Vedanam 2023

  Prahlada came and stood before Hiranya with folded hands. Hiranya’s anger knew no bounds. “You are a fool!” He roared. “You are the son of a great king like me, and yet you talk highly about a Deva who has not the courage to even come before me. I have put up with your insolent behavior for too long. You are bringing ruin to my entire kingdom. Today I will send you to the abode of Yama Himself. Be prepared!” “I only want to help you, father.” Prahlada said looking at his father with pity and compassion. “You can still save yourself. Lord Narayana is the most powerful of all Devas. The world is created by Him, sustained by Him and destroyed by Him as well. He is not your enemy. Rather it is your own mind which is your enemy. You may have conquered the ten quarters of the world but you have not conquered the six enemies of your own mind – Kaama, Krodha, Lobha, Moha, Mada and Matsara. You are your own enemy, father. Please conquer your mind.” Hiranya furiously glowered at Prah...

  Hiranyakashipu became a father to four sons – Samhrada, Anuhrada, Hrada and Prahlada who was the youngest and showed all traits that did not belong to anyone in the Asura clan. From a very young age, he showed impeccable conduct, respect to elders and sages, had no ego and was full of humility and equanimity. Sukracharya, the Guru of the Asura clan had two sons – Chanda and Amarka. Hiranya appointed these two as the teachers of Prahlada and told them to instruct the child in the rules of conduct that were to be followed by an Asura. Prahlada, who was only five at that time, learnt from these teachers, along with other Asura children but unlike them, he did not approve of the teachings. Once Hiranya took Prahlada in his lap and asked him, “You have been learning from your teachers for a long time. Tell me, what do you think is the best thing in this world?” “I have noticed that people are always caught up in the illusion of sorrow.” Prahlada said. “That is because they wrong...

In the previous chapters of Bhagavatham, we read about how the doorkeepers of Vaikuntha, the abode of Maha Vishnu, had been cursed to take three births as the enemies of the lord. One of their births was as Hiranyaksha and Hiranyakashipu, two Asuras who wreaked untold damage upon the earth and made life miserable for all the devotees of the Lord. Hiranyaksha was killed by Maha Vishnu in His form as Varaha. Angered by the killing of his brother, Hiranyakashipu issued a command to his followers. “My brother has been killed by Narayana. I must destroy him. Go to the earth and wherever you see people performing Tapas, Yajna and other spiritual activities, kill them. Narayana is said to be present at the places where people worship him. I do not want him to be worshipped! Destroy anyone who utters his name!” Eagerly following his orders, the asuras went on a rampage, destroying places of worship, obstructing spiritual activities and harming every one who proclaimed themselves to be a de...