lord Vishnu and his devotee Prahlad.

[Dipika]

The word Holi is derived from the name Holika. Holika was the sister of Hirankashyap, the demon king of the Asuras. He fancied himself to be the Supreme Being. Naturally, he ordered his people to worship him. However, the demon king’s son was an ardent devotee of Lord Vishnu. As son Prahlad did not obey him, Hirankashyap asked sister Holika to sit on a burning pyre with Prahlad in her lap. Holika had a boon that provided her protection against fire. But as luck would have it, Prahlad walked out of the pyre unharmed, while Holika was burnt.

Sai baba let your holy lotus feet be our sole refuge.OMSAIRAM


dipika duggal

[Dipika]

Holi is a celebration of the triumph of good over evil and it is linked with many traditional beliefs. According to some myths the word Holi is derived from the demoness Holika the sister of demon king Hirankashyap. It is believed that having defeated the Gods, he decides to punish his son Prahalad who was the ardent devotee of Lord Vishnu. He takes the help of his sister, Holika, who is immune to any damage from fire. Holika carries Prahlad into the fire but a divine intervention destroys her and saves Prahlad from getting burned. Thus Holi is celebrated to mark the burning of the evil Holika.

Sai baba let your holy lotus feet be our sole refuge.OMSAIRAM

dipika duggal

[Dipika]

more famous episode connected with Holi is the encounter between Prahlad and his father Hiranyakashyapu. It is said that Hiranyakashyapu was a very powerful demon-king. In the wars between the gods and demons, Hiranyakashyapu gained victory over the gods. This made him so haughty andarrogant that he issued an edict forbidding his subjects from taking the name of the Supreme Deity, and threatened to mete out harsh punishment to anyone who disobeyed him. So his subjects turned from the worship of God to the worship of their king.
Hiranyakashyapu's son Prahlad was a worshipper of God. He refused to obey the order and continued praying as before. His father dealt out severe punishment to him but he came out unharmed.
Hiranyakashyapu had a sister, Holika, who was blessed with special powers—fire could not burn her. Hiranyakashyapu ordered Holika to take Prahlad in her lap and mount a burning pyre. She did so, but Prahlad came out unscathed while Holika was reduced to ashes. It is said that Holi is celebrated and Holi fires lit in remembrance of this miracle. A day before Holi, people start collecting logs and make piles of them on some open ground. On Holi night they gather round the piles, beat drums, dance and set the pyres ablaze. Children go round the fire singing:
Holi Mother we crave thy blessings Give us lives of millions of years.

Sai baba let your holy lotus feet be our sole refuge.OMSAIRAM

dipika duggal

[Dipika]

Another myth associated with the Holi festival in North India is about Lord Krishna. The cruel king Kamsa had sent demoness Putana to kill Krishna in Nandgaon. However, Krishna, even though a child, outsmarted her. Therefore, Holi signifies the victory of Lord Krishna over the evil forces. From that day, on the eve of Holi, people light a bonfire celebrating the victory of Lord Krishna. In Mathura and Vrindawan (Uttar Pradesh), places famous for Krishna's raslila (love-play), Holi is celebrated with songs, music and dances.

In Kerala and Tamilnadu, the festival of Holi is associated with the legend of Kamdev, the Love-god. Kamdev, in a fit of foolishness, aimed his arrow at Lord Shiva, in order to wake the latter from his deep meditation. Lord Shiva opened his third eye and burnt him to ashes. The grief-stricken wife of Kamdev, Rati begged for restoration of her husband. Lord Shiva granted her a boon whereby she could see her husband, but not in the physical human form.

Dol Jatra or Dol Purnima is the name by which Holi is known in Bengal. People fast and pray on this day. When all the traditional rituals are over, Krishna's idol is smeared with gulal and bhog is offered to both Lord Krishna and Agnidevta.

In Maharashtra, Holi is commonly known by the name of Rangpanchami. On one Holi day, a five-year-old Jijabhai, splashed gulal on young Shahaji. As history tells us, Jijabai was later married to Shahaji and the couple produced the visionary king Shivaji, the valiant Maratha ruler.

Sai baba let your holy lotus feet be our sole refuge.OMSAIRAM

dipika duggal