Holika Dahan is a popular ritual followed in many parts of India. The festival of Holi gets its name from this very ritual of Holika Dahan. Holika Dahan literally means burning Holika.
The demon King Hiranyakashipu had a son named Prahlad. Prahlad was a great devotee of Lord Vishnu. Hiranyakashipu tortured him in every way so that he would stop worshipping Lord Vishnu
but Prahlad was adamant. As last resort, Hiranyakashipu summoned his sister Holika to kill Prahlad.
Holika had a boon that she would never be harmed by fire. Holika took innocent and unsuspecting Prahlad on her lap and sat on a burning pyre. As she committed an act so sinful, her boon became unfruitful; she was consumed by the fire and Prahlad came out safely. Thus, the evil was destroyed and faith of the people on God was restored.
We all know this story and celebrate the victory of Prahalad and his unflinching faith in God. This story also throws light in our lives and gives many eye-opening messages!
Lessons to be learnt from the epic-episode of Holika Dahan
1. Never try to harm any devotee by the power you have. God is all-powerful and protects His devotee in any way. Holika was protected with a boon that fire cannot harm her. But she used this boon with ill-will and for a negative purpose of killing a devotee of God, Prahlad. Prahlad was saved by Lord Vishnu and Holika completely got burnt in that fire.
2. It is not mentioned anywhere that a devotes of God won't face problems or sufferings. They are there as a chain of experiences but one who has surrendered one's self to God, does not feel the pain out of these negative experiences. Sitting amidst the flames of burning fire, Prahlad was experiencing coolness as if a sheet of fresh lotus flowers was spread upon him, just because he was devotedly remembering Lord Vishnu.
3. Devotion is not a matter of age. It is to be started right from the childhood. Prahlad is a great example that one can attain God-realization even at a very young age.
4. Like Hiranykashipu and Holika, many of our sankars continuously try to stop us progressing on the path of bhakti. We need to recognize them and just like Prahlad, keep worshiping God, no matter how many obstacles or fear they create. Keep the faith, that one day all these negative factors will become weak and powerless. We can smoothly go ahead on the path of devotion toward God. Without getting disturbed by their threats, we need to keep progressing on this path.
5. During the Holika Dahan, in many parts of India people used to throw unnecessary things like old cloths, vessels, and many other unused or not usable things into the fire. As incomplete human-beings many vices resides in us--lust, anger, greed, attachment, pride, jealousy etc. Let us surrender to God and throw all of them in the fire of Holika Dahan to purify our heart to make a clean and perfect residence of Radha and Krishna.
4. Like Hiranykashipu and Holika, many of our sankars continuously try to stop us progressing on the path of bhakti. We need to recognize them and just like Prahlad, keep worshiping God, no matter how many obstacles or fear they create. Keep the faith, that one day all these negative factors will become weak and powerless. We can smoothly go ahead on the path of devotion toward God. Without getting disturbed by their threats, we need to keep progressing on this path.
5. During the Holika Dahan, in many parts of India people used to throw unnecessary things like old cloths, vessels, and many other unused or not usable things into the fire. As incomplete human-beings many vices resides in us--lust, anger, greed, attachment, pride, jealousy etc. Let us surrender to God and throw all of them in the fire of Holika Dahan to purify our heart to make a clean and perfect residence of Radha and Krishna.
