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Concept
Hiranyakashipu
Summary
Hiranyakashipu (हिरण्यकशिपु), also known as Hiranyakashyap, is an asura king of the daityas in the Puranic scriptures of Hinduism.
In Hindu mythology, Hiranyakashipu's younger brother, Hiranyaksha, is slain by the Varaha avatar of Vishnu. Angered by this, Hiranyakashipu decided to gain a boon of invulnerability by performing a penance to propitiate Brahma. After his subjugation of the three worlds, he is slain by the Narasimha avatar of Vishnu.
Hiranyakashipu literally translates to "clothed in gold" (hiranya "gold" kashipu "soft cushion"), and is often interpreted as depicting one who is fond of wealth and sensual comforts. 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.
Jaya-Vijaya
According to a story from Bhagavata Purana, Hiranyakashipu and Hiranyaksha are Vishnu's gatekeepers Jaya and Vijaya, born on earth as the result of a curse from the Four Kumaras. In the Satya Yuga, Hiranyakashipu and Hiranyaksha - together called the Hiranyas - were born to Diti (a daughter of Daksha ) and the sage Kashyapa. It is said that asuras were born to them as a result of their union at the time of dusk, which was said to be an inauspicious time for such a deed.
After Hiranyakashipu's younger brother Hiranyaksha's death at the hands of the Varaha avatar of Vishnu, Hiranyakashipu comes to hate Vishnu. He decides to kill him by gaining a boon of invulnerability from Brahma.
This initially seemed to work as planned, with Brahma becoming pleased by Hiranyakashipu's austerities. Brahma appears before Hiranyakashipu and offers him a boon of his choice. But when Hiranyakashipu asks for immortality, Brahma refuses. Hiranyakashipu then makes the following request:
O my lord, O best of the givers of benediction, if you will kindly grant me the benediction I desire, please let me not meet death from any of the living entities created by you.
Grant me that I not die within any residence or outside any residence, during the daytime or at night, nor on the ground or in the sky.
Official source
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