This time the gurus Shanda and Amarka did not receive Prahlada as their pupil as they used to do so far. They were somewhat afraid of the boy who was getting ideas that were contrary to the mindset of the demons and were not according to the policies and the theories of the school. The idea of devotion to Vishnu was not in the interest of the demonic race. The gurukul was thoroughly checked to see if some infiltrator had got in. There was no evidence of any such outside influence.
So, the gurus decided to find out from the boy himself the source of his dangerous ideas that could harm entire demonic race. Upon direct questioning Prahlada revealed, “Respected sirs, the ideas don’t come into my mind from any outside source or anyone else. They are inborn, thrown up by my own mind. My heart wants to worship Lord Vishnu.”
Shanda sadly shook his head. “Son Prahlada! Banish the idea of worshipping the murderer Vishnu from your heart and mind. Or it will prove very dangerous for you.”
“Sir, I can’t banish Lord Vishnu from my mind or heart. He is in every cell of my body. But I am very curious to know something from you, sir.”
“And what is that?”
“Sir, you said Vishnu was a murderer. My father was also saying Lord Vishnu was killer. Yet I am not told what makes him a murderer? Whom he killed and when?”
“Alright, I will tell you,” Guru Shanda said and added, “Long ago Vishnu incarnated as a boar and killed your mighty uncle Hiranyaksha. That is why we and your father call him a murderer.”
“Sir, would you tell me in detail why he had to kill my uncle and under what circumstances?” young Prahlada requested.
“Sure, you must hear the story. That may help you revise your opinion about Vishnu and see him in correct light like we do.”
“Tell me, sir. I am eager to hear.”
“Prahlada, when your uncle Hiranyaksha and your father Hiranyakashipu were born, a great upheaval began to upset the worlds. The gods trembled in fear. The demon brothers were gigantic in size and were extremely powerful. As they grew up they became gianter and more powerful in the same proposition.
The gods were ruling the heaven merrily. One day your uncle Hiranyaksha in his exuberant mood raided heaven. So huge and mighty Hiranyaksha was that the gods could not summon courage even to meet his challenge by coming out to face him. They fled to save their lives.
Hiranyaksha thundered and invoked Varuna, the god of water and seas.
When Varuna appeared before Hiranyaksha the mighty demon said, “Varuna, I am itching for a fight. You must accept my challenge and battle against me.”
Varuna politely said, “demon lord! I am no match for your infinite demonic might. Please spare me.”
Hiranyaksha loudly guffawed, “Ha ha ha! So there is no one in heaven to accept my challenge for a fight. But I need someone to battle against. Can you suggest who I must challenge here.?”
“Demon Lord! Here only Lord Vishnu can give you a worthwhile fight. You may throw a challenge to him.”
“Lord Vishnu!? Has he got the power to match me? I doubt it, I am the mightiest power ever born in this universe. How would he face the master of the universe? But anyway, I will try him if you so suggest, Varuna. Ha ha ha!”
The torments of Hiranyaksha was proving a big challenge for the forces of the light. The forces of evil and darkness were in ascendence. Noble values were getting diminished. The worlds were in turmoil.
Hiranyaksha was rampaging through the world. In his sheer arrogance he picked up the earth and hid it in the sea.
All the creatures of the earth prayed to Lord Vishnu for deliverance from the tormentations of the demonic forces and Hiranyaksha.
Meanwhile, Lord Vishnu lay on his Shesha bed and heard the prayers of the earthlings in distress. Laxmi was pressing his feet.
Vishnu changed sides in some discomfort. Maa Laxmi asked, “Master, you appear to be in some worry. What is the matter?”
“There are lot of things to worry me about my dear. When my faithfuls are in distress it causes me great pain and worry.”
“What can trouble your faithfuls, master? They enjoy your protection and grace. No one can create problems for them.”
“Truly said, my dear. But there also is the destiny. It creates several situations in which the faithfuls are put to test and the destruction of the evil forces are worked out. Sometimes my faithfuls are put in long trying and testing situation during which evil forces abound. The evil ones become arrogant and their arrogance leads to their own destruction.”
“My lord! Is this time also some arrogant one is heading for its own destruction?”
“Sure my dear!” replied Lord Vishnu and he closed his eyes as if to visualise the destruction of a demonic character.
“Who is that, my master?”
“You will see, my dear. You will know when the villain gets destroyed. You must learn to enjoy mysteries.”
Then, a small boar came out of the nostril of Lord Vishnu and it began to grow in size. In a short time it gained the mountainous proportions. It plunged intensely into the sea and came out with the earth on its tusks. Thus, the earth was retrieved.
Hiranyaksha saw the boar coming out of the sea with the earth on its tusks. He at once realised that the boar was the manifestation of Lord Vishnu. He spoke in thunderous voice, “Boar! Put the earth back at the bottom of the sea from where you have brought it up. If you do so I may forgive you otherwise no one will save you from my fury.”
The boar ignored his command and kept going his way without stopping.
Hiranyaksha thundered again, “I know who you are. In the form of a boar you are Vishnu. I have been looking for you all over the universe. Now finally I have got you.”
“Arrogant demon! Your arrogance and stupidity is talking for you. You are inviting your own death.”
“What arrogance and stupidity you are talking about? You don’t know my power. It is not my arrogance but a fact that I am the mightiest one of the universe. Due to your stupidity you fail to realise it.”
The earth trembled to hear the words of Hiranyaksha. The gods and Brahma were also gathered around to see the impending battle between the mighty demon and Lord Vishnu. The words of the demon scared them too.
The words enraged the boar. Its nostrils flared up and eyes flashed. The boar ran at Hiranyaksha saying, “Stupid demon! Ready for the battle. Here I came to deal you your death.”
The battle between the two began. Hiranyaksha indeed was a mighty demon. He was successfully evading the charges of the boar or blunting them. The battle continued till the evening.
Brahma wanted the fight to end before the darkness fell because during the night the forces of darkness like demons gained strength manifold.
Lord understood the concerns of Brahma and he in the manifestation of boar used his sudarshan chakra on Hiranyakasha.
All the weapons of the demon lord were destroyed by chakra and he stood unarmed.
The furious demon tried to grab boar in his mighty arms to crush it to death or to strangle it if possible. Boar struggled free and rammed itself into its opponent. Blood spurted out of the mouth of Hiranyakasha, he staggered and then collapsed never to rise up again.
This act of Vishnu angered Hiranyakashipu and he considered him his enemy and the sworn foe of all demons. Although Hiranyakashipu never was an admirer of Vishnu but the Hiranyaksha incident made him dead set foe of the latter.”
Prahlada heard the story and spoke, “Sir, I don’t see anywhere the fault of Lord Vishnu in this story you just revealed. On the basis of this incident you can’t say Vishnu was a murderer.”
“Prahlada! There is something seriously wrong with your mind and perception. The killer Vishnu murdered your dear uncle yet you don’t find him guilty of a murder?”
Guru Amarka commented, “You are a shame on the demonic race. It is a pity that you go on praising a killer who is sworn enemy of your own father.”
In many ways the gurus tried to reason with Prahlada and warned him the dire consequences of his devotion to Vishnu, the enemy of demons. But all their efforts bore no fruit. Prahlada continued to praise Lord Vishnu and worship him.
At last the gurus decided to teach Prahlada new subjects to wean away the mind of the boy from Vishnu. They hoped the new subjects would arouse the interest of the youngman and in learning them he might forget about his Vishnu. The gurus were trying everything to reform Prahlada as he was the son of the dreaded demon lord Hiranyakashipu. The failure could bring bad name to their gurukul and the ire of the demon lord could be very dangerous.
So, the gurus, Shanda and Amarka began to apply new teaching methods on the young boy.
