Hiranyakashipu

Hiranyakashipu
18th century painting depicting Hiranyakashipu seated on a throne, trying to kill his son, Prahlada (left).
AffiliationAsura, Daitya
WeaponMace
Genealogy
Parents
SiblingsHiranyaksha (younger brother), Holika (younger sister)
ConsortSumukhi and Kayadhu/Kamala
Children
  • Son:Prahlada, Saṃhrāda, Anuhlada, Hlada, Shibi, and Bashkala from Kayadhu
  • Daughters: Divyadevi and Paulami (wives of sage Bhrigu) and Simhika from Kayadhu

Hiranyakashipu (Sanskrit: हिरण्यकशिपु, IAST: Hiraṇyakaśipu), also known as Hiranyakashyap, was a daitya king of the asuras in the Puranas.

In Hinduism, Hiranyakashipu's younger brother, Hiranyaksha, was slain by the Varaha (boar) avatar of Vishnu. Angered by this, Hiranyakashipu decided to gain a boon of invulnerability by performing tapas to propitiate Brahma. After his subjugation of the three worlds, he was slain by the Narasimha (man-lion) avatar of Vishnu.