Prahlada was born to Hiranyakashipu and Kayadu, an evil king who had been granted a boon that he could

not be killed by man or animal, day or night, inside or outside. Despite several warnings from his father Hiranyakashipu, Prahlada continues to worship Vishnuinstead of him. His father then decided to commit filicide and poison him, but he survived. Then he trampled the boy with elephants, but he lived. Then he put him in a room with venomous snakes, and they made a bed for him with their bodies. Holika, the sister of Hiranyakashipu, was blessed in that she could not be hurt by fire. Hiranyakashipu finally puts Prahlada on the lap of Holika as she sits on a pyre. Prahlada prays to Vishnu to keep him safe. Holika burns to death as Prahlada is unscathed. This event is celebrated as the Hindu festival of Holi.[2] After tolerating abuse from Hiranyakashipu, Prahlada is eventually saved by Narasimha, the half-man, half-lion avatar, who kills the king at the entrance to his home at dusk.[3] There is an underground pillar known as "Prahlada khamba" in Dharahra village, in the Purnea District of Bihar, India. It is said to be the pillar from which Narasimha manifested to kill Hiranyakashipu. Adjacent to the pillar is a large temple devoted to Lord Narasimha. Allegedly, attempts to excavate or move the "Prahlada khamba" have failed. In Maharashtra, an underground temple near the banks of the river "Krishna" in Sangli district, hosts a beautiful stone carved sculpture of "Narasimha and Laxmi". The story of Prahlada teaches that:

Faith in God is paramount. God will always prevail. God saves his devotees. Devotion can be practiced at any time. Age does not matter. Evil will be punished. Omnipresence of God.

Prahlada eventually becomes king of the Daityas and attains a place in the abode of Vishnu (Vaikuntha) after his death.[4]