Prahlad Leela Depicted in Gaurang Leela, Mathura; Narasimha Avatar Ends Tyranny

Lord Vishnu Created Adhik Maas Specifically to End Hiranyakashipu, Says Gaurang Leela Narrative

Mathura: During the ongoing Gaurang Leela being staged at Chitrakoot under the aegis of Shri Ramayan Pracharini Samiti, Vyas Swami Krishna Murari presented the inspiring and devotional episode of Bhakt Prahlad, describing the rise and eventual downfall of the tyrannical demon king Hiranyakashipu.

While narrating the episode, Swami Krishna Murari explained that Hiranyakashipu compelled his subjects to worship him as the supreme lord and demanded constant praise and glorification of his name. Driven by arrogance and surrounded by flatterers in his royal court, he became completely detached from reality. His oppressive rule crushed public sentiments and caused widespread suffering among the people, who silently prayed for an end to his tyranny.

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In the dramatic presentation, Vakramurti was shown abducting celestial maidens and presenting them before Hiranyakashipu. The demon king made some of them his queens while forcing others into servitude. The narrative then moved to the return of Hiranyakashipu’s son Prahlad and his friend Pramod to the royal palace after twelve years.

Pramod warned Prahlad that his father’s insistence on being worshipped as God and compelling others to do the same would ultimately lead to disaster. He urged Prahlad to intervene and persuade his father to abandon this path. However, Hiranyakashipu himself attempted to force Prahlad into accepting him as the supreme deity through fear, temptation, threats and torture.

Despite immense pressure, Prahlad remained steadfast in his devotion to Lord Vishnu and refused to abandon his faith. Enraged by his son’s unwavering commitment, Hiranyakashipu first attempted to have him killed through court officials belonging to various sections of society. When these efforts failed, he ordered a lower-ranking courtier to imprison Prahlad and subject him to numerous forms of execution.

The presentation vividly depicted how Prahlad was exposed to poisonous snakes, given deadly poison, and targeted with swords. Yet every attempt failed due to divine protection. Prahlad’s mother, Kayadhu, then secured a promise from Hiranyakashipu regarding the protection of her son’s life.

At this point, Hiranyakashipu’s sister Holika entered the narrative. She reminded him that Lord Brahma had granted her a boon protecting her from fire. Confident in her powers, she proposed sitting on a burning pyre with Prahlad in her lap, believing that the child would perish while she remained unharmed.

However, Holika forgot a crucial condition attached to the boon. Lord Brahma had warned that if she used her gift with malicious intent against an innocent person, the boon would become ineffective. As the fire blazed, Holika was consumed by the flames while Prahlad emerged unharmed, protected by divine grace.

Still unwilling to surrender, Hiranyakashipu ordered Prahlad to be thrown from a great mountain. Yet Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva continued to safeguard the young devotee during every trial and calamity.

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Finally, in a fit of rage, Hiranyakashipu bound Prahlad to a pillar and attempted to kill him personally with a sword. At that moment, Lord Vishnu manifested as Lord Narasimha, emerging from the pillar itself. The dramatic climax of the Leela illustrated how Narasimha carefully bypassed every boon granted to Hiranyakashipu.

The demon king could not be killed by any weapon, neither on earth nor in the sky, neither indoors nor outdoors, neither during day nor night. Lord Narasimha placed Hiranyakashipu upon His lap at twilight and tore him apart with His divine claws, thus ending the reign of terror and restoring righteousness.

During the narration, Lord Vishnu was described as declaring that the creation of the thirteenth month, Adhik Maas, was destined specifically to facilitate the end of Hiranyakashipu’s tyranny. The declaration was followed by loud chants glorifying Lord Vishnu and Bhakt Prahlad throughout the venue.

The programme was conducted by Lachhman Prasad Yadav. Devotional aarti of the divine forms was performed by Jugal Kishore Agrawal, Moolchand Garg, Vishanchandra Goyal, Van Bihari Agrawal, Kalyandas Brijwasi and Avadhesh Agrawal.

Lachhman Prasad Yadav
(General Secretary)

Related Reading: Earlier during the ongoing Gaurang Leela celebrations in Mathura, devotees witnessed inspiring episodes including “Gaur is Krishna and Krishna is Gaur” and the emotional presentation of “Mat Ro Rama Pyari, Tero Bhat Bhare Girdhari”.