For Global Peace with Social Justice in a Sustainable Environment

Satyagrahi Prahlad and Mahatma Gandhi

Prof. Dr. Yogendra Yadav

Gandhian Scholar

Gandhi Research Foundation, Jalgaon, Maharashtra, India

Contact No- 09404955338

E-mail- dr.yadav.yogendra@gandhifoundation.net

Satyagrahi Prahlad and Mahatma Gandhi

Bhakt Prahlad is a saintly character of Hinduism he is famed for his exclusive devotion to Vishnu Bhawan. His father, Hiranyakashpipu was to turn him to the contrary. He is considered to be a great devotee, by followers of Vaishnava traditions and is of special importance to devotees of the avatar in form of Narsimha like the Man and Lion. A philosophical treatise is accredited to him Prahlad describes the process of loving worship to his lord, Vishnu. The majority of stories in the Puranas are based around the activities of Prahlad as a young boy, and thus he is more commonly depicted as such in paintings and illustrations. Mahatma Gandhi was very effective by Prahlad opposing manner. He believed that it was the perfect way of Satyagraha. So he told people of India, Do Satyagraha like Prahlad. Mahatma Gandhi described; “We find Prahlad, a steadfast devotee of God, who remained unharmed even when made to embrace a red-hot pillar, because he too had unshakable faith in God’s help.”1

Mahatma Gandhi described; “We have said earlier that he alone is a satyagrahi who gives up everything for the sake of truth—forgoes wealth and property, allows his land to be auctioned, parts from his relatives, from his parents, his children, his wife, and sacrifices dear life itself. He who thus loses for the sake of truth shall gain. By disobeying his father’s order for the sake of truth, Prahlad not only remained staunch in Satyagraha but also did his duty as a son. Making himself a satyagrahi, he won his own and his father’s deliverance from this earthly life. No one lacking the determined spirit of Prahlad can ever hold on to Satyagraha to the end.”2 Mahatma Gandhi described; “I finished the story1 of Prahlad yesterday. The ideas so common among us, whom it faithfully reflects, are rarely to be found among English books reputedly great.”3

Prahlad was born in the family of Hirankashipu. Despite several warnings from his father Hiranyakashipu, Prahlad continues to worship Vishnu. His father tried to poison him; get him trampled by the elephants, and put him in a room with venomous snakes, but Prahlad survives each and every time. Mahatma Gandhi described; “One should consider the example of Prahlad in order to understand how one should behave towards elders such as parents in the interests of Truth.”4 Mahatma Gandhi described; “Prahlad was a satyagrahi.”5

Mahatma Gandhi described; “When Prahlad was asked, “Where is your God Vishnu?”, he replied: “On land and in water, in the sky and in the nether regions; I see the Almighty Vishnu wherever I look.” In the same way, only if we find truth all round us may we call this struggle Satyagraha. We cannot have one set of manners in public and another in private. Truth is all pervasive as the Essence that we know as Vishnu. Just as we cannot say that Vishnu is non-existent in a certain place, so also we cannot say that truth exists at one place but not at some other.”6

Mahatma Gandhi described; “He suggested that what Prahlad did towards his father, Hiranyakashyapu, should be done by them towards the Government. Hiranyakashyapu issued a command to his son which conflicted with his conscience. The voice of a disciplined conscience was the voice of the divine; and any man who refused to listen to that voice degraded human dignity. The conscience of the speaker told him that they should act even as Prahlad acted against his father’s order; and if their conscience also told the same thing, they should do the same. Prahlad disobeyed his father’s command without any irreverence or ill will or disaffection for him. He continued to love his father as he was still disobeying his order, and the very love he bore his father made him point out to him his wrong which he dutifully resisted under the dictates of his conscience. This was what was called civil disobedience or Satyagraha, which mean the force of truth, the force of soul. If they accepted Satyagraha, they rejected the doctrine of physical violence. He hoped that they who were the descendants of Prahlad would not send him away empty-handed.

He had just then received a telegram that the Viceroy had given his consent to Bill No. 2. They could not better begin the use of soul-force than by adopting some rigorous measures of discipline. He had suggested in a letter to the Press that the second Sunday, after the Viceroy had given his consent to the Bills, which would be the 6th April, should be observed as a day of fast by all adults, men and women, who could fast. That was not to be mixed up with the hunger-strikes in England known in connection with the movement for suffrage for women.”7

Holika, the sister of His father, was specially blessed that she would not be hurt by fire in any way. One day, Hiranyakashipu orders Prahlad to sit on a pyre on the lap of Holika. Prahlad prays to Lord Vishnu to keep him safe. When the fire starts, Holika burns to death, while Prahlad remains unharmed. This incident is celebrated as the Hindu festival of Holi. Mahatma Gandhi described; “The aim of satyagraha at present is to place before the public the principles of truth and non-violence as far as possible, and when we are sure that these principles have been grasped, we will again break the law civilly.1 Every man and woman who takes this vow must understand that truth and non-violence are to be adhered to in this struggle. We have to disobey the law civilly as Prahlad did. Like Prahlad also we must not depart from truth. Without these two things civil disobedience of law is irreligious. As will be seen from the manifesto issued by me about Horniman, our struggle is concerned with modern civilization.”8 Mahatma Gandhi described; “Prahlad did not act against his father, when he declined to associate himself with the latter’s blasphemies.”9 Mahatma Gandhi described; “Prahlad offered civil disobedience, but was not scared when thrown from the top of a hill. He even embraced as if it were a friend a red-hot pillar.”10 Mahatma Gandhi had done his all Satyagraha on the basis of Bhakt Prahlad. When someone asked any questions related to Satyagraha, then he told you follow the Bhakt Prahlad. The book of Bhakt Prahlad is one of the books, which impressed him very much.

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