Holika
Holika | |
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Rakshashi | |
Gender | Female |
Festivals | Holika Dahan |
Personal information | |
Parents | |
Siblings | Hiranyakashipu and Hiranyaksha |
Spouse | Viprachitti |
Children | Rahu and Ketu |
Part of a series on |
Hinduism |
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Holika (
The legend of Holika Dahan (Holika's burning) signifies the triumph of righteousness over sin. Holika is associated with the annual bonfire on the night before Holi, the festival of colours.[2]
Legend
According to the
This infuriated Hiranyakashipu, and he made various attempts to kill Prahlada. During one attempt on Prahlada's life, King Hiranyakashipu's sister, Holika, offered her help. According to the Vishnu Purana, Holika told her brother that due to a boon she had received, she was invulnerable to fire. Arrangements were made to have Prahlada sit upon the lap of his aunt, atop a burning pyre. However, as Prahlada chanted the name of Vishnu, he escaped unscathed, while Holika was incinerated.[4]
In a variation of this Puranic legend, Hiranyakashipu had Holika don her scarf or her fireproof garment, so that his son may perish, and she may be protected atop the pyre. However, as the fire roared, the garment flew from Holika and covered Prahlada. Holika burnt to death, and Prahlada came out unharmed.[5][6]
Vishnu appeared in the form of Narasimha (a half-human and half-lion avatara, one not created by Brahma), at dusk (neither day nor night), took Hiranyakashipu to his dwelling's threshold (neither indoors nor outdoors), placed him upon his lap (neither land, water, nor air), and then slew the king with his claws (not a weapon). In this manner, the comprehensive boon of Hiranyakashipu was no longer useful. Prahlada and the races of the three worlds were thus set free from the tyranny of Hiranyakashipu, and cosmic order was restored.[7]
Holika Dahan
According to various Hindu traditions, Holika Dahana,[8][9] commonly rendered Holika Dahan in Indo-Aryan languages, celebrates the death of Holika and the salvation of Prahlada. The night before Holi, pyres are burnt in North India, to commemorate this legend. This date coincides with the festival of Kama Dahanam in South India, regarded to be the date Shiva burnt Kamadeva to ashes.[10]
References
- ISBN 978-0-14-341517-6.
- ^ www.wisdomlib.org (24 June 2012). "Holi, Holikā, Holika: 12 definitions". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
- ^ www.wisdomlib.org (29 June 2012). "Hiranyakashipu, Hiraṇyakaśipu, Hiranya-kashipu: 14 definitions". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
- ISBN 978-81-7182-673-5.
- ISBN 978-1598842067
- ISBN 978-0-7369-7910-8.
- ISBN 8120720237
- ^ Indian Review of Books. Acme Books Pvt. Limited. 1999. p. 117.
- ISBN 978-81-85814-12-4.
- ISBN 978-1-4828-4708-6.
External links
- Origins of Holi at BBC.