Slokam 10

Hiranyakashipu is under the impression that he has driven away Sriman Narayana,  with the display of his mighty strength in defeating and conquering all the three worlds.  Being an outward looking asura,Hiranyakashipu does not accept that the driving force within even himself, is the Paramathma. 

Waving his sword around,  he asks challenges Prahalada that if the Paramathma is everywhere,  He should be within the pillar of his mansion as well.  Prahalada says yes,  and Hiranyakashipu breaks it open with a mighty blow of his sword. 

Like Hiranyakashipu,  we all make the mistake of looking for the physical form of the Paramathma.  That form is meant only for visualization of the many attributes of the Paramathma. The infiniteness of his prowess and extensiveness of his permeance and manifestations can only be understood in the realm of consciousness,  and not with the tools available in the mind.  The realm of our consciousness includes selflessness, tyagam,  acceptance and the truth of the non dual nature of existence. 

Hiranyakashipu lives under the seclusion of his false identity.  He is unaware of his “own: inner self.  This is why he wants to know where the Paramathma is physically resident.  At many a time have we not asked if the Paramathma really was an occupant of the idols in a temple?  Have these idols in hundreds of our temples not been destroyed or stolen by invaders and our “own” thieves?

We do not see the Paramathma’s hand everywhere and in everything.  Do we not take the credit for all that we perceive,  including our consciousness  and mind which are not of our making?  Does this ignorance not place us firmly in the realm of Hiranyakashipu?

By exposing the ignorance of Hiranyakashipu,  the Paramathma seeks to expose our own ignorance.  As we read the episode of Hiranyakashipu and Prahalada,  do we not realize that our approach has in many ways been very similar to the ignorant ways of Hiranyakashipu?

Sri Bhattadri puts himself in Hiranyakshipu’s palace at the moment the Hiranyakashipu wields the sword and is mortified of the events that occur after the breakage of the pillar. 

May we be set on seeing the Hand of the Paramathma in our inner and outer selves,  every event and occurrence,  every form that we perceive and every fellow living being.