||Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 81 – The legend of Prahladha – 11

All the deities assembled to witness the dreadful form of Lord Hari as half lion-half man, who is covered in a pool of blood, his sharp nails and fierce teeth were soaked in blood and meat, he is adorned in a garland of the intestine, the deities eulogized Lord Hari “Oh! Bhagavan, who is the creator, preserver, and destroyer of the Universe and its living beings, Oh! Nanda who is the source of happiness, Oh! Vichithrakarmane, who performs unique tasks to elevate the souls, Oh! Ananthashakthaye, who has endless prowess, you have killed the haughty demon, kindly be calm and accept our prayers. Lord Narasimha, kindly leave your brutal appearance and blesses us. We shall repeatedly prostrate before you.” In this way, Lord Indra, Lord Rudra, and deities were trying to pacify Lord Hari were terrified and moved backward.  None of the deities could bring back Lord Hari in his pleasing form.  Lord Bhrama approached Goddess Sri Mahalakshmi and asked her to calm down Lord Hari, but she was extremely frightened to appear before him.  

The five-year-old Prahladha who was utterly serene even after witnessing the entire dreadful scene, he was neither scared of Lord Narasimha nor grieved for his father, he had intense faith that his beloved Lord Hari appeared to protect him.   Lord Bhrama approached Prahladha and appealed “Oh! Child, you can only pacify Lord Hari.”  Prahlada with folded hands, with tears overflowing after witnessing the compassion of Lord,  fallen at the feet of Lord Narasimha, his tears washed the feet of Lord, gradually Lord Hari’s fierce form began to disappear.  Lord Hari blessed the child Prahlada, he embraced and took him on his lap.  Prahladha’s eyes were soaked in tears and eulogized with extreme devotion and faith to the Lord “ Oh! Lord Narasimha/Hari Ugrajathi, Lord Bhrama and deities, and Rishis eulogized your splendor to pacify you, but they could not calm down your rage, Oh Lord, I belong to the demon clan and a child, how did possible for me to calm you? It was all your mercy.  The number of penances, austerities, vows, richness, fame, prowess, would not help to elevate the soul or attain union with the Lord If the mind and the heart are not surrendered to the supreme Lord with intense devotion and faith.  If there are two kinds of people,  Vipra who do not have the knowledge of self or serenity of mind or not surrendered to the supreme Lord, and  a Chandala who is completely surrendered his mind and heart to supreme Lord would consider as intellectual.  I would prostrate at the feet of Chandala.   An individual who does not have the knowledge of the supreme self would not get purified himself or his clan.  The knowledge of self provides supreme bliss. Oh! Bhagavan,  who symbolizes all the auspiciousness, will not accept any of the offerings given with pride.   Whoever offers anything with humility, without pride or ego, or expectation or desires and whoever surrenders to supreme Lord and prepare themselves to receive grief or happiness with the serenity of mind would be considered as a true devotee.  Oh! Bhagavan, I have understood the supreme Lord who resides as a soul in the living beings, represent all the non-living things too, Oh! Bhagavan, you are omnipresent and capable to purify the intellect of the souls, I shall repeatedly prostrate before you, kindly bless me to remain your sincere servant.  Oh! Bhagavan, kindly bless me to cultivate intense devotion and faith on you, for that I should listen to your endless glories of you sung by the illustrious Rishis, Virinchi and deities, hence I should be in the constant association of ardent devotees who are completely surrendered at your lotus feet, so that I could elevate my soul and surrender at your lotus feet.” 

||Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 80 – The legend of Prahladha – 10

The dreadful half-lion – half-man emerged out of the pillar with blazing fireballs like eyes’ was staring at Hiranyakashipu.  It has white mane all over the face gives the dreadful appearance, two sharp protruding teeth, and sword-like lolling tongue as if ready to swallow him, sharp fingernails were moving towards him. Lord Narasimha was violently shaking his head and producing ear-splitting noise.  That appalling form of Lord Narasimha jumped out of the pillar that created intense trepidation in Hiranyakashipu. All the people assembled were started to flee out of the palace.  Hiranyakashipu remembered the boon of Lord Brahma and re-gained confidence. He picked up mace to fight against the dreadful form of Lord Hari that was utterly failed, he picked up the sword but that too failed miserably.    Finally, the time has arrived, Hiranyakashipu was brutally knocked down on the floor by  Lord Hari and sat on top of him, like the eagle perforates the venomous serpent with its sharp nails, one elbow on the thigh and another on the chest pressed heavily, thus he put a complete pause for the movement of Hiranyakashipu.  Lord Hari took him on his lap and moved slowly to the wooden entrance, with the sharp nails tore off chest and stomach, it created a pool of blood, Lord Hari gobbled down the blood with both the hands, his internal organs were adorned as garland.   Lord Hari immersed in extreme bliss, produced deafening voices and took great taste in the flesh and blood of Hiranyakashipu.  Thus, Emperor Hiranyakashipu who confiscated the three worlds with his power, ruled the entire Kingdom with immense haughtiness  became lifeless on the lap of Lord Hari, none of the boons from Lord Bhrama could help him.

||Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 79 – The legend of Prahladha – 9

The legend of Prahladha teaches that every human has the potential to create happiness within themselves, and share it with others too.  The state of bliss can be achieved with the constant practice of meditation.  The mind becomes free from selfishness, ego, pride, expectations, sorrow, grief, pain,  jealousy, etc.  The practice of meditation purifies the human mind and intellect.   Prahlada taught the children of the demons about the supreme knowledge of self, which could boost their confidence and courage.   The two preceptors Chanda and Amarka returned to the school,  saw all the children reciting and sung in praise of Lord Hari.  The preceptors angrily seized Prahladha and said: “You do not deserve to stay alive, you are a huge threat not only to the clan of demons but also to the children of demons and your father Hiranyakashipu.”  

The preceptors produced Prahladha before the assembly of the King.  Hiranyakashipu’s eyes were reddened with anger, he seized Prahladha from the preceptors and said “ Oh! Fool, you are an unfortunate one, you will destroy our clan, and how did you get this much courage to oppose your father? Who is protecting you? Who is influencing you to turn against me? I will cut you into pieces.” Hiranyaksha took the sword to chop the head of Prahlada who was serene, with folded hands began to speak “ Oh! Rajan, the supreme soul in the minuscule form resides in us and deities as well, Oh! Father, that gives you the strength to speak loudly, it is neither your skill nor the power of the muscle.  He is Ishwara who is behind all the functioning of the body and intellect.  He protects the mind and intellect while the state of sleep and it brings back while the awakened state, all those functions of the body takes place with his presence.  Oh! Father, you should not mistreat the all-pervading supreme soul, kindly leave your adamant and demonic nature, and surrender yourself to that supreme Lord who is extremely compassionate, he is capable to forgive all the sins of the worshiper.  Oh! Father, the Supreme Lord resides as a soul in all the living beings,  it is impossible to attain Him without surrendering to him,  otherwise, you cannot achieve serenity or peace of mind,  or cannot understand the Oneness of the soul.  Kindly contemplate upon the supreme Lord Hari, he will not discard anyone.”  Hiranyakashipu could not tolerate any of the advice of Prahladha, he was in extreme rage, could not control his mind listening in praise of Lord Hari.  He shrieked in extreme anger “ Oh! Fool, how dare you praise Lord Hari, who gave you the strength to praise him? How did you find this much courage to praise him? Who’s that Bhagavan protecting you always?  I will see who is going to protect you while I slice your head.  Let me see that supreme Lord who resides as soul and omnipresent.”  Hiranyakashipu moved forward to slice down Prahlada, put a pause to his action and thought  "Prahlada should understand that there is no Lord exists, other than me in this world.  I have to prove to him that I am the only Lord who is protecting and ruling the entire world.  Let me prove him first and kill.”  Hiranyakashipu changed the sword from left hand to right, he forcefully banged the pillar with his fist,  and roared “ Oh! Fool, prove as you are preaching, if your Lord is all-pervading, he must be in  living and non-living things too, therefore show me the presence of your Lord in this pillar.”  when Hiranyakashipu forcefully banged the pillar with his fist, a deafening voice rose from the eight directions as if the Earth was quivering.  Hiranyakashipu was taken aback; he could not realize what’s happening before him.  He was alarmed to see a dreadful form of half lion – half man rose from the pillar; it was to prove the perception of Hiranyakashipu is wrong,  it was to protect Lord Bhrama’s boons and protect his ardent devotee Prahladha from the danger and ultimately to prove the all-pervading nature of the supreme Lord.  

||Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 78 – The legend of Prahladha – 8

Prahlada spoke “ Oh! Children, My father went for an extreme penance in Mount Mandharachal, he undertook Tapasya for several months.  Lord Indra was concerned about the Tapasya of my father Hiranyakashipu.  During this period my mother Kayadhu was pregnant with a child.   Lord Indra defeated the demons and abducted my mother to kill the child in her womb. Fortunately, Lord Indra was intervened by Maharishi Narada, he insisted Lord Indra to leave the idea of killing a child in mother’s womb. Maharishi Narada said “ Oh! Mahabhaga, the child in Kayadhu’s womb is not cruel or wicked like Hiranyakashipu, he is going to be one of the greatest devotees of supreme Lord; therefore it is impossible to kill him.  He has attained supreme grace of Lord.” Lord Indra released the clutches on Kayadhu, he reverentially circumambulated her and left.  Maharishi Narada took my mother in his hermitage and gave shelter until my father finishes his Tapasya.  While my father was undertaking extreme penance, my mother served the ascetics living in the hermitage of Maharishi Narada who taught the highest of the knowledge of Paravidhya/knowledge of Bhramam and Aparavidhya/body which is perishable.  My mother could not recollect any of these highest of knowledge, with the grace of Maharishi Narada I could remember all those teachings while I was in her womb and preserved in my mind with the constant practice. Oh! Children listen to me carefully, it will purify your intellect, and the body has to undergo six types of transformations but the soul remains untouched, it has no death.  Therefore if you want to attain the permanent bliss you have to focus on the eternal soul not to the body which has perishable nature.  The supreme knowledge is like the Goldmine where the experts separate the gold from other metals, you should learn to focus your mind in the soul resides in your body, that will lead to ultimate Bramham, Athmavith focuses the mind on the supreme soul.  The body is made of five essential elements, mind, intellect, Ahamkara, sixteen senses/six from the body and six from the mind, Prana has two senses hunger and thirst, the intellect has to undergo doubt, forgetfulness, sorrow, happiness,/ the mind, body, intellect, and soul is interconnected by the supreme Lord in the form of Prana.  As long as the Prana/soul resides in the body, rest of the sixteen senses will function, otherwise, it will be declared as a corpse, in this way, you can elevate your mind to the supreme Lord who resides as soul in living beings.  There are thousands of methods to cultivate devotion and elevate your soul; in this Kali Yuga devotion is the easiest method to approach the Supreme Lord.  Oh! Children, devotion can be achieved by self-less service to  the preceptor, listening to their teachings and sincerely following them, listening to the glorious myths of Lord, Namasmaran/recitation of sacred names of Lord, contemplation upon the marvelous form of Lord Hari who resides as a soul in living beings, association with saintly people, and worship of supreme Lord,  in this way, detach your mind from all the worldly matters and concentrate on supreme Lord Vasudeva, it will create firm devotion  and immerses the mind in supreme bliss.  If you start remembering Lord Narayana on every breath, you can unite with the supreme Lord and if you cultivate firm devotion and unite your mind with the supreme soul, with the firm devotion all those impurities in the mind will burn and this will bring the serenity of mind.  Therefore, Deities, demons, Asura, Gandharva, Yaksha, Kinnara, and humans contemplate upon the lotus feet of supreme Lord Mukunda to attain the serenity of mind.  Anyone can meditate upon supreme Lord, it is possible not only for Dhvija/Brahmin, deities, Rishis, there are no specific qualifications required or need not be a scholar, every ordinary human being can contemplate upon Supreme Lord.  There is no need for charity, Tapasya, fasting, and disciplines, all that required is intense devotion and complete surrender upon the lotus feet of  Supreme Lord,  any charitable deed performed without the devotion is considered as ignorance.  Oh! Children, cultivate intense devotion to the supreme Lord who resides as a soul in you.  It will provide the sense of ‘Oneness in All’, there is no restriction or qualification required, even the Yaksha, and Rakshasa, or Shudras, Sthree, or people who have committed grave sins, can contemplate upon the supreme Lord Achyutha, devotion is considered as highest kind of piousness in everyone’s life.  Oh! Children, therefore meditate upon the supreme Lord Govinda and make your life fruitful.”

||Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 77 – The legend of Prahladha – 7

One day the preceptors were out for the work, Prahlada found it is a great opportunity to spread the knowledge of self to his friends.   The knowledge for self-confidence and courage to face any adverse situation with intense faith and devotion.  Prahlada speaks to the children of demons “ Oh! Children, It is difficult to attain the body of a human, a soul takes several births and with the piousness attained, it has achieved the body of a human.  Therefore it is the prime duty of the individuals to follow the Bhagavatha Dharma/righteousness from the age of childhood.  ‘Time’ plays important role in every human life, none of us can get hold of the intellect, beauty, skill, etc.. it has to perish with the time, hence it is important to practice righteousness from the early days of childhood and completely surrender at the lotus feet of Lord Vishnu who resides as soul in all the living beings.  He is Ishwara who is Sarvabhoothanam Ishwara:, he is the closest companion of the individuals.  Oh! Children, happiness is the state of mind that wedges with the pleasing experience of sense, but it is fleeting, the mind cannot stick on with the sense organs for a long time, therefore it releases its clutches from the sense organ after sometimes due to boredom.  The human mind will not stick on to a particular object or people or viewpoints for a long time.  The mind always searches for diverse matters to consume.  The ignorant people keep waits for the happiness performing the usual tasks, in this way they spend whole life span or wait until the damage of senses with unfulfilling desires.  Oh! Children, if you want to attain permanent bliss, contemplates upon the lotus feet of Lord Mukunda who symbolizes eternal bliss.  The human body cannot protect you from fear or anxieties, it undergoes constant transformation and destruction.  The body has to undergo aging, illnesses, and death if the mind clings on to the body, it would bring extreme fears and afflictions.  The half of the life goes waste without any fruitful task during childhood and adulthood, spends many nights in sleep and days in material affairs,  in this way we push our body and mind into darkness of ignorance, eventually death.    The aging and illnesses attack the body, by the time half of the life must have spent with the worldly matters.  Therefore the intellectuals isolate their mind from worldly affairs and bondage and contemplate upon the supreme Lord, eventually, the mind will get detached from worldly affairs.  The people who have completely indulged in taking pleasure in worldly affairs would spend their life in the remembrances of home, father, mother, wife, children, friends, brother, sister, relatives, wealth, and money, ultimately they descend from the supreme bliss.  The mind has the ability to descend to worldly matters and ascend to the supreme Lord as well.  Oh! Children, if you feed your mind with pleasures and comfort, once the body undergoes aging and illnesses, at that moment the mind will get extremely disturbed.  It becomes impossible for the mind to get unfasten from sensual pleasures.   The human mind is like an animal that takes extreme pleasures in the senses instead of getting disconnected from sensual pleasures.  Oh! Children, leave interest in all the worldly matters, and bondage and turn your mind to supreme Lord Narayana, eventually, the mind will be free from all those worldly matters.  Oh! Children, it is not so difficult to please supreme Lord who is all-pervading, represents living and non-living things, and resides as a soul in living beings.  Therefore surrender yourself to the lotus feet of  Supreme Lord, show kindness to others to elevate their souls to the supreme Lord, if the supreme Lord gets pleased you will attain all those desired in abundance.  The truth is the Dharma Arththa and the Kama alone will not elevate the soul to the supreme Lord, the scriptures confirm that elevation of the soul is possible only with the complete surrendering to the supreme Lord.  Oh! children, I am fortunate one, have gained this supreme Knowledge from Maharishi Narada while I was in my mother’s womb.   Listen to me, my preceptor Maharishi Narada taught me the Bhagavatha Dharma,/Vasudevasya Mahima/glories of supreme Lord Vasudeva, which is Gnana Vignana Samhitha/which describes the supreme knowledge and the ways to attain the supreme Lord.  It helped to elevate my soul with the constant contemplation upon the supreme Lord.”  The children of the Gurukula were astounded and requested  Prahlada to describe when did he learn the supreme knowledge from Maharishi Narada. 

||Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 76 – The legend of Prahladha – 6

Prahlada spoke “ Oh! Preceptor, my mind and intellect is yearning to unite with the Supreme Lord who resides as a soul in all of us, like a magnet; therefore I could not see anything other than him.”  The preceptors were really angry at the child Prahlada who was praising the splendor of Lord Hari.   Hiranyakashipu was furious at the preceptors.  King ordered the preceptors to take back Prahladha and teach to eulogize him.  The preceptors took Prahladha to the school and they tried all means of physical abuse and taught him to praise his father.  But Prahlada was unyielding for any of their threats or abuses.  He was taught Thrivarga about the Purusharththa/lessons on Dharma, Artha, Kama which could elevate the soul to the final state of liberation from repeated births.   He was less taught the practice of the final state of liberation from the worldly existence.   But Prahlada was steadfast, he did not worried about it, because he has already attained the supreme knowledge of Bhramam while he was in mother’s womb.  

The human body endures with the essential elements of Bauthika Loka/Prakrithi, the supreme soul could outlive only with the spiritual advancement, and therefore it is necessary to have worldly pleasures as well as spiritual knowledge to elevate the soul.  The preceptors were quite satisfied with their way of teachings to Prahlada.  Once again, he was brought to the assembly of the King, he was accompanied by his preceptors, and the questions were repeated.  Prahlada looked at his father's eye and said “ Oh! Father, The most favorite lessons I have learned are Shravanam, Keerthanam, Smaranam, Padhasevanam, Archanam, Vandhanam, Dasyam, Sakhyam and Athmanivedhanam, are nine types of devotion to worship supreme Lord Hari.”  Hiranyakashipu felt humiliated, showered all his anger upon the little child Prahladha calling him ‘enemy of his clan’ and threw him from the lap.  Hiranyakashipu blamed the preceptors for all the troubles; they forced the child to tell the truth where he had learned praising Lord Hari.  Prahlada said “ Oh! Ignorant one, you are not going to learn the absolute truth, you will remain the cows/ruminants that keep re- chewing the food consumed.  If you want to bring something new in your life, approach saintly men and soak in the dust from their feet, be in the association with them.  Otherwise, you cannot elevate your soul from the worldly matters.”  Hiranyakashipu was in a rage, ordered the preceptor to leave the Palace, made up his mind to teach a harsh lesson to Prahlada.  Hiranyakashipu thought if Prahladha stays alive, he will become a threat to him; he will destroy the entire clan.   Hiranyakashipu decided to kill Prahladha, called for his men and fastened him with a rope; he compelled his wife to poison the child when Prahladha was asked his mother about the unique color of food, mother consoled him that it is the offerings made to Lord Hari, the poison did not hurt Prahlada.  Hiranyakashipu was mystified, he ordered his men to take Prahladha high in the mountain and hurl down, Alas! he was miraculously escaped.  Prahlada was thrown into the cluster of serpents, but he did not get hurt.   He was tossed to the blazing fire, it did not hurt him.   He was thrown to the ocean, but he did not get hurt and safely returned back on the shore.  Hiranyakashipu understood after several attempts of punishment of death, Prahlada is safe, therefore someone is protecting him.  Hiranyakashipu pulled his sword to cut Prahladha into pieces, was stopped by his preceptors who requested the King to give them a final chance to change the belief of Prahlada.  Thus, Prahlada returned to the Gurukul for the third time. 

||Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 75 – The legend of Prahladha – 5

Maharishi Narada speaks “ Oh! Rajan, Prahladha was born as the fourth child of Hiranyakshipu, the others were Hladha, Samhladha, and Anuhladha.  Prahlada was innocent, honest, and virtuous; he had good control over senses and knowledge of self.  He respected preceptor and saintly men; he had supreme knowledge of Bhramam which is eternal, pure, unchangeable and absolute truth, resides as a soul in living beings.   He considered the supreme Lord as his constant companion.  He was humble, kind, and caring to everyone like a father to his children.  His mind was unwavering; he neither sticks to grief nor happiness.   He had thorough knowledge that all that seeing and happening are fleeting and not permanent.   He contemplated supreme knowledge of the Lord who resides as soul in deities and Asuras as well.  He had immense love and faith upon the supreme Lord by birth, so that he could be able to live in supreme bliss always, with the constant remembrance of Lord; he had immense courage and felt protected by supreme Lord.   He was constantly united in his mind with intense love and devotion to Lord Govinda who illuminates the senses.   He continuously contemplated the supreme soul which has no birth or death; hence he was in a state of ecstasy.  Hiranyakashipu was anxious about the little child Prahladha who was in a state of supreme bliss always, as if untouched by grief or sorrow, he engages meditation for hours and hours contemplating Supreme Lord Hari, he forgets the surroundings and sing and dance contemplating upon Lord Hari.  The King sends for physicians of the palace to check on the health of Prahlada.  They informed Hiryankashipu that his son is perfectly alright, he is constantly contemplating upon Lord Hari who is the enemy of him and keeping himself blissful always.  This news multiplied the worries of Hiranyakshipu, he decided to send Prahaladha to learn under the guidance of a preceptor, an institution was built for the purpose and found preceptors for Prahlada.  Chanda and Amarka two sons of Shukracharya were appointed as the preceptor of Prahladha and a large number of children of demons were admitted to the school.  Prahlada was taught to worship Hiranyakashipu who is the Emperor of the Kingdom; his name should be recited in place of Lord Hari, he is the protector of the Kingdom and his subjects etc.  The little Prahladha showed the least interest in all those teachings and nothing was kept in his mind, as if he was not heard anything other than the name of Lord Hari.

The years passed, once Prahaldha was brought to the assembly of Hiranyakashipu, his father affectionately carried the child on his lap, and enquired about his studies in the school and asked “Oh! Child, what did you learn in the school? Which one of the teaching did you like the most?” Prahaldha looked at father’s eyes, he closed his eyes and said “ Oh! Father, I have heard the most marvelous teachings about the splendor supreme Lord Hari resides who resides as a soul in living beings, therefore contemplate upon him and elevate your soul.   The attachment to body which undergoes constant transformation and destruction could bring unhappiness, extreme pain, anxieties, sorrows, and grief.  Oh! Father, therefore takes shelter at the lotus feet of Supreme Lord Hari, conducts your journey to woods and contemplates upon him in the serenity of woods.  Oh! Father, Sravanam/listening to his glories, Keerthanam/praising his glories, Smaranam/remembrance of his glories, Mananam/contemplation, Padhasevanam/worship of Lord as Master, Archana/veneration of Lord, Dasyam/service to him and his devotees, Sankhyam/consider him as your companion, Athmanivedhanam/complete surrender, accept any of the methods of worship of Lord Hari, you will find supreme bliss. ”  Hiranyakashipu abruptly rose from the throne in a wave of extreme anger and enquired the preceptor who taught him about the excellence of Lord Hari.  He laughed sarcastically and said “ Oh! Fool, what you have learned from your teacher is utter foolishness.”  He called for the preceptor and questioned the reason for Prahladha’s devotion to Lord Hari, they were troubled and fondly called Prahlada.  “Oh! Vathsa, do not lie, tell us the truth who taught you about Lord Hari?  We did not teach you anything about him.”  Prahlada replied “ Oh! Preceptor, you are an ignorant one, you have no knowledge of all-pervading supreme soul, you have not understood the oneness-in – All, I shall prostrate before that supreme Lord who has minuscule form as well.  You did not realize the supreme Lord, who resides as a soul in all the living beings.”