Holi is not only a festival of colors, but it also gives a great message that goodness always wins and evil always loses. Let us look at the legend behind this festival in more detail about Prahlad, Hiranyakashipu, and Holika.
Hiranyakashipu's Arrogance
Once upon a time, Hiranyakashipu, the enemy of the gods, was a very powerful king on earth. He received a boon from Lord Brahma, which says, "I shall not be killed by any god, by any demon, not on earth, not in the sky, not at night, not by day, not by any weapon."
● After receiving this boon, he considered himself immortal and greater than God and ordered that he himself be worshipped as God. Moreover, he used to torture those who worshipped Lord Vishnu.
Prahlad, a devotee of God
Hiranyakashipu's son Prahlad was a devotee of Lord Vishnu since childhood.
● He always chanted the name of God by saying "Om Narayanaya Namah".
● Even in the Gurukul, he used to teach other children that "If you worship God, you will attain salvation".
● Seeing this, Hiranyakashipu became very angry – "Is my son a devotee of my enemy, Vishnu?" he said.
When Hiranyakashipu tried to kill Prahlad…
● Hiranyakashipu wanted to make Prahlad stop his devotion to God.
● First, he sent gurus to change his mind. But Prahlad did not give up his devotion.
● Then he called his army and ordered them to kill Prahlad. They threw him upside down from the mountain – but Mother Earth saved him.
● They gave him poison – but it turned into nectar.
● They tried to trample him with elephants – but they left without doing anything.
No matter how many attempts, nothing happened to Prahlad…
Burning of Holika – the end of evil!
● Finally, his younger sister Holika told Hiranyakashipu a trick.
● Holika had a "boon that she does not burn in fire".
● She wanted to go into the fire with Prahlad sitting on her lap.
But who can stop the play of God?
● While Holika was sitting in the fire, Prahlad escaped safely by the grace of God. Holika was burned because she used her boon with malicious intent. Holika is burned to mark this event as the victory of good over evil.
Narasimha Swamy Avatar & End of Hiranyakashipu
● Hiranyakashipu finally asked his son – "Where is your God?"
● "He is there, he is here, he is everywhere!" Prahlad replied.
● Angrily, Hiranyakashipu hit a pillar – "Is he in this pillar too?"
● The pillar cracked, and Narasimha Swamy (with a lion's face and a human body) emerged from it!
● In accordance with Hiranyakashipu's boon, Narasimha did the following:
● Not on earth, not in the air – he killed him by putting him in his lap.
● Not at night, not during the day – he killed him in the evening.
● Not with any weapon – he killed him with his claws.
Thus the wicked perished and the devotee triumphed.
The message of the festival of Holi
✔ Good always wins, evil always loses.
✔ Burning Holika destroys bad thoughts, anger and jealousy.
✔ By sprinkling colors, we symbolize that we embrace new life and happiness.
How should children celebrate Holi?
● They should salute the elders.
● They should use safe colors that do not harm nature.
● They should eat sweets and share them with everyone.
● They should spread love & friendship to everyone.
Questions to ask children:
● What boon did Hiranyakashipu receive from Lord Brahma?
● Who was Prahlad a devotee of since childhood?
● Why did Hiranyakashipu want to kill his son Prahlad?
● Why did Holika burn in the fire?
● How did Lord Narasimha kill Hiranyakashipu?
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