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{{short description|Asura and devotee of the Hindu god Vishnu}}
{{Other uses}}
{{redirect|Bhakta Pralhad|other uses|Bhakta Prahlada (disambiguation){{!}}Bhakta Prahlada}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2016}}
{{more citations needed|date=September 2016}}
{{Infobox deity
| image =Prahlada overcoming the elephant.jpg
| caption = Prahlada overcoming a herd of elephants.
| affiliation = Bhakta (devotee) of lord [[Vishnu]], [[Asura]]
| children = [[Virochana]], Virochanaa<ref>{{Cite web|title=vishwakarma - Who is the mother-in-law of Surya?|url=https://hinduism.stackexchange.com/questions/28876/who-is-the-mother-in-law-of-surya|access-date=2020-08-17|website=Hinduism Stack Exchange}}</ref> Kumbh and Nikumbha
| father = [[Hiranyakashipu]]
| mother = Kayadhu
| spouse = Devi
| type = Hindu
| predecessor =Virochana
| successor =Hirakashyap
| siblings = Sahlad, Ahlad, Shivi, Vaashkal (brothers) <br>[[Simhika]] (sister)
| texts = [[Bhagavat Purana]], [[Vishnu Purana]]
| Devanagari = प्रह्लाद
}}
{{Hinduism}}
'''Prahlada''' ({{IAST3|Prahlāda}}) was a king, the son of [[Hiranyakashipu]] and Kayadhu, and the father of [[Virochana]]. He belonged to the Kashyapa gotra. He is described as a saintly boy from the [[Puranas]] known for his piety and [[bhakti]] to [[Vishnu]]. Despite the abusive nature of his father, Hiranyakashipu, he continued his devotion towards God [[Vishnu]].<ref>{{cite web|title=The story of Prahlada|url=http://www.ramakrishnavivekananda.info/vivekananda/volume_4/lectures_and_discourses/the_story_of_prahlada.htm|publisher=Ramakrishnavivekananda.info }}</ref> He is considered to be a ''mahājana'', or ''great devotee'', by followers of [[Vaishnavism|Vaishnava]] traditions and is of special importance to devotees of [[Narasimha|Narasimha avatar]]. A treatise is accredited to him in the [[Bhagavata Purana]] in which Prahlāda describes the process of loving worship to [[Vishnu]]. The majority of stories in the Puranas are based on the activities of Prahlāda as a young boy, and he is usually depicted as such in paintings and illustrations.

==Story==

'''Prahlāda''' was born to Kayadu and [[Hiranyakashipu]], an evil [[daitya]] king who had been granted a boon that he could not be killed off by anything born from a living womb, neither be killed by a man nor an animal, neither during the day nor at night, neither indoors nor outdoors, neither on land nor in the air nor in water and of no man-made weapon. However, after repeated attempts of filicide by Hiranyakashipu unto Prahlāda, Prahlāda was finally saved by Lord Narasimha, a prominent avatar of God Vishnu who descended to demonstrate the quality of Divine rage and redemption by killing the demon king. The word "Narsimha" is derived from the Sanskrit word" Nara" meaning Man and "siṃha" meaning lion. Thus, the Lord took the form of a part man, part lion to kill the Asura. Lord Narasimha, being the transcendental Supreme Personality of Godhead, fulfilled all the proper requirements by which the otherwise nearly-invincible Hiranyakashipu could be killed.{{citation needed|date=November 2016}}

After the death of his father, Prahlāda took his father's kingdom and ruled peacefully and virtuously. He was known for his generosity and kindness. He sowed similar seeds in his son [[Virochana]] and grandson [[Mahabali]].{{citation needed|date=June 2016}}

===The story of Prahlāda===

Prahlāda—while being in his mother's womb—got to hear sweet [[Narada]]'s chants. He was taught by [[Narada]] in early childhood. As a result, he was devoted to [[Vishnu]]. His father didn't like his Spiritual inclination and tried to warn Prahlāda.
Despite several warnings from his father Hiranyakashipu, Prahlāda continued to worship [[Vishnu]] instead. His father then decided to commit [[filicide]] and poison Prahlāda, but he survived. He then trampled the boy with elephants, but the boy still lived. Then he put Prahlāda in a room with venomous snakes, and they made a bed for him with their bodies.{{citation needed|date=September 2016}}

Prahalada was then thrown from a valley into a river but was saved by Vishnu.
[[Holika]], the sister of [[Hiranyakashipu]], was blessed in that she could not be hurt by fire. Hiranyakashipu put Prahlāda on the lap of Holika as she sits on a pyre. Prahlāda prayed to Vishnu to keep him safe. Holika then burned to death as Prahlāda is left unscathed. This event is celebrated as the Hindu festival of [[Holi]].<ref>[[Varadaraja V. Raman]] – ''Variety in Religion And Science: Daily Reflections'', iUniverse, 2005, {{ISBN|0-595-35840-3}}, p.259</ref>
[[File: Prahlada, son of Hiranyakashipu is a devotee of Vishnu. But his father was against Vishnu.jpg|thumb|Prahlada showing his father that Vishnu exists everywhere]]
After tolerating abuse from Hiranyakashipu, Prahlāda is eventually saved by Narasingha, Vishnu in the form of a man-lion godhead, who emerges from within a stone pillar, who places the king on his thighs, and kills him with his sharp nails at the entrance to his home at dusk, thus nullifying all of Hiranyakashipu's boon of virtual immortality.<ref>{{cite book | last = Dimmitt
| first = Cornelia
|author2=Johannes Adrianus Bernardus Buitenen
| others = translated by J. A. Van Buitenen
| title = Classical Hindu Mythology: A Reader in the Sanskrit Purāṇas
| publisher = Temple University Press
| year = 1978
| isbn = 0-87722-122-7
| page = 312
}}</ref>

Prahlāda eventually becomes king of the [[daitya]]s and attains a place in the abode of Vishnu ([[Vaikuntha]]) after his death.<ref>P. 452 ''The Hindu World: An Encyclopedic Survey of Hinduism'' By Benjamin Walker – Summary</ref>

===Scriptural references===
In the [[Bhagavad Gita]] (10.30) [[Krishna]] makes the following statement in regard to Prahlāda, showing his favour towards him:
<blockquote>
Translation: "''Among the Daitya demons I am the devoted Prahlāda, among subduers I am time, among beasts I am the lion, and among birds I am Garuda.''"<ref>[http://bhagavadgitaasitis.com/10/30/en1] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050908011809/http://bhagavadgitaasitis.com/10/30/en1 |date=8 September 2005 }}</ref>
</blockquote>

== Later life ==
{{More citations needed section|date=February 2020}}
Because of his steadfast devotion towards Vishnu as well as under the teachings of [[Shukra]]charya, Prahlada became the mighty king of the Asuras. Prahlada was even more powerful than his father, Hiranyakashipu ever was. He enjoyed the love and respect of his subjects.

Without lifting a single weapon, and by virtue of his good behaviour, Prahlada conquered the three worlds easily and [[Indra]] ran away from the Heavens. Indra then deceived Prahlada into giving him the power of his behaviour and Prahlada lost control of the three worlds.

The Asuras grew angry at the Devas for taking advantage of their King's virtuous behaviour and invaded the heavens. The Devas, afraid of the Asuras, enlisted the help of human Kings such as Yayati, Raji and Kakutstha and defeated them.

Prahlada always served thousands of Brahmins daily. One day, out of ignorance, Prahlada forgot to serve one Brahmin. The latter cursed the Asura that he would forget Vishnu and become unrighteous. The curse would be broken if Vishnu defeated Prahlada.

Prahlada then personally attacked the gods and defeated [[Indra]] in battle, forcing the King of the Gods to run for his life. Indra sought the help of [[Vishnu]]. Infused with his power, Indra defeated Prahlada. The latter understood that Vishnu was helping Indra in battle and he withdrew his forces. Prahlada first gave his kingdom to Andhaka, but the latter was defeated by Shiva. So Prahlada gave it to his son Virochana and undertook a Tirtha Yatra. {{citation needed|date=June 2016}}

When Prahlada found out that his blind and deformed cousin, [[Andhakasura]], had overcome his disabilities and became mighty and invincible due to the boon of Lord [[Brahma]], he voluntarily ceded his lordship over the Asuras to Andhaka and became a vassal. Prahlada, Virochana, Bali and Bana had fought against Lord Shiva and the other gods when Andhaka attacked Mt. Kailash. Prahlada had strongly advised Andhaka against the invasion, but Andhaka refused. Andhaka was eventually defeated by Lord Shiva and Prahlada once more became King of the Asuras.

Prahlada was present during the churning of the ocean and also fought in the Tarakamaya war against the Devas.

Prahlada's son was Virochana, who was the father of [[Mahabali|Bali]]. The gods had Virochana killed by taking advantage of his generosity.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://btg.krishna.com/lord-vamana-resolves-universal-conflict|title=Lord Vamana Resolves the Universal Conflict|year=2008|website=btg.krishna.com|access-date=2020-02-16|quote=They begged for his crown. Even though Virochana recognized the demigods' plot, true to his word he parted with his crown and his life as well}}</ref> Prahlada raised his grandson, Bali. Later on, Prahlada and Bali lived on Sutala Loka under the instructions of Vishnu.

It was Prahlada who asked Shukracharya to acquire the Mritasanjivani mantra from Lord Shiva, to save the Asuras from the Devas.

After a long life, Prahlada attained Vaikuntha. Prahlada's great-grandson was the thousand armed Bana, who was humbled in battle by [[Krishna]].

==Pilgrimage sites==

The following sites in [[Maharashtra]], [[Andhra Pradesh]], [[Telangana]] and [[Uttar Pradesh]] in India, are associated with Prahlāda or Narasiṁha as places of pilgrimage:
*[[Prahlad Ghat]], [[Hardoi]]
*[[Shri Laxmi Narsimha Temple]]
*[[Malakonda]]
*[[Simhachalam]]
*[[Ahobilam]]
*[[Kadiri]]
*[[Yadagirigutta Temple]]
*[[Lakshmi Narasimha swamy temple, Penna Ahobilam]]

In Pakistan:
*[[Prahladpuri Temple, Multan]]

==In culture==
The '''[[Prahallada Nataka]]''' (also spelled as Prahlada-Naṭaka), a folk dance-theatre from Ganjam, Odisha enacts the story of Narasimha and Hiranyakashipu. This art form dates back to the 18th century when the Rāmakruṣhṇa Chhoṭarāya, the erstwhile king of the Jalantara state wrote the text & songs of the drama and started it.

==In popular culture==
The story of Prahlada has been the theme of various films
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Year
!Title
!Language
!Ref.
|-
|1917
|''Bhakta Pralhad''
|Silent
|<ref name="RajadhyakshaWillemen1999">{{cite book|last1=Rajadhyaksha|first1=Ashish|last2=Willemen|first2=Paul|title=Encyclopaedia of Indian cinema|url=https://archive.org/details/encyclopaediaofi0000raja|url-access=registration|accessdate=12 August 2012|year=1999|publisher=British Film Institute}}</ref>
|-
|1932
|[[Bhakta Prahlada (1932 film)|''Bhakta Prahlada'']]
|[[Telugu language|Telugu]]
|<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|last=Narasimham|first=M. L.|date=2018-11-23|title=The story of a devotee|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/the-story-of-a-devotee/article25573960.ece|access-date=2020-09-17}}</ref>
|-
|1939
|''[[Prahalada (film)|Prahalada]]''
|[[Tamil language|Tamil]]
|<ref>{{Cite news|last=Guy|first=Randor|date=2011-08-14|title=Prahalada 1939|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-cinemaplus/prahalada-1939/article2354913.ece|access-date=2020-09-17|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>
|-
|1941
|''[[Prahlada (film)|Prahlada]]''
|[[Malayalam]]
|<ref>{{Cite news|last=Vijayakumar|first=B.|date=2011-04-10|title=Prahlada (1941)|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/Prahlada-1941/article14678552.ece|access-date=2020-09-17}}</ref>
|-
|1942
|[[Bhakta Prahlada (1942 Telugu film)|''Bhaktha Prahlada'']]
|[[Telugu language|Telugu]]
|<ref name=":0" />
|-
|1942
|[[Bhakta Prahlada (1942 Kannada film)|''Bhakta Prahlada'']]
|[[Kannada]]
|
|-
|1946
|''[[Bhakta Prahlad (1946 film)|Bhakta Prahlad]]''
|[[Hindi]]
|
|-
|1958
|''[[Bhakta Prahlad (1958 film)|Bhakta Prahlad]]''
|[[Assamese language|Assamese]]
|
|-
|1958
|[[Bhakta Prahlada (1958 film)|''Bhakta Prahlada'']]
|[[Kannada]]
|<ref>{{cite book|url=https://indiancine.ma/texts/indiancine.ma%3AEncyclopedia_of_Indian_Cinema/text.pdf|title=Encyclopaedia of Indian Cinema|publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]|year=1998|isbn=0-19-563579-5|editor1-last=Rajadhyaksha|editor1-first=Ashish|pages=353|orig-year=1994|editor2-last=Willemen|editor2-first=Paul}}</ref>
|-
|1967
|''[[Bhakta Prahlada (1967 film)|Bhakta Prahlada]]''
|[[Telugu language|Telugu]]
|<ref name=":0" />
|-
|1972
|''[[Hari Darshan]]''
|[[Hindi]]
|<ref>{{Cite web|title=:: Rajshri Films - Hari Darshan (1972) ::|url=http://rajshri.com/films/hari-darshan-1972|access-date=2020-09-17|website=rajshri.com}}</ref>
|-
|1983
|[[Bhakta Prahlada (1983 film)|''Bhakta Prahlada'']]
|[[Kannada]]
|<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-04-24|title=On Rajkumar birthday, a Top 5 list by grandson|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/metrolife/metrolife-lifestyle/on-rajkumar-birthday-a-top-5-list-by-grandson-730473.html|access-date=2020-09-17|website=Deccan Herald|language=en}}</ref>
|}

=== See also ===
* [[Kapila]]
* [[Narada]]
* [[Bhakti Yoga]]
* [[Jaya-Vijaya]]
* [[Multan]]
*[[Raghavendra Swami]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite book
| last = Cole
| first = W. Owen
|author2=Judith Evans-Lowndes |author3=Judith Lowndes
| title = The Story of Prahlad
| publisher = Heinemann Educational
| year = 1995
| isbn = 0-431-07756-8
}}

==External links==
{{commons|Prahlada}}
* [http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/vp/vp055.htm Prahlada in the Vishnu Purana]

{{S-start}}
{{succession box|
before=[[Hiranyakashipu]] |
title= [[Daitya]]s|
years = unknown|
after=[[Virochana]]}}
{{S-end}}

{{HinduMythology}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category: Characters in the Bhagavata Purana]]
[[Category: Hindu monarchs]]
[[Category: Holi]]
[[Category: Vaishnavite religious leaders]]
[[Category: Salakapurusa]]
[[Category: Daityas]]
[[Category: Asura]]

Prahlada - Revision history

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