Bhagat Prahlad

      Bhagat Prahlad Ji- Translated from Sri Gur Bhagat Mala Steek by Giani Narain Singh Ji

During the time of the early yug, when in Hindustan, the gods and demons used to live, before Sri Ram Chandr Ji, Bhagat Prahlad was born in Uttarakhand. There are a lot of praises for this bhagat. There are many mentions of Bhagat Prahlad in Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. He used to recite and remember God’s Name. At that time, the meaning of Ram was ‘The Almighty God’. The praises of Ram were sung by all the Vedas. The story of Prahlad is mentioned in the Puranas. Once, there was a Rishi called Keshav Rishi. He used to carry out penance and meditate a lot. One day, while meditating in the forest, he thought of going into the village. While wondering, his gaze went upon a girl called Ditti, and he had the wish of marrying her. She agreed and so did her parents. Soon, they got married.

After some time, Ditti gave birth to two sons and a girl. The names of the sons were Hirankeshav and Harnakash, and the girl’s name was Holika. These three siblings were strong and their bodies were well built. The two brothers were mighty kings. One day, Hirankeshav was killed by God Virah. Harnakash was full of fear of death. He was afraid that one-day God Virah would kill him too, but it was necessary to seek revenge on his brother’s death. He tried finding a way. Finally, he decided, to get boons from God, he would carry out penance and meditate. He was so adamant in his penance that Gods like Indra were also worried.

During this time, King Indra attacked Harnakash’s kingdom and killed many demons. He also kidnapped Harnakash’s wife, Kiadhu, and took her to Indrapuri. On the way, Narad Muni met King Indra and Kiadhu. Narad Muni, through his powers, knew that Kiadhu was pregnant. He could tell that the child that would be born, was no ordinary and would be God’s devotee. He said to King Indra, ‘Oh King of Gods, fight is with men, do not drag women into this fight. It is not right to carry a hand on women. She is innocent. Leave her.’

King Indra let go of Kiadhu. Narad Muni took Kiadhu to his ashram, and took care of her like his own daughter. While staying in the ashram, Kiadhu’s sangat (congregation) changed, she started carrying out devotional worship and started meditating on God’s Name. Every day, Kiadhu would listen to sermons from Narad Muni. The knowledge from the sermon affected the child’s growth positively. After a few days, Kiadhu gave birth, whose name was Prahlad.

Bhai Gurdaas Ji mentions about Bhagat Prahlad in their vaaran,

2 : pRhlwd Bgq

Prahlad

Gir hrxwKs dYq dy klir kvlu Bgqu pRihlwdu[

Prahlad, the saint, was born in the house of demon (king) Haranakhas like a lotus is born in the alkaline (barren) land.

pVHn pTwieAw cwtswl pWDY iciq hoAw Aihlwdu[

When he was sent to seminary, the brahmin purohit became elated (because the king’s son was now his disciple).

ismrY mn ivic rwm nwm gwvY sbdu Anwhd nwdu[

Prahlad would remember the name of Ram in his heart and outwardly also he would eulogise the Lord.

Bgiq krin sB cwtVY pWDy hoey rhy ivsmwdu[

Now all the disciples became devotees of Lord, which was an awful and embarrassing situation for all the teachers.

rwjy pwis rUAwieAw doKI dYiq vDwieAw vwdu[

The priest (teacher) reported or complained to the king (that O king your son has become devotee of God).

jl AgnI ivic GiqAw jlY n fubY gur prswid[

The malevolent demon picked up the quarrel. Prahlad was thrown into fire and water but with the grace of Guru (the Lord) neither he was burnt nor drowned.

kiF KVgu sid puiCAw kauxu su qyrw hY ausqwdu[

Angered as he was, Hiranyaksyapu took out his double-edged sword and asked Prahlad who his Guru (Lord) was.

QMmHu pwiV prgitAw nrisMG rUp AnUp Anwid[

At the same moment Lord God in the form of man-lion came out of pillar. His form was grand and majestic.

bymuK pkiV pCwiVAnu sMq shweI Awid jugwid[

That wicked demon was thrown down and killed and thus it was proved that the Lord is kind to devotees since the time immemorial.

jY jY kwr krn bRhmwid]2]

Seeing this Brahma and other gods started eulogising the Lord.

Seeing the devotional worship of Harnakash, Brahma came to him and said, ‘Your devotion has been accepted. Ask what you desire.’

Harnakash: God, I want this boon that I shall not die in the day or night, not inside, or outside. No weapon can kill me, no fire can burn me, I shall not drown in water. I shall be alive forever.

When Brahma heard this, he was afraid. He thought, ‘He is a demon. He will cause chaos but I have given my word to him.’ Brahma said ‘Tatha asthu’ and left. Harnakash stood up and was full of ego that now he cannot be killed. He went to his palace, and at the same time, Narad Muni came with Kiadhu and Prahlad. Narad Muni narrated everything to Harnakash. He got very angry upon listening to what King Indra did that he called all the demons for a meeting. He told his story to all the demons, and the demons gained faith and strength that they cannot be destroyed now. They have decided to seek revenge from the gods.

Harnakash and the demons attacked Indrapuri and all the kingdoms of the gods. King Indra could not fight back. He took all his wives and went the Brahmapuri. Harnakash destroyed Indrapuri and killed many gods. After the destruction, Harnakash came back. When he came back, he announced to the whole kingdom, that every man, woman and child cannot chant the name of any god or goddess, and only chant “Hare Harnakash! Jale Harnakash! Thale Harnakash! The master of all powers, Harnakash!” The gods, heard about this, and they were full of fear and worry.

Some of the heads of the deities got together to meet Vishnu. They said, ‘Oh God, your greatness is slowly decreasing. The names of the gods and goddesses are slowly being wiped out. By this, religion, righteousness will perish and sins and corruption will prevail. Do something. Brahma did not do right by giving this boon to Harnakash. All the gods will be killed this way.’

Vishnu summoned Brahma. Brahma said, ‘He did penance and he tricked me into giving him the boon. Please find a way to kill him.’

After some contemplation, Vishnu said, ‘Oh fellow deities, do not be afraid. Righteousness will stay intact. Harnakash death will be his own sins, his ego. In his house, a son called Prahlad took birth. In the heart of this child, the Name of Ram resides. Do not worry. The fight of good and bad will begin.’ Upon hearing this, the deities were pleased and went back to their respective homes. Vishnu began his task of destroying Harnakash. He manifested wisdom, devotion, truth and fearlessness in Prahlad. When Prahlad was six years old, he was admitted into a school.

The name of the school’s principle was Sanda Marka. He was very pleased that a prince has come to study in his school and thus his fame would increase. He would get many gifts and his hunger for ages would be fulfilled. With immense joy, he started teaching Prahlad the alphabets. After teaching, he told Prahlad to say, ‘Hail King Harnakash.’

All the other kids repeated after Sanda Marka, but Prahlad just stood watching. He was quiet. A few days passed like this. One day, Sanda Marka realized that Prahlad doesn’t say Harnakash’s name. Understand, O readers, this is the game of Vishnu and he has started playing.

Sanda Marka: Prahlad, son, recite your father’s name.

Prahlad: Teacher, Harnakash is my father. How can I say his name? This is not possible.

Sanda Marka: That is true, but he has won over all the demons and deities and it is his command that we chant His Name. Hail Harnakash!

Prahlad: Ram Ram. Teacher, above the deities, there is a God. My father has not won over Ram. That is why, the giver of all is Ram.

Upon hearing this, Sanda Marka shivered and thought, this child must be an incarnation of God to be able to speak such at the age of six. He tried explaining to Prahlad but failed. Prahlad was a devotee of Ram. He even inspired the other children to recite Ram’s Name. Sanda Marka got really upset, and with much anger in him, he hit Prahlad, terrorized him. In the end, he heard a voice of a grown-up man that said, Teacher, no matter what, there is only Ram, nothing and no one is greater than Ram, only Ram will destroy the demons!’

Sanda Marka ran to Harnakash’s court. He bowed to Harnakash and with folded hands said, ‘Oh King! I am desperate to tell you that your son is not chanting your name. He is only chanting ‘Ram’. ‘

God played such a game, that when the teacher said ‘Ram’, it echoed in the court of Harnakash, that Harnakash covered his ears. He got angry and shouted, ‘This cannot be, no one can chant anyone’s name apart from mine! I will interrogate him myself!’ All the ministers in the court shivered. What was going to happen? Prahlad was summoned into the court by his father. With an angry face, he asked, ‘Prahlad! Your teacher complained that you do not chant my name?’

‘Father! You are my father, how can I say your name, it does not suit me. We should respect our father.’

Prahlad was smiling. He was fearless. In reality, it was Vishnu answering and smiling, in the form of Prahlad.

‘This is not the issue!’

‘Then what is the issue father?’

‘Do not chant the name of Ram. Chant my name, Harnakash! Harnakash!’

Upon hearing this, Prahlad laughed. He laughed as though a wise man would laugh. ‘Oh King! This is your pride! You did penance and got boon from God. From whom you took this boon, he is my Ram.’

‘Do not say this name. I will kill you!’

‘Why shouldn’t I chant his name! I obtained this teaching from the school of Narad Muni when I was still in my mother’s womb. I can never forget his name. Ram is in every particle of blood in my body. Ram! Ram!’

‘Take him away! Take him! Drown him in the river! Kill him!’ Harnakash gave command. He has taken his own son to be his enemy.

The court of the demons shook. Prahlad’s mother begged but Harnakash didn’t listen to anyone. Melancholy prevailed in the court, but Prahlad was just smiling. His eyes were sparkling. The demons took him away. Despite the fear of Harnakash, no one said anything, but they were sad, because Prahlad was loved by everyone.

River Rarr, now known as River Satluj used to flow through the town of Multan and Multan is the town of Harnakash. He was the king of half of Punjab. The demons threw Prahlad into the river without tying his hands and feet. They threw him as they would a rock. But great is God! Ram arrived there earlier, and carried Prahlad on his palm. Prahlad crossed the river and reached the river bank.

hir jugu jugu Bgq aupwieAw pYj rKdw AwieAw rwm rwjy ]

In each and every age, He creates His devotees and preserves their honor, O Lord King.

The demons looked at Prahlad, and Prahlad was smiling. The demons got hold of Prahlad again and this time they tied a heavy stone to his body and threw him into the river. Prahlad was drowning, and soon he came back up and this time there was no stone on his body. The stone broke into pieces. The demons were shocked and terrified. They understood that there is a mystical power behind this. They left Prahlad and ran back. They told Harnakash, ‘He cannot be drowned, he only recited Ram! Ram!’

Harnakash commanded, ‘Go and throw him down from a tall mountain! I will give you powers. Take him!’

The demons did as such. They carried him to the top of the mountain. When they were about to push him down, Prahlad uttered ‘Ram’. He felt that he was floating like a flower. His feet touched the ground and he was not hurt. Ram protected his devotee again.

A flash of lightning came from the mountain that burned the demons and they turned into ashes. Prahlad walked back to the kingdom. He was chanting ‘Ram, Ram’ loudly. The whole town, animals, birds and buildings were chanting ‘Ram’. Harnakash got scared. In anger, he got hold of Prahlad and slapped him. But Prahlad kept smiling. He didn’t get angry, nor did he feel any pain.

Harnakash had a sister called Holika. Harnakash, upon giving her powers, directed her to carry Prahlad on her lap and sit on a pyre, fire will be lighted, she will not burn, but Prahlad will burn and turn into ashes.

Holika did as told. But when the pyre was lighted, Holika was the first to burn. She screamed and jumped. Prahlad just laughed, and as he laughed, the fire got bigger and bigger. Holika couldn’t come out from the pyre, she burned and turned into ashes. All the demons got shocked. Prahlad laughed and walked out.

kiF KVgu sid puiCAw kauxu su qyrw hY ausqwdu[

Angered as he was, Hiranyaksyapu took out his double-edged sword and asked Prahlad who his Guru (Lord) was.

QMmHu pwiV prgitAw nrisMG rUp AnUp Anwid[

At the same moment Lord God in the form of man-lion came out of pillar. His form was grand and majestic.

When nothing worked, Harnakash tied Prahlad to an iron pole. Prahlad smiled but Harnakash’s face was red with anger just as a sun looks red in the evening.

‘Tell me, who is your protector?’

‘My protector is Ram.’

‘Where is he?’

‘He is with me. He sees everything. He resides in the heart of every creation. Beware! Your death is coming!’

‘Not my death! But yours!’

As he said this, he was about to lift the sword when the pole broke. From the pole, Vishnu, in the form of Narsingh- face of a lion, body of a human, came out. He got hold of the demon Harnakash. With Harnakash on his lap, he tore Harnakash’s body with his nails. ‘Oh proud and egoistic demon! See! You are not dying during the day, or night. Now, it is evening. You are not dying on the ground. You are on my lap! After saying this, Harnakash was killed. Vishnu took his actual form and liberated Prahlad. He gave the kingdom to Prahlad and gave command to spread religion and righteousness. Prahlad’s praises were sung in the whole universe!

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