The Birth of Prahlada Maharaja
Hiranyakshipu’s Quest for Power
Once, Hiranyakshipu decided to go to the forest to perform penance. Ignoring the inauspicious omens such as earthquakes and fire seen in all directions, the haughty demon, intoxicated with pride, set out for Mount Kailash.
Near the peak of Mount Kailash, Hiranyakshipu began performing rigorous austerities to obtain demoniac boons. Seeing Hiranyakshipu’s penance, lotus-born Brahma became worried. He thought, “How can I dissuade this demon from his austerities?”
Narada Muni’s Intervention
At that moment, the great sage Narada arrived. Perceiving his father’s distress, Narada Muni said, “O revered father! You are a devotee of Lord Narayan. Why do you worry? Those who meditate on Govinda need not fear anything. I will persuade this demon to stop his penance. Lord Vishnu, the Lord of the universe, will guide me.”
Narada Muni then bowed down to his father and, accompanied by the sage Parvata Muni, left the place, absorbed in thoughts of Lord Vasudev. The two sages assumed the form of sparrows and went to Kailash, where Hiranyakshipu was practicing penance.
The Power of the Holy Name
Seated on the branch of a tree, Narada Muni, in the form of a small sparrow, began to sweetly sing the holy names of Lord Narayan so that Hiranyakshipu could hear him. Three times Narada sang the holy mantra, “namo narayanaya,” and then he fell silent.
When Hiranyakshipu heard the holy name of Narayan spoken by the sparrow with so much devotion, he fell into a fit of rage and picked up his bow and arrows. No sooner had he fixed an arrow to his bow and aimed it at the two birds when Narada and Parvat Munis, disguised as sparrows, flew away.
Hiranyakshipu’s Return
Enraged at his failure to hit the birds, Hiranyakshipu left the hermitage and returned to his capital city. There in his palace, he met his beautiful wife, Kayadhu, who was surprised to see him.
Kayadhu inquired, “My Lord, when you left to perform your penance, you told us that your austerities would continue for ten thousand years. O sovereign lord, how is it that you have given up your penance and returned early? Out of my attachment for you, I would like to know the reason.”
Hiranyakshipu replied, “O lovely lady, listen to me. I will tell you the truth. An incident occurred which enraged me very much, although the gods were no doubt delighted by it. On Mount Kailash, there appeared two small birds reciting the mantra, ‘namo narayanaya.’ After hearing their recitation two or three times, I became angry and fixed an arrow to my bow. But just as I was about to discharge the arrow, the birds flew away. Then, considering destiny to be all-powerful, I stopped my penances and returned here.”
The Birth of Prahlada Maharaja
After speaking with Kayadhu, Hiranyakshipu engaged in sex life with her. As a result, Kayadhu conceived the great devotee Prahlada Maharaja. First, Hiranyakshipu had heard the devotional recitation of the mantra, “namo narayanaya,” from the lips of Narada Muni. Then, just before uniting with his wife, he repeated that mantra to Kayadhu. While engaging in sex with his wife, he was constantly chanting the mantra “namo narayanaya” in his mind. Consequently, the child born of them became the great devotee of Lord Krishna, Bhakta Prahlada.
Moral of the Story
In his purport to Srimad Bhagavatam 3.20.28, Srila Prabhupada comments: Before begetting a child, one has to sanctify his perplexed mind. When parents engage their minds in the lotus feet of the Lord, and in such a state the child is born, naturally good devotee children come; when society is full of such good population, there is no trouble from demoniac mentalities.
Hiranyakshipu’s chanting was not devotional, nor was it directed toward the Lord. He chanted in a neglectful way, hence it was only a shadow of the holy name, namabhasa. There are four types of namabhasa. This namabhasa of Hiranyakshipu is known as helana, neglectful. The potency of the holy name is so great that even though Hiranyakshipu chanted in a neglectful way, the holy name sanctified his mind, and as a result, the great devotee Prahlada Maharaja took birth from his semen.
The holy name is so powerful that even chanting on the level of namabhasa gives immense benefit.
It is stated in Sri Caitanya-caritamrta:
mukti’ tuccha-phala haya namabhasa haite
Liberation is the insignificant result derived from even a glimpse of the holy name. — Cc. antya 3.186
Chanting the Holy Names
Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.
