Hiranyakashipu

In Hindu mythology, Hiranyakashipu
is a demon king who is killed by the
god Vishnu, in his avatar or incarnation as a Man-Lion. As a result of his
harsh physical asceticism, Hiranyakashipu
gains a series of divine powers, which
render him virtually invulnerable:
notable of these powers is that he
cannot be killed by man or beast, by
day or by night, and neither inside
nor outdoors.
Protected by these powers,
Hiranyakashipu first conquers the
entire earth and then drives the gods
from heaven, growing prouder and
more oppressive as his power increases. He particularly oppresses his son
Prahlada, who despite his father’s
power remains a sincere devotee
(bhakta) of Vishnu. Incensed at the
thought that someone refuses to worship him, Hiranyakashipu finally gives
Prahlada the ultimatum to worship
him or die.
Prahlada calls on Vishnu for help,
and Vishnu appears in the form of a
Man-Lion—a man from the torso down,
with the head and shoulders of a lion—
which is neither man nor beast. The
Man-Lion seizes Hiranyakashipu in the
palace doorway, which is neither
inside nor out, at twilight, which is neither day nor night, and uses his sharp
claws to tear out the demon’s entrails,
killing him. The story of Hiranyakashipu
is meant to illustrate the danger of
pride, and the mythic reality that no
power, however powerful, can keep
one from the consequences of one’s
evil deeds.