When Hiranyaksha, the brother of Hiranyakashipu, was vanquished and slayed by Varaha (a Vishnu-avatara), it was with great determination and vengeance that Hiranyakashipu took to penance. The painting that you see on this page captures the great Daitya king at the ultimate stage of his austerities, at which point in time Lord Brahma appears before him.
Interestingly, the boon of Brahma that empowered the daitya King Hiranyakashipu is what facilitated His end. It was Hiranyakashipu himself who asked to be subject to death neither inside nor outside his house, neither by man nor beast, neither upon day nor night. Floating about the heavens on the back of His pristine vahana, the hamsa, Brahma was pleased enough to give what was asked of Him.
For years had Hiranyakashipu wedged himself in the thorns of the wilderness and caged himself amidst rock-hard mountains. The austere central figure is surrounded by soothing, susurrous streams and verdure aplenty, but such was the prolonged penance of the King that he had deprived himself of its pleasure and bounty. As such, this watercolour captures the moment of Hiranyakashipu’s spiritual triumph.
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