South-Indian Images of Gods and Goddesses c8.s3.10

c8.s3.10

Hiranyāksha and Hiranyakasipu were two demon brothers, naturally hostile to Vishnu. Hiranyāksha was killed by Vishnu in his Varāha-avatār. Hiranyakasipu then became the king of the demons and vowed eternal war with Vishnu. His young son, Prahlāda, however, became a devoted adherent of Vishnu and was always praising him as the all-pervading lord of the universe. Exasperated with this, Hiranyakasipu asked the young boy whether his god Vishnu, if he was all-pervasive, could be found in the pillar in front of him; and then hacked at it with his sword. The pillar cleft in twain and out burst from it, to the astonishment of Hiranyakasipu, the angry god in the shape of a Man-lion, (fig. 16), who forthwith tore to pieces the impious demon king.