page_title: Hiranyakashipu
hierarchical_section_title: Hiranyakashipu
caption_attribution_description: English: Vishnu's half-man half-tiger avatar, Narasimha Vishnu's half-man half-tiger avatar, Narasimha, in a bazaar art *an earlier German print, 1880's, that was its apparent source*
context_page_description: Hiranyakashipu was an Asura and king of the daityas from the Puranic scriptures of Hinduism. His name literally translates to "clothed in gold", and is often interpreted as depicting one who is fond of wealth. In the Puranas, however, it is also stated the name was derived from a golden throne called 'Hiranyakashipu' the asura sat in or nearby during the Atiratra sacrifice.
  Hiranyakashipu's elder brother, Hiranyaksha was slain by Varaha avatar of Lord Vishnu. Angered by this, Hiranyakashipu decided to gain magical powers by performing a penance for Lord Brahma. He is subsequently killed by the Narasimha avatara of Lord Vishnu. His tale depicts the futility of desiring power over others and the strength of God's protection over his fully surrendered devotees.
  Hiranyakashipu, according to legend, earned a boon from Lord Brahma that made him virtually indestructible.
  The story of Hiranyakashipu is in three parts. The first has to do with the curse of the Four Kumaras on the gatekeepers of Vaikuntha, Jaya and Vijaya, which causes them to be born as the daityas Hiranyakashipu and Hiranyaksha.
context_section_description: Hiranyakashipu (also known as Hiranyakashyap) was an Asura and king of the daityas from the Puranic scriptures of Hinduism. His name literally translates to "clothed in gold" (hiranya "gold" kashipu "soft cushion"), and is often interpreted as depicting one who is fond of wealth. In the Puranas, however, it is also stated the name was derived from a golden throne called 'Hiranyakashipu' the asura sat in or nearby during the Atiratra (Soma) sacrifice. 
  Hiranyakashipu's elder brother, Hiranyaksha was slain by Varaha avatar of Lord Vishnu. Angered by this, Hiranyakashipu decided to gain magical powers by performing a penance for Lord Brahma. He is subsequently killed by the Narasimha avatara of Lord Vishnu. His tale depicts the futility of desiring power over others and the strength of God's protection over his fully surrendered devotees (in the case of his son Prahlada).
  Hiranyakashipu, according to legend, earned a boon from Lord Brahma that made him virtually indestructible.
  The story of Hiranyakashipu is in three parts. The first has to do with the curse of the Four Kumaras on the gatekeepers of Vaikuntha, Jaya and Vijaya, which causes them to be born as the daityas Hiranyakashipu and Hiranyaksha. The second part deals with Hiranyakashipu's penance to propitiate Brahma and gain a boon from him. The final part deals with his efforts to kill his son Prahlada (a devotee of Vishnu) and his subsequent death at the hands of Narasimha.
caption: Narasimha kills Hiranyakashipu
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