| Prahlada | |
|---|---|
King of the Asuras[1] | |
 A mural of Prahlada in Srirangam Ranganathsvami Temple, Tiruchirapalli, Tamilnadu, showing him witness Narasimha killing both Hiranyakashipu and Sharabha. | |
| Devanagari | प्रह्लाद |
| Affiliation | Vaishnavism Asura |
| Predecessor | Hiranyakashipu |
| Successor | Virochana |
| Texts | Bhagavata Purana, Vishnu Purana, Yoga Vasistha, Kurma Purana, Vamana Purana, Guru Granth |
| Gender | Male |
| Genealogy | |
| Parents |
|
| Siblings | Saṃhlāda, Anuhlāda, Śibi, and Bāṣkala (brothers) |
| Spouse | Dhriti |
| Children | Virochana, Kumbha, and Nikumbha |
Prahlada (Sanskrit: प्रह्लाद, romanized: Prahlāda) is an asura king in Hindu mythology. He is known for his staunch devotion to the preserver deity, Vishnu. He appears in the narrative of Narasimha, the lion avatara of Vishnu, who rescues Prahlada by killing his wicked father, Hiranyakashipu.[2]
Prahlada is described as a saintly boy, known for his innocence and bhakti towards Vishnu. Despite the abusive nature of his father, Hiranyakashipu, and his uncle and aunt, Hiranyaksha and Holika, he continues to worship Vishnu. Vishnu as Varaha kills his paternal uncle Hiranyaksha by piercing and crushing him, and kills his paternal aunt Holika by burning her to ashes alive. Vishnu as Narasimha kills his father Hiranyakashipu, by disemboweling him to save Prahlada and the universe from destruction and chaos.[3] He is considered a mahājana, or great devotee, by followers of Vaishnava traditions. A treatise is attributed to him in the Bhagavata Purana, in which Prahlada describes the process of his loving worship towards Vishnu.
The majority of stories in the Puranas regarding him are based on the activities of Prahlada as a young boy, and he is usually depicted as such in paintings and illustrations.
- ^ The Body of God: An Emperor's Palace for Krishna in Eighth-Century Kanchipuram. Oxford University Press. 25 September 2008. ISBN 978-0-19-045140-0.
- ^ www.wisdomlib.org (29 May 2013). "Prahlada, Prahlāda, Prāhlāda: 24 definitions". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 10 September 2022.
- ^ "The story of Prahlada". Ramakrishnavivekananda.info.