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Exceptional devotion religion

CHENNAI: When an individual makes faith in God the foundation of his life he becomes blessed. Liberation is the raison d’être of human birth as only human beings can realise God. These insights were shared by the child-devotee Prahlada with his friends while in school. Such profound wisdom from one so young! He further added that a wise person must pursue the spiritual path from his very childhood.

In her discourse, Srimathi Prema Pandurang said the children were naturally curious to know from whom Prahlada had learnt all this wisdom when he like them were being tutored by the same teachers. Prahlada then related how when his father Hiranyakasipu had gone to perform penance in the forest to obtain a boon to avenge the death of his brother Hiranyaksha by Lord Narayana in His incarnation as Varaha (boar), the celestials invaded his kingdom. Indra then tried to seize his mother Kayatu who was expecting him at that time with the intention of killing him. Narada who happened to come there pre-empted him saying that the growing child was a great devotee. He also offered protection to her in his hermitage. He listened to the sage’s teachings even before he was born and devotion took strong root in his heart. His friends also joined him in chanting the Divine name.

Hiranyakasipu was furious. The tyrant tried to kill such a devout son in vain. Exasperated he sent for Prahlada and demanded by whose might he was violating his authority which all dreaded. The child with conviction replied, “Lord Narayana is unquestionably the strength not only of mine but yours as well…” The demon then demanded whether the Lord whom he claimed was present everywhere was in the pillar there and struck it. The Almighty was indeed waiting for this moment to put an end to the torments His devotee had undergone. The Bhagavata Purana underscores that it was in order to substantiate the utterance of His devotee and His presence in all objects that the Almighty appeared from that very pillar in an awesome man-lion (Narasimha) form, and also fulfilled the conditions of the boons obtained by Hiranyakasipu to make himself invincible.

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