Holika
Hindu demon
Also known as: Holi
Quick Summary
Holika was the sister of Hiranyakashipu, a demon king who demanded that everyone worship him. His son, Prahlada, was a devoted worshipper of the god Vishnu. Angered by his son's devotion to Vishnu, Hiranyakashipu enlisted Holika to burn Prahlada alive on a pyre. Holika, who was immune to fire, sat on the pyre with Prahlada, but her protective cloak transferred to Prahlada, and she burned instead. This event is commemorated during the Hindu festival of Holi with bonfires, symbolizing the triumph of good over evil.123
Summary created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
3 Britannica Sources
Ask Britannica AI about this topic
Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.
