A demonic person who forbade mention of Vishnu’s name, wicked father of Prahlada, who was a great devotee of the Lord; killed by the man-lion Narasimha, an Avatar of Vishnu. (Glossary for the Vahinis)

Lord Vishnu assumed the Varaha (Boar) Avatar to destroy the demon Hiranyaksha. Hiranyakashipu, the brother of Hiranyaksha, witnessed his brother’s death at the hands of the Lord. As a result, he developed anger and hatred toward the Lord. He considered Narayana not as God but as a man, and decided to destroy Him by any means. (SSB 1995, p. 134)

(Narasimha slays Hiranyakashipu, as Prahlada watches)

Hiranyaksha and Hiranyakashipu were brothers who were originally the gate-keepers of Vishnu---Jaya and Vijaya. They were born as demons as a result of a curse by sages whom they had offended. They had been filled with pride because of their constant nearness to God and the service they were rendering. In their pride they slighted even the sages and consequently they had to take birth as demons. No room should be given to self-conceit which is an incurable disease. Because of their conceit even the great ones are made to be born as demons. This was the fate of Jaya and Vijaya, the guardians of the Lord’s abode--Vaikuntha. (SSS Vol.22)

Hiranyakashipu is described in the Puranas as a demonic ruler. He denied God and terrified his subjects. (SSS Vol.18), 28-8-1985. Hiranyakashipu looked upon God as his enemy. He deemed himself the supreme Lord. He felt that there was no power greater than himself. Hiranyakashipu was a great scientist. He plumbed the depths of the ocean. He had control over the five elements. Despite all these accomplishments he developed enmity towards God. (SSS Vol.25) Hiranyakashipu was the greatest scientist. He had explored Nature, seasons and the solar system. He once noticed that the Earth’s axis was tilted at 23.5 degrees. With his yogic powers, he changed the tilt out of curiosity. He returned it to normal when large-scale destruction resulted. With his will power, he had control over the orbits of the Sun and the Moon as well. That is why he thought of himself as Divine. (SSB 1995, p. 137)

Prahlada was the son of Hiranyakashipu. The father was the avowed enemy of Hari. The son was the steadfast devotee of Hari. (SSS Vol.22)

Hiranyakashipu, hater of the Lord

Hiranyakashipu ordered all devotees and Vedic priests to be killed. He destroyed Brahmins on sight. The kingdom fell into chaos. Not able to bear the separation from his brother, Hiranya developed many weaknesses. He gave up food, drink and sleep and questioned all the time, ‘Where is this Narayana?’ The Lord exists for one who accepts Him but not for atheists. Yet, He is present in everyone equally. The believer is like a blooming flower while the atheist is a bud. The bud of today is the flower of tomorrow. But if an insect destroys the bud, it cannot become a flower.

Hiranya desired immortality. To this end, he left his kingdom and began performing arduous penance on Mount Mandara. He had three sons: Samhridaya, Nayahridaya and Hridaya. When he left his kingdom, his fourth son was in the womb of his wife, Queen Leelavati. Taking advantage of Hiranya’s absence, the Gods attacked his kingdom. They wanted to eradicate demons in the interest of world peace and the establishment of human values. At this point, Sage Narada came and took Leelavati to the safety of his hermitage.

Narada taught Leelavati at length about Lord Narayana. Leelavati pretended to listen to Narada by nodding her head, but inwardly she was worried about her husband’s welfare and constantly thought of him. However, Leelavati’s child absorbed Narada’s teachings and began to repeat Om Namo Narayanaya, even inside the womb! At birth, this child, Prahlada, had great effulgence and a cheerful smile.

Soon Hiranya returned from Mandara after propitiating Lord Brahma. He had obtained a boon whereby he couldn’t be killed by any man or animal, on earth or in the sky, by anything living or non-living during the day or the night. Hiranya believed that he had tricked Brahma into granting him immortality by the peculiar conditions of the boon. He began considering himself God and forced everyone to adore him by chanting Om Namo Hiranyakashipu Namah! (SSB 1995, pp. 134-136)

Hiranyakashipu was the greatest scientist. The modern scientists have discovered only in the recent times the nature of elements. Hiranyakashipu of the ancient times, thousands of years ago, brought the entire nature under his control. He conducted several investigations, and travelled up to the Pole star. He wanted to set right the rotation of Mother Earth. Hiranyakashipu was so powerful but had the bad quality of anger. On whom is he angry? He is angry with God Himself. He lost everything and led a pitiful life because of anger towards God. Ultimately, he died at the hands of God Himself. (DTB Vol.8)