Essentially, Holi means the triumph of good over evil and conquest of sensual values by spiritual values. Thus, Holi has different mythological connotations in different parts of India. lt is interesting to learn about its spiritual significance. The story relates to an ancient demoniac king in India known as Hiranya Kasyapu. He was a cruel and tyrannical ruler. All his subjects followed his orders except for his son Pralhad. Pralhad was an ardent devotee of Vishnu. This infuriated his father who wanted to punish him. The king asked Pralhad to embrace a red hot pole. But, he was unhurt. Then, he asked Pralhad to jump off a steep cliff, but was unhurt again. Pralhad obeyed his father each time chanting Vishnus name. Hiranya Kasyapu ordered that Pralhad be trampled by an elephant. But, he was unhurt. As Pralhad was not hurt by all the punishment, Hiranya Kasyapu called his sister Holika from the gods that she would not burn in a fire. Holika made Pralhad sit on her lap in the fire. But, this time, Holika was burnt to death and Prahlad was unhurt. Eventually, the ordeals faced by Pralhad climaxed in the emanation of Narahari or Narasimha who destroyed Hiranya Kasyapu. Again, this displayed the triumph of a true Bhakta (devotee) over the evil represented by Hiranya Kasyapu. Pralhad never lost faith in the Lord despite all his ordeals.
Posted on: Sun, 16 Mar 2014 03:58:25 +0000