5 stories from Vishnu Purana
The Vishnu Purana is one of the eighteen Mahapuranas, a
genre of ancient Indian scriptures that narrate the mythology, history, and
cosmology of Hinduism. Here are five notable stories from the Vishnu Purana:
Creation and the Four Yugas: The Vishnu Purana describes the
process of creation in detail. In the beginning, there was only the Supreme
Being, Vishnu, who was in a state of deep sleep in the cosmic ocean. From his
navel emerged a lotus, and on it sat Brahma, the creator god. Vishnu instructed
Brahma to create the universe. The Purana also details the concept of time
divided into four yugas or epochs: Satya Yuga, Treta Yuga, Dvapara Yuga, and
Kali Yuga, each with progressively declining moral values.
The Story of Dhruva: Dhruva, a young prince, sought the
blessings of Lord Vishnu after being insulted by his stepmother. With
determination and unwavering faith, Dhruva performed severe penance. Pleased by
his devotion, Vishnu appeared before him and granted him a boon. Dhruva asked
for a position that was eternal and unshakeable. Consequently, Dhruva was
transformed into the Dhruva star (the Pole Star), symbolizing constancy and
devotion.
The Legend of Prahlada and Hiranyakashipu: Prahlada was the
devout son of the demon king Hiranyakashipu, who hated Vishnu. Despite his
father’s attempts to dissuade him and punish him severely, Prahlada remained
steadfast in his devotion to Vishnu. Enraged, Hiranyakashipu challenged
Prahlada’s belief that Vishnu was omnipresent and indestructible. To prove him
wrong, Hiranyakashipu struck a pillar, which split open, and Vishnu, in his
Narasimha avatar (half-man, half-lion), emerged to slay the demon king, thus
protecting Prahlada and reaffirming the power of devotion.
The Churning of the Ocean (Samudra Manthan): The Devas
(gods) and Asuras (demons) churned the ocean of milk to obtain Amrita, the
nectar of immortality. They used the mountain Mandara as the churning rod and
the serpent Vasuki as the churning rope. Vishnu played a crucial role in this
event by taking the form of a tortoise (Kurma avatar) to support the mountain
on his back and later appearing as Mohini, a beautiful enchantress, to
distribute the nectar among the gods, ensuring they maintained their immortality
and strength.
Krishna’s Birth and Early Life: One of the most celebrated
stories in the Vishnu Purana is the birth and early life of Krishna, who is
considered an incarnation of Vishnu. Krishna was born to Devaki and Vasudeva in
the prison of the tyrant king Kamsa. To protect the child from Kamsa, who was
destined to be killed by Devaki’s eighth son, Vasudeva secretly carried baby
Krishna to Gokul and exchanged him with a cowherd’s daughter. Krishna grew up
in Gokul, performing miraculous deeds, defeating demons like Putana and Kaliya,
and eventually fulfilling the prophecy by slaying Kamsa.
These stories from the Vishnu Purana highlight the themes of devotion, the power of faith, the cyclical nature of time, and the divine interventions of Vishnu to restore cosmic order.