ହିରଣ୍ୟକଶିପୁ: ନିଜକୁ ଭଗବାନ ଭାବି ଅହଂକାରରେ ଅନ୍ଧ ଅସୁର ରାଜା | ସ୍ତମ୍ଭରୁ ପ୍ରକଟ ହେଲେ ନରସିଂହ ଭଗବାନ

Hiranyakashipu was a powerful demon king. After killing his brother in the form of Lord Varaha, he decided to take revenge against Vishnu. In his desire to attain immortality, Hiranyakashipu performed severe penance to please Lord Vishnu. Brahma granted him a boon that made him almost invincible. After receiving this boon, his pride increased. He defeated the gods, conquered heaven, and declared himself the greatest. But his son was a great devotee of Lord Vishnu. Hiranyakashipu repeatedly asked Prahlad to abandon his devotion to Vishnu, but Prahlad did not waver from his devotion. Enraged, Hiranyakashipu threw Prahlad off a mountain, threw him among poisonous snakes, and made him sit in a fire. But each time, Prahlad remained safe by the grace of Lord Vishnu. Finally, Hiranyakashipu asked Prahlad, “Where is your Vishnu?” Prahlad replied, “He is everywhere.” In anger, Hiranyakashipu struck a huge pillar. Suddenly, the pillar cracked and from there emerged the Lord—half man, half lion. In the evening, at the entrance of the palace, Narasimha placed Hiranyakashipu on his thigh and killed him with his nails. Thus, without violating any of the conditions of Brahma’s boon, the demon king was killed. This story teaches us that the downfall of ego is certain, while true devotion and religion always triumph.