The devotion of Prahlad for Bhagwan Vishnu saves him from the greatest perils

When the devotion is pure, age is never a factor, nor does it require it any kind of intelligence or skill to be the favourite of the Supreme Being. It is the pure heartedness of the soul which the Almighty recognises and he is there for all those who believe and serve him with conviction. The devotion of a little child Prahlad, is a fitting example that to show that Bhagwan Vishnu is always in the reach of his true devotees, be it a child or an old man.

 

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Prahlad loved Bhagwan Vishnu as much as his father Hiranyakashyap hated him. But, Hiranyakashyap threatened to put Prahlad to his end if he did not leave the devotion of Bhagwan Vishnu. Little Prahlad did not budge and stood firm on his devotion towards Bhagwan Vishnu. Enraged, Hiranyakashyap ordered Prahlad to be thrown and stamped by mighty elephants.

With great devotion, Prahlad calls out for Bhagwan Vishnu in the form of the one who saved the elephant king Gajendra from the jaws of the crocodile. When Gajendra was caught by the crocodile, it was none other than Bhagwan Vishnu who slayed the crocodile and saved his devotee. Prahlad with great faith mentions that how could the elephants trample him when the whole elephant clan was indebted and served Bhagwan Vishnu as their saviour and swami. As an answer to his call, the elephants leave him unharmed.

Then Prahlad is ordered to be bitten by venomous snakes. When the poisonous snakes are put around his neck, Little Prahlad calls out for the Almighty who resides on the Sesh Naag, the king of snakes. The little devotee mentions when the king of the snakes who bears the entire Universe on his hoods, is the residing bed of Bhagwan Vishnu, then how can the snake bite harm him. As soon as he mentions this, the snakes around his neck turns into flower garlands and all are awestruck with his devotion.

But Hiranyakashyap does not relent and orders Prahlad to be thrown into the sea. The demons go to the middle of the sea and throw the little boy into the deep waters. But as they turn back, they are shocked to see little Prahlad walking on the water and coming back. Prahlad sings glory of Bhagwan Vishnu, saying that the sea is the paternal home of none other than Bhagwathi Lakshmi, the consort of Bhagwan Vishnu, and hence how can a devotee of Bhagwan Vishnu sink in the mighty waters.

Hiranyakasyap is disturbed by this and then asks Prahlad to drink the most dreadful poison in front of his eyes itself. Prahlad happily drinks it saying that the poison could do no harm to the true devotee of Bhagwan Vishnu who is in each and every atom of the world. Furious at his words, Hiranyakashyap asks Prahlad whether Bhagwan Vishnu is present in a pillar in front of him for which the little one says yes. When Hiranyakashyap hits on the pillar, then emerges the terrific form of Man and Lion avatar of Bhagwan Narasimha and in the twilight, sitting on the porch of the main door, kills the tormenter Hiranyakashyap who was creating havoc by disturbing the Dharma of the worlds. None of Hiranyakashyap’s powers or boons worked out in front of a little child who had only the strength of devotion with him, proving that pure devotion is the greatest faith in the Almighty.