RIP, Holika!

Holika and Prahlada (via rediff.com)

On the eve of Holi, the recently concluded festival of colors, many Hindus celebrate the death of Holika by burning her effigies in bonfires. I usually feel sad at the untimely and cruel death of this young woman, who was a casualty of the enmity between two egotistical stepbrothers. I have to confess that I am also a bit guilty of eating green chickpeas roasted in Holi bonfire during my childhood.

Although the Hindu Gods have become apathetic, incompetent, and ineffective like the Indian Government these days, there was a time when they were as pragmatic, decisive, arrogant and crafty as the present-day US government. Business meant business to them. They were forever busy scheming, granting wishes, doling out riches, ammunition etc. to their followers, who oftentimes turned against the providers. And then the Gods had to fight with their own creations. Such wars destroyed many innocent lives and inflicted immeasurable pain and sufferings.

For the uninitiated let me explain that Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva are the three supreme Gods in Hindu religion. Together they are called the Hindu Trinity.

Most of us know about the bloodshed caused during the wars of Ramayana and Mahabharata. We are also conditioned to celebrate the killing of the evil demons, but let us not forget that these demons were created by the Gods themselves, and in the ensuing wars, thousands of innocent human beings, monkeys, devas, nagas and good asuras were also killed or maimed. I am sure our Gods are lying low these days because they are afraid of being tried for the war crimes by the present-day human beings.

Here is the story of Holika from Bhagvata Purana. Let me begin from the beginning with her genealogy.

Brahma has ten brain sons (manas putras) — Marichi, Atri, Angirasa, Pulastya, Pulaha, Kratu, Vashistha, Daksha, Bhrigu, and Narada. There are more born from his body as well. Marichi has a son called Kashyapa. Kashyapa has thirteen wives — Aditi, Diti, Danu, Kadru, etc. The sons of Aditi are Adityas, the sons of Diti are Daityas, and the sons of Danu are Danavas, and so on. Aditi has twelve sons. The eldest one is Indra and the youngest is Vishnu.

Among Kashyapa’s children from Diti are Hiranyaksha, Hiranyakashyap, Sinhika and Holika. These are called asuras because they were conceived during inauspicious times—none of their fault, really. Take heed people, stop having sex at wrong hours.

The elder brother Hiranyaksha once stole Goddess Earth and hid her in an ocean. Vishnu, disguised as a wild pig or a boar named Varaha, killed him, freed Earth, and later married her.

Hiranyakashyap despises Vishnu for killing his elder brother, so he starts worshiping Brahma to gain power. After he had undergone a long devotional penance by Hiranyakashyap, Brahma rewards him with a boon of conditional immortality. Hiranyakashyap now declares himself the Supreme Lord of the universe. Vishnu being the Supreme Lord until now is mighty piqued with his stepbrother/cousin and wants to kill him. This is thousands of years before the birth of Jesus Christ and Prophet Mohammad.

It is natural for Holika to be devoted to her brother. She herself has a boon of non-flammability from Brahma. But Hiranyakashyap’s son Prahlada is fascinated by his uncle Vishnu, and refuses to accept his own dad as God.

Frustrated, Hiranyakashyap unsuccessfully tries to kill Prahlada, first by poisoning, then getting him trampled by elephants, and then confining him in a room full of snakes. However, Vishnu saves Prahlada on all the occasions. Next, Hiranyakashyap plans to burn Prahlada alive for which he orders Holika to hold him in her lap and sit on a pyre, assuming she would come out unscathed due to her boon. But Vishnu turns the tables. As a consequence, Holika burns to death while Prahlada is saved.

Later Vishnu comes disguised as Narsimha and kills Hiranyakashyap and hands over the kingdom to Prahlada. All of which is fine according to the norms of the early civilization, except that Holika is used as a pawn in this game. To further add insult to the tragedy, some people flagrantly celebrate her killing. Had I been in place of Holika, I would have also sided with my brother Hiranyakashyap, the immediate provider and the protector, instead of the sky Gods. Of course, the festival would then have had a different name.

Rest in peace, Holika. Not everyone thinks that your burning is justified.

I am sure even during the time of Vishnu’s war with Hiranyakashyap, many common people like us, the peasants and the artisans, must have been oblivious of the scheming Gods, and might have celebrated the spring festival for it harbingers new beginnings and gives people the opportunity to socialize and spread love and joy. It is said that on this day, people leave aside caste, class, gender, and religious bigotry and mingle with everyone. They are even ready to embrace their enemies.

Now that the festival is over, please don’t forget to revert to your usual discriminatory selves, and do plan appropriate revenge for the enemy you had hugged on the Holi day. I wish you all happiness and success in your endeavors.

Further reading: 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brahma 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiranyakashipu
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holika