, who desired immortality and sought to be worshipped as a Bhagwan. After performing bhakti and severe penance, Hiranyakashipu was granted a boon by Brahmaji that he could not be killed by a man or a beast, neither indoors nor outdoors, neither during the day nor at night, nor by any weapon. Empowered by this boon, Hiranyakashipu became arrogant and cruel, demanding that everyone in his kingdom worship him instead of the Bhagwan.
Hiranyakashipu and his wife Kayadhu had four sons named Samhlada, Halada, Anuhlada and Prahlad. From the early childhood days Prahlad was an embodiment of spiritual virtues. He was a bhakta (devotees) of Bhagwan Vishnu. Realizing that his son Prahlad is a devotee of Bhagwan Vishnu, Hiranyakashipu started punishing him. He ordered his servants to take Prahlad to Gurukul (school) and instructed the teachers to make sure Prahlad does not remain a bhakta of Vishnu. In the Gurukul, one day the teacher questioned Prahlad, “Dear Prahlad, how did you acquire this Adhyatmic Gyan (spiritual knowledge) at this early age?” Prahlad replied, “When Bhagwan is pleased, one gets purified intellect needed for spiritual will and is attracted by Bhagwan Vishnu. This is how spirituality flows through me.”
One day Hiranyakashipu called Prahalad and demanded that Prahlad show him where Vishnu was, asking if he was present in a pillar. When Prahlad responded that Bhagwan Vishnu was omnipresent and is in the pillar too, Hiranyakashipu struck the pillar hard with his mace. To his surprise, Bhagwan Vishnu appeared in his Narasimha avatar – a form that was half-man, half-lion. Narasimha, neither man nor beast, killed Hiranyakashipu at twilight (neither day nor night), at the threshold of his palace (neither indoors nor outdoors), using his claws (neither a weapon nor bare hands), thus not violating the conditions of Brahma’s boon that Hiranyakashipu earned earlier in his life.
Pleased with Prahlad’s devotion, Bhagwan said, “You can ask for anything you desire”. Prahlad choked in emotion said,
- “No material desires shall grow in my mind and
- May my deceased father be purified of jealousy and anger.”
Later, Prahlad was installed on the throne and ruled for a long time as a benevolent king.
— Sanjay Mehta