Hiranyakashipu was the demon who was killed by the Narasimha
Avatar of Bhagwan Vishnu. The story of Hiranyakashipu begins with Sage Sanaka
cursing the doorkeepers of Vishnu, Jaya and Vijaya. The doorkeepers once did
not give entry to Sage Sanaka to Vaikunta, the abode of Vishnu. Jaya was born
as demon Hiranyaksha and Vijaya was born as demon Hiranyakashipu as a result of
the curse.
Vishnu appeared as Varaha to annihilate Hiranyaksha.
To avenge the death of his brother, Hiranyakashipu undertook severe penance and secured several boons from Lord Brahma. The most important boon was that he could not be killed by man or beast, or by a weapon, during day or night, on the earth or in the sky, inside a house or outside.
To avenge the death of his brother, Hiranyakashipu undertook severe penance and secured several boons from Lord Brahma. The most important boon was that he could not be killed by man or beast, or by a weapon, during day or night, on the earth or in the sky, inside a house or outside.
After receiving the boon, he conquered the three worlds and
prevented all forms of Vishnu worship including utterance of the name of
Vishnu.
But his youngest son Prahlada had heard about the story of Vishnu
when he was in the womb of Kayadhu.
Hiranyakashipu tried all methods to stop his son from
worshipping Vishnu. When he failed in his attempts, he ordered his son to be
executed. But all methods to kill Prahlada turned futile.
One day an angry
Hiranyakashipu asked his son to show where Vishnu was. Prahlada replied calmly
that He is everywhere. When asked if Vishnu was there in a pillar, Prahlada
replied in the affirmative.
Hiranyakashipu then banged the pillar with his mace,
whereupon Vishnu appeared in the form of Narasimha and annihilated him.