Prahlad: Devotion and Divine Protection
Faith moves mountains!

This is a fascinating exploration of ancient wisdom! In our previous post, we delved into the dramatic origins of the conflict between Lord Narayan and his gatekeepers, Jai and Vijay. Today, we journey into the life of Prahlad, a child whose unwavering devotion to God challenged the very foundations of his father's tyrannical rule.
A Child Unlike Any Other
Over a period of time, four sons were born to Hiranyakashipu, Prahlad being one of them. Even as a child, Prahlad was not attracted by the world. He was very devotional. As Prahlad grew a little older, he was sent to the home of the two sons of Shukracharya who lived close to the palace. Shukracharya was the guru of the demons and his two sons were given the responsibility of teaching Prahlad. Prahlad could easily repeat what his teachers taught him, but he did not agree with their teachings.
A Clash of Ideologies
One day, Hiranyakashipu sat Prahlad on his lap and asked what he was learning. He asked Prahlad, “What is the best thing that you learnt so far?” Prahlad replied, “One must seek the shelter of God.” Hiranyakashipu laughed off the answer but his two teachers were visibly upset. They feared that Hiranyakashipu would be furious with them. Later, when they were alone with Prahlad, they threatened him with physical punishment if he deviated from their teachings.

A few months later, Hiranyakashipu once again asked Prahlad, “Tell me something interesting you have learned from your teachers.”
Prahlad replied, " I have learned about Navdha - Bhakti (the nine-fold Bhakti) which will help me fall in love with God. It includes
(i) Shravan - listening,
(ii) Kirtan - singing,
(iii) Smaran - meditation,
(iv) Padasevan - serving the lord's lotus feet,
(v) Archana - praising,
(vi) Vandana - worshipping,
(vii) Dasya - serving,
(viii) Sakhyam - friendship, and
(ix) Atmanivedan - surrender of the self.
The Wrath of a Father
Now, Hiranyakashipu’s anger knew no bounds. He scolded Prahlad’s teachers for teaching him the wrong lessons. Pushing Prahlad from his lap and throwing him on the ground, he ordered his servants to kill the little boy.


Lord Narayan protects Prahlad when he is thrown off a cliff and given poisonous food to eat.
The servants tossed Prahlad from great heights, but against all odds, the devoted child under the divine's protection was unharmed!
The tension built as the servants, frustrated by their previous attempts, schemed once more to eliminate Prahlad. This time, they decided to poison his food, believing this wicked plan would finally rid them of the prince. Yet again, their efforts were in vain. Each morsel that Prahlad ate seemed to sparkle with an indomitable spirit, leaving him untouched by their dark intentions. As he consumed the meal, it was as if a protective shield surrounded him, ensuring no harm could come from their malicious actions.


Nothing could harm Prahlad neither being buried alive nor the mad elephant
They devised another plan to get rid of the prince and decided to bury him alive so they prepared a deep pit in the earth for him. They shoved him inside the pit and covered him with the earth. Again, the prince was unharmed. He had a constant companion who was protecting him.
In a desperate attempt, the servants hurled Prahlad into the chaotic den of the mad elephants, where an enraged giant thrashed wildly, its ferocious rampage sending shockwaves through the earth beneath him. The servants desperately wished that the frenzied beast would unleash its fury and kill the prince.


Neither the venomous snakes nor the flames could pose any danger to Prahlad
Once again Prahlad was unharmed by the mad elephants, the servants then shoved Prahlad into a treacherous pit teeming with venomous snakes, their fangs glistening menacingly in the dim light. But against all odds, he rose from the chaos, unscathed and triumphant, defying danger in the most exhilarating way!
At last, the distressed servants believed that raging flames would devour the child, allowing them to deliver the triumphant news to their King.
But each scheme they devised failed spectacularly to even scratch Prahlad, let alone take his life! Time and again, he stood unharmed, shrouded in divine protection. Prahlad had fully surrendered to God, and that unwavering faith shielded him from all harm.
Prahlad shares his Wisdom

One day the teachers were attending to some chores, and Prahlad was playing with the other boys in the school. Prahlad told them, “It is important that each, and every one of us makes an effort towards God's realization even when we are young because human birth is obtained with great difficulty. Life can end at any moment. None of us knows when death will come.” The other boys were puzzled and asked Prahlad from where he had acquired this knowledge which was so foreign to them.
Prahlad replied that he had learned this knowledge from his Guru, Sage Narad. The children were very surprised because they hadn't learned this way of thinking before.
To be continued in the next blog.......
Summary
Prahlad, a young boy, displays unwavering devotion to God despite his tyrannical father, Hiranyakashipu. Hiranyakashipu, enraged by his son's devotion to God, repeatedly attempts to kill Prahlad through various means, but Prahlad remains unharmed due to divine protection. The story also describes Prahlad's teachings of nine-fold devotion to his father and his sharing of this wisdom with other children emphasizing the importance of starting one’s spiritual practice at a young age, as the human body is temporary. The narrative contrasts Prahlad's faith with the materialistic values of his father and teachers.
Let's reflect
Was it wrong for Prahlad to defy his father's authority and follow the path of devotion as instructed by his Guru Sage Narad? Let us know in the comments below!