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The devout Prahlada

CHENNAI: The Bhagavata Purana describes the incarnation of Narasimha as one intended to make true the words of the Lord's sincere devotee and also to demonstrate that He was immanent in everything. Prahlada's fearless assertion that he saw the Lord in the pillar that his angry father indicated took concrete shape as the Lord emerged from the pillar in a form that was neither of a beast nor of a man.

In a lecture, Sri M. V. Anantapadmanabhachariar pointed out that in this context, the incarnation also validates the words of Brahma (who granted the boon to Hiranyakasipu and then sought the Lord's help for alleviation from the demon's atrocities), the Vedas (that extol His all pervasiveness) and Hiranyakasipu (who along with his brother Hiranyaksha had sought redemption from the curse they had incurred as gate keepers Jaya and Vijaya for disregarding the sages Sanaka and others).

After vanquishing the demon, the Lord continued in His wrathful mood and the entire universe with Brahma, the celestials, Rishis and others stood in dread. Even the divine mother seemed diffident to approach the Lord who appeared in this hitherto unseen and unheard of form. But when Prahlada prostrated before the Lord in salutation, He was moved into an upsurge of tender feelings, lifted the boy and placed His divine palms on his head. Recognising the Almighty's divine touch that eliminated all traces of ignorance in him, Prahlada broke forth into an excellent hymn of eulogy that blends high philosophy with true devotion. It is not wealth, birth, austerity, learning, intelligence, strength or skill that can win the grace of the Lord but true devotion.

Vairagya (dispassion) arises when the nature of worldly pleasures is understood to be only as delusive as water in the mirage and hence insubstantial. The supremacy of devotion over the study of philosophy for spiritual enlightenment is highlighted. Prahlada embodies the spirit of the true devotee and prayed to God to grant the boon that no desire for any boon should arise in his mind. Terror (towards enemies) and compassion (towards devotees) coexist in this incarnation.

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