From a satsang with Paramacharya of SWAHA, H.H. Pt. Hardeo Persad
Many worship the Lord and chant His name out of love, seeking to experience divinity within themselves. However, the world exists in a state of duality, and while some pray with a pure heart to realise God, others pray with a different intent—driven by confrontation rather than devotion. This form of devotion, known as advesh bhakti or devotion through enmity, is also acknowledged in our scriptures.
In the Bhagavad Gita, Bhagavan Shree Krishna declares, “Think of Me constantly, worship Me, bow down to Me, and you shall reach Me.” The world comprises people of varied temperaments. Some worship with intense devotion, while others, fuelled by hatred, remain fixated on the divine nonetheless. Characters such as Ravan, Kans and Hiranyakashipu exemplify such a paradox—through their intense opposition to the Lord, their minds remained constantly absorbed in Him.
Hiranyakashipu and his brother Hiranyaksha were beings of great power but, as they say, absolute power corrupts absolutely. Transgressing the bounds of righteousness, Hiranyaksha was vanquished by the divine boar, Varaha Avatar. Enraged, Hiranyakashipu sought revenge, yet he recognised that spiritual power was necessary to achieve his goals. He undertook severe austerities, worshipping the Brahma aspect of the Divine, seeking invulnerability in his quest to destroy Vishnu Bhagavan. In his delusion, he failed to see the divine oneness of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. He asked for conditions he believed would make him immortal, but divinity, ever beyond human cunning, ensured that his end was inevitable.
Amidst his tyranny, a beacon of devotion shone in the form of his own son, Prahlad. Even in the womb, Prahlad was imbued with devotion to Vishnu Bhagavan by the teachings of Narad Muni. This steadfast faith continued into his youth, defying the efforts of his father, who sought to force him into idolatry of himself. The child was subjected to numerous torments—cast from cliffs, trampled by elephants, thrown into snake pits and given poison. Yet, divine grace protected him. His faith never wavered, nor did he question God through his suffering.
In his final try, Hiranyakashipu called upon his sister, Holika, to burn Prahlad in fire, believing that her divine boon rendered her immune from fire. Yet, the divine will overturned human expectation—Holika perished, while Prahlad emerged unscathed. Thus, every year, Holika Dahaan is commemorated to symbolise the triumph of righteousness over wickedness, forming the spiritual foundation of Phagwa, a joyous festival. While individuals celebrate by throwing vibrant abeer and various coloured powders, it is essential that we reflect upon the colours of our own minds. Each day, we must strive to imbue our consciousness with virtues that purify and elevate us.
Hiranyakashipu’s final test arrived in his decision to question Prahlad’s assertion that Vishnu Bhagavan was omnipresent. Pointing to a blazing pillar, he asked if the Lord resided within it. With steadfast faith, Prahlad affirmed so. As he advanced towards the heated pillar on his father’s tauntings, the pillar cracked open, revealing Narasimha Bhagavan—the half-man, half-lion incarnation—who fulfilled the conditions of Hiranyakashipu’s demise by bypassing all the limitations he had set.
The katha of Phagwa imparts profound teachings—power must be wielded with responsibility, devotion must be steadfast, and ultimately, righteousness prevails. The true essence of the festival remains in the destruction of negativity, both external and internal. Unlike other times of worship, traditional havan is not performed during Phagwa, yet offerings of jal, the lighting of deeyas and scriptural study keep us aligned with the divine. As we celebrate Phagwa, we must remain rooted in honesty, devotion and self-reflection, ensuring that every colour of our minds is carefully selected so that it enhances our spiritual advancement
Leave a Reply