A little more about Holi & Holika (follow-up to previous post):

[Guest guest]

Holika (Sanskrit: & #2361; & #2379; & #2354; & #2367; & #2325; & #2366;) was a demoness

in Hindu mythology who was burnt to death with help of God Brahma by Prahlad.

She was the sister of King Hiranyakashipu. The story of Holika's conflict

signifies the triumph of good over evil, and the death of Holika is celebrated

as Holi.

 

According to Hindu mythology, there was a king named Hiranyakashipu whose

desire was to be seen as a great man. To fulfill his desire he did the required

Tapas (penance) and was granted a boon by Brahma.

 

Once Brahma was pleased by devotion of Hiranyakashyapu, he granted the king

a boon that he will not be killed by a human being or an animal, that he will

not die either in his home or outside the home, that he will not die in the day

or at night, that he will not die either by astra or shastra, and that he will

not die either on land or in the sea or in the air. As this wish was granted, it

was completely impossible to kill Hiranyakashyapu by any means and this made him

invincible. Hiranyakashyapu ordered people in his kingdom to worship him as a

God. Everyone obeyed with the exception of his son Prahlad. Prahlad refused to

see his father as a god and stayed devoted to Vishnu.

 

This made Hiranyakashipu very angry and he made various attempts to kill

Prahlad himself. During a particular attempt on Prahlad's life, King

Hiranyakashyapu called upon his sister Holika for help. Holika had a special

gift that prevented her from being harmed by fire. Hiranyakashyapu asked her to

sit on a bonfire with Prahlad on her lap in the hope that this would kill

Prahlad. But as Prahlad was continuously chanting Vishnu's name, Holika was

burnt to her death and Prahlad was spared.

 

In many parts of India on the night before Holi, symbolic pyres are burnt

in keeping with this tradition. In some parts of India the day is actually

called Holika. There are other activities associated with the story of Prahlad,

but the burning of Holika is one that we can most directly associate with Holi.

Fire burnt on the eve of Holi symbolizes the burning of Holika. The story as a

whole is testament to the power of devotion (bhakta) over the evil represented

by King Hiranyakashyapu, as Prahlad never lost his faith.

 

In different parts of India varying reasons are given for Holika's death.

Among those are:

 

1) Vishnu stepped in and hence Holika burnt.

2) Holika was given her special power by Brahma on the understanding that it

can never be used to bring harm to anyone,

3) Holika was a good person and it was the clothes that she wore that gave

her the power and knowing that what was happening was wrong, she gave them to

Prahlad and hence died herself.

4) Holika wore a shawl that would protect her from fire. So when she was

asked to sit in the fire with Prahlad, she put on this special shawl and sat

Prahlad down on her lap. When the fire was lit Prahlad began praying to Lord

Vishnu. So Lord Vishnu summoned a gust of wind to blow the shawl off of Holika

and onto Prahlad, saving him from the flames of the bonfire, and burning Holika

to death.

 

For me this story of Holika teaches us about the importance and " real "

power of cultivating devotion to God, and of listening, trusting, and following

Divine guidance in our lives, especially when we have such pure Gurus at our

disposal. Out of our own ignorance, distorted perceptions, and misguided ego,

we are so often afraid of and misunderstand " what is surrender " . Just imagine

what things you are ready to surrender and burn in the fire on Holi!

Through our faithful sadhana, we are learning that Chandi Maa (our own Divine

Mother) will always help us.

Kamala