Guest guest Posted February 25, 2004 Report Share Posted February 25, 2004 Here's a fun festival coming up... HOLI. This is celebrated on the Full moon day of Phalgun (some calendars list that date as the 5th or 6th of March) Holi is the story of Prahlad who had great devotion and faith in Lord Vishnu. This really angered his father, King Hiranyakasipu, who had conquered the earth and heavens, imprisoned all the rsis, destroyed all the temples, and made everyone worship him. The king wanted his son to have all the qualities that befitted an asura, such as disrespect to the Gods and enjoying through the senses as much as possible. So he summoned his instructor to teach Prahlad the dharma of an asura, namely to regard him as the Lord of the universe instead of Lord Vishnu. But no matter what he said, Prahlad continued to praise Lord Vishnu encouraging even his friends to join him in worship and meditation and singing "Jai Vishnu"! Frustrated with his inability to convince his son, the King directed his soldiers to kill Prahlad. Every effort failed.... finally the King invited his sister, Holika, who had a boon that she could not be killed by fire. She instructed her brother to build a huge bonfire and then lovingly invited her nephew Prahlad to sit on her lap in the fire. Inspite of the boon, Holika was consumed by the fire while Prahlad remained unscathed! We celebrate the salvation of Prahlad and the death of Holika with the festival of Holi. You can find this story, along with many others, in the Swami Purana under the title "Hiranyaksa and Hiranyakasipu and the story of Prahlad". In many cities in India, people build bonfires in corner streets while dancing and singing the name of Lord Vishnu. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 25, 2004 Report Share Posted February 25, 2004 Thank you so much for reminding me of HOLI. I love this festival. I would really enjoy seeing devotees building bonfires at the street corners and praising Lord Vishnu! The faith of Prahlad is such an inspiration! Jai Vishnu! rmerani <rukmanimerani Feb 25, 2004 9:35 AM Triumph of Devotion and Holi <html><body> <tt> Here's a fun festival coming up... HOLI. This is celebrated on the <BR> Full moon day of Phalgun (some calendars list that date as the 5th <BR> or 6th of March)<BR> <BR> Holi is the story of Prahlad who had great devotion and faith in <BR> Lord Vishnu. This really angered his father, King Hiranyakasipu, <BR> who had conquered the earth and heavens, imprisoned all the rsis, <BR> destroyed all the temples, and made everyone worship him. <BR> <BR> The king wanted his son to have all the qualities that befitted an <BR> asura, such as disrespect to the Gods and enjoying through the <BR> senses as much as possible. So he summoned his instructor to teach <BR> Prahlad the dharma of an asura, namely to regard him as the Lord of <BR> the universe instead of Lord Vishnu. But no matter what he said, <BR> Prahlad continued to praise Lord Vishnu encouraging even his friends <BR> to join him in worship and meditation and singing "Jai Vishnu"!<BR> <BR> Frustrated with his inability to convince his son, the King directed <BR> his soldiers to kill Prahlad. Every effort failed.... finally the <BR> King invited his sister, Holika, who had a boon that she could not <BR> be killed by fire. She instructed her brother to build a huge <BR> bonfire and then lovingly invited her nephew Prahlad to sit on her <BR> lap in the fire. Inspite of the boon, Holika was consumed by the <BR> fire while Prahlad remained unscathed!<BR> <BR> We celebrate the salvation of Prahlad and the death of Holika with <BR> the festival of Holi.<BR> <BR> You can find this story, along with many others, in the Swami Purana <BR> under the title "Hiranyaksa and Hiranyakasipu and the story of <BR> Prahlad".<BR> <BR> In many cities in India, people build bonfires in corner streets <BR> while dancing and singing the name of Lord Vishnu.<BR> <BR> <BR> </tt> <!-- |**|begin egp html banner|**| --> <br> <tt><hr width="500"> <b> Links</b><br> <ul> <li><br><a href="/">\ /</a><br> <li><br><a href="?subject=Un">Devi_M\ andir</a><br> <li><a href=""> Terms of Service</a>. </ul> </tt> </br> <!-- |**|end egp html banner|**| --> </body></html> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 25, 2004 Report Share Posted February 25, 2004 Namaste Ruk, Thank you for the wonderful story and timely reminder of Holi. It is amazing how we have festivals almost every other day in this tradition ! Every day a chance to remember God in his various forms . And a deity, an occasion, a function to suit every taste and every mood . Holi - not just for splashing colors, or bonfires, but an occasion to reflect on the deep unflinching love of Prahlad for Lord Vishnu. Again and again a testimony to the fact if we have FAITH in God , He will NEVER NEVER NEVER EVER let us down. Thank you again Love to you Latha , "rmerani" <rukmanimerani@h...> wrote: > Here's a fun festival coming up... HOLI. This is celebrated on the > Full moon day of Phalgun (some calendars list that date as the 5th > or 6th of March) > > Holi is the story of Prahlad who had great devotion and faith in > Lord Vishnu. This really angered his father, King Hiranyakasipu, > who had conquered the earth and heavens, imprisoned all the rsis, > destroyed all the temples, and made everyone worship him. > > The king wanted his son to have all the qualities that befitted an > asura, such as disrespect to the Gods and enjoying through the > senses as much as possible. So he summoned his instructor to teach > Prahlad the dharma of an asura, namely to regard him as the Lord of > the universe instead of Lord Vishnu. But no matter what he said, > Prahlad continued to praise Lord Vishnu encouraging even his friends > to join him in worship and meditation and singing "Jai Vishnu"! > > Frustrated with his inability to convince his son, the King directed > his soldiers to kill Prahlad. Every effort failed.... finally the > King invited his sister, Holika, who had a boon that she could not > be killed by fire. She instructed her brother to build a huge > bonfire and then lovingly invited her nephew Prahlad to sit on her > lap in the fire. Inspite of the boon, Holika was consumed by the > fire while Prahlad remained unscathed! > > We celebrate the salvation of Prahlad and the death of Holika with > the festival of Holi. > > You can find this story, along with many others, in the Swami Purana > under the title "Hiranyaksa and Hiranyakasipu and the story of > Prahlad". > > In many cities in India, people build bonfires in corner streets > while dancing and singing the name of Lord Vishnu. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 25, 2004 Report Share Posted February 25, 2004 Don't forget about the throwing of the colored powder. The pink one was especially hard to get out. It took me a week of intense scrubbing of the armpits. Ha! - rmerani Wednesday, February 25, 2004 9:35 AM Triumph of Devotion and Holi Here's a fun festival coming up... HOLI. This is celebrated on the Full moon day of Phalgun (some calendars list that date as the 5th or 6th of March)Holi is the story of Prahlad who had great devotion and faith in Lord Vishnu. This really angered his father, King Hiranyakasipu, who had conquered the earth and heavens, imprisoned all the rsis, destroyed all the temples, and made everyone worship him. The king wanted his son to have all the qualities that befitted an asura, such as disrespect to the Gods and enjoying through the senses as much as possible. So he summoned his instructor to teach Prahlad the dharma of an asura, namely to regard him as the Lord of the universe instead of Lord Vishnu. But no matter what he said, Prahlad continued to praise Lord Vishnu encouraging even his friends to join him in worship and meditation and singing "Jai Vishnu"!Frustrated with his inability to convince his son, the King directed his soldiers to kill Prahlad. Every effort failed.... finally the King invited his sister, Holika, who had a boon that she could not be killed by fire. She instructed her brother to build a huge bonfire and then lovingly invited her nephew Prahlad to sit on her lap in the fire. Inspite of the boon, Holika was consumed by the fire while Prahlad remained unscathed!We celebrate the salvation of Prahlad and the death of Holika with the festival of Holi.You can find this story, along with many others, in the Swami Purana under the title "Hiranyaksa and Hiranyakasipu and the story of Prahlad".In many cities in India, people build bonfires in corner streets while dancing and singing the name of Lord Vishnu. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.