Among the demons Hiranyakasipu was a great chief of all the demons in the entire universe. To avenge the death of his brother Hiranyaksha he undertook severe austerity measures in order to obtain a boon from Brahma to escape death.

When Brahma appeared before him and enquired the reason for his intense tapas, he asked him, “If you will confer on me, my desired blessings, O’ chief among the bestower of all boons, let not my death occur at the hands of living beings created by you. O’ Lord, let there be no death to me indoors or outdoors, by day or by night, from anyone or even through weapons, neither on earth nor in the air, by men or animals; nor should I meet my death at the hands of animate or inanimate beings, gods, demons or serpents.”

Brahma was duly pleased with his faith and pleadings and granted his wish. Hiranyakasipu though that he was very wise in getting such a boon from the creator himself, on account of which he would not die under any circumstances.

But that was not to be.

Little did he realise that his own son would prove to be the cause of his death in the future. Prahalad, his own son, refused to accept that his father was the Lord of all creations in the universe.

He tried his best to enlighten his father to take refuge in God, but to no avail.

His father, out of sheer ego, became furious and tried to eliminate his son by all the possible means imaginable. — Hindu festivals, fairs and fasts