"Greetings to all on the ocassion of Holika Dahan" ... celebrated on the eve of HOLI- May Shri Narayana remove all evils of the pandemic from our lives and burn them in the blazing fire of Holi tonight … Holi is known to be the festival of colors, However, behind all the glamor of playing with color water, relishing sweets and drinks prepared specially for the festive day are a few interesting stories handed down generations in their own adaptions.
** The Legend had it that years ago, to save earth from the clutches of demon Hiranyaksha, Shri Narayana had taken the avatar/ incarnation in the form of Varaha (boar) and killed him. Displeased with the fate met by his younger brother, Hiranyakashyap decided to take revenge on Deva’s particularly with Shri Narayana and establish himself as the Bhagawan of the Earth and all the three worlds and there by rule it as and how it pleased him. The Demon knew it was not easy so he first performed severe penance and pleased Shri Brahma and thereby got himself granted with a boon which according to him was foolproof protection forever. Accordingly, he would not be met with death either by man or beast, nor devil, nor god, or during day or by night, not with steel or stone or wood, indoors or outdoors, or earth or in sky and above all he would be granted undisputed lordship over the world.
** He then went ahead and conquered the kingdom of earth which turned him egoistic and he demanded that all should worship him in place of Shri Narayana. Out of fear of life and punishment, many obeyed while the devotees of Devas suffered at his hands. Young Prahlada his own son, however defied him as he was an ardent devotee of Shri Naarayana from the time he was conceived in his mothers womb. Whilst Hiranyakashyap was busy conquering the earth his wife queen Kayadhu was expecting a child who was mercilessly abducted by Shri Indra so as to protect Devas. However Bhagawan Narada intervened and kept her under his protection in his Ashram till Hiranyakashap came back from war. It was during her pregnancy days that when Bhagawan Narada told stories of glories of Shri Narayana the child yet to be born heard through them with undivided attention even if the mother dozed off.
** It is scientifically proved in today’s day that the imprints of what a child listens when in womb it recognizes by him/ her after birth. So was the case of little Prahlada, which led to the child worshiping Shri Narayana in total devotion, in fact it is believed that the first world the child spoke was Narayan. Though the father Hiranyakashyap dotted over his Son, it infuriated him to know that he refused to follow his command of praying to him. He tried convincing the child against worshiping Shri Narayana first with love, but when the boy refused he then tried scolding him, then punishing him but when all things failed he was very angry and the demon in him turned his love to hatred towards the small boy as he was blinded by ego, anger, fear of loosing control and power over all, which meant defeat from Shri Narayana.
** Opposition from his own son Prahlada, a mere boy, blinded Hiranykashyap from all senses. He was also worried that if he did not punish the boy taking him to be his own son, then the others in the kingdom would soon follow suite and the rebellion would be difficult to control. Therefore, he decided to punish his son, which would set and example thereby instilling fear in all who would try to repeat the same. None of this perturbed Prahlada and the child just went on praying to Shri Narayana without any worry. Mother Kayadu's plea to spare the child were also fallen on deaf ears. When throwing the boy from top of the hill down, spanking him with chains, giving him poison and many more methods failed, it was mercilessly decided by the father to burn his own child in fire. Prahlada was really a blessed child who had no fear and went through all of them with unwavered faith in Shri Nrayana who protected his devotee with love and saw to it that there was not a single scratch on Child’s body.
** Holika, a demoness was Hiranyakashyap's younger sister who herself was cruel in many way, following the steps of her equally cruel brothers. She had acquired a distinctive cloak, as a boon, which when worn around herself would protect her from fire. Taking this opportunity he brother, asked her to sit in a pyre of fire with little Prahlada so that the boy would not run away and could be burned to death. Holika became a party to this treachery and agreed to carry on the work. She lured the young boy to sit on her lap and then set herself ablaze under the protection of clock around herself. All way through the chanting of Shri Narayana’s name on his lips was observed with undivided attention by young Prahlada without any fear of fire. There is always victory over evil, in order to protect his devotee Shri Narayana saw to it that there was a strong breeze that flew the cloak from Holika and covered little Prahlada which protected the kid from fire while Holika herself got charred to death.
** There are always different versions to such incidents with each writing at times differing with the other. We should however, look at the final outcome of the incidence that spell out the message and try to understand the same. Other version says, the demoness Holika was granted a boon that fire wold not gulf her at any time and there was no cloak as such. Holika herself believed that she was fire resistant, though she was half aware of the complete boon she received as she never heard the later part when granted. She was not aware that the boon worked only when she entered the fire alone, which meant she could not protect anybody else, nor herself if she took anybody along with her. Holika paid the price by her life for her sinister desire to please her brother by following his instructions blindly and being a part of treachery hatched to kill her own nephew, Prahlada, a small boy.
** The incarnation/ avatar of Shri Narasimha by Shri Narayana to protect the child Prahlada and finish off Hiranyakashyap was later on come into being. That part of the story too clearly mentions or makes us see through that there is nothing impossible for the God, it is the devotee faith and love that is important to him all other worldly pleasures are of not value to him. But from the time Holika the demoness was destroyed by fire there the word “Holi” was derived and was celebrated by devotees of Shri Hari (Narayana/ Vishnu) as a day that marked victory of good over bad. On the eve of Holi, Holika Dahan is observed by devotes by building a bonfire with woods in the center of a marked circle, while they take the rounds of the fire chanting the name of God and making offering into the fire. While ubbati/ puran poli is prepared and offered in Maharashtra in other some Northern parts grams and stalks from harvest are offered. Some even offer flat pancakes prepared with cow dung as it is supposed to bring in purity. Many more dishes prepared on this occasion and first offered to Agni, the God of fire who played the vital role of burning away evil in the form of Holika.
** Our country has a huge population and people follow their own customs and traditions handed down through generations to them. But the one thing that is commonly believed about Holika Dahan in that it marks the end of evil, it is accepted by all that finally Good always wins hands down all the way. In fact it is believed that the burning fire of Holi kills the breeding bacteria from earth and there by improving the sanitary conditions of the locality. It also strengthens our belief that when there is undisputed faith in the lord anybody, howsoever strong, cannot harm a true devotee. Problems, difficulties are always faced by all, but it is the belief that pulls us through at worst of the periods. Anger is like a demon lurking large on our heads and if we fall pray to it, we get blindfolded beyond reasoning. However, when we surrender ourselves at the lotus feed of Shri Narayana with full devotion he protects us from all evils and sees to it that we are all safe ....
// HARI OM//
//OM NAMO NARAYANA //
// OM NAMO BHAGAVATE VASUDEVAYA //
// OM GURUBYO NAMAHA//
** The chanting of “Holi-hai! Holi-hai!” is actually the song of joy that celebrates the victory of good over evil and the following day of Holi Dahan is always played with colors of joy which was brought about to existence by Little Krishna another incarnation/ avatar of Shri Narayana which spreads the joy of brotherhood/ equality amongst all. It is believed that little Krishna had dark colored skin while Radha was very fair in color. Young Krishna known to be very playful and mischievous was extremely jealous of Radha's fair complexion and to make matters worse Radha always chided him about it ... Krishna often complained to his mother Yashoda with tears in his eyes about the injustice of nature and in order to pacify him his doting mother asked him to go and color Radha in dark shades of colors to justify the same … it is believed that's how the holi is being played with colors to bring in equality among all …
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** Disclaimer : I have always been intrigued by spiritual stories in life and the examples that are actually deep down set in them for mankind to follow. I found this incident truly inspiring and thought of writing it in my own adaption going through a few of writings. I have written it to my grasping ability and It is not my intention to hurt anybody’s sentiments. I neither have the capacity nor the ability or knowledge to write on the greatness of Lord Narayana, his incarnations or his messages to us. I am just an ardent Devotee, so forgive me, if there are mistakes in my adaption. The images added on are from google and credit for the same goes entirely to them or the owner of the same. Thanking each one of you for reading through.
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