What is hiranyakashyapu?

Hiranyakashyapu was a demon king in Hindu mythology who wanted to be seen as a god and challenged the authority of Lord Vishnu. He believed in his own power and tried to make people worship him instead of God. He had a son named Prahlad who was a devotee of Vishnu and Hiranyakashyapu wanted him to renounce his faith.

Hiranyakashyapu was granted a boon by Lord Brahma that he would not be killed by any human or animal, in a house or outside, during day or night, not on the ground or in the sky, not by any weapon, and not by any divine being. This made him invincible and he continued to rule with an iron fist.

To get rid of Prahlad's devotion to Lord Vishnu, Hiranyakashyapu subjected him to various forms of brutality, but Prahlad remained steadfast in his faith. Finally, Lord Vishnu appeared in the form of Narasimha (half-man, half-lion) and killed Hiranyakashyapu by tearing him apart with his claws.

Hiranyakashyapu is considered to be a symbol of arrogance, pride, and the belief in one's own invincibility. His story teaches us the importance of humility, faith, and devotion to a higher power.