Holika Dahana – burning of Holika, the demoness (होलिकादहन), is associated with Nrisimha Avatara (नृसिंह अवतार). The story is that the Demon King Hiranya Kashipu (हिरण्यकशिपु) had a son named Prahlada (प्रह्लाद), who was a devotee of Lord Vishnu. The father tried to dissuade him, but failed. Once he called Holika (होलिका), a relative, who got a boon that she will not be burnt by fire, and told her to jump into fire with Prahlada in her lap. This way, Prahlada would get killed. But Prahlada prayed to Lord Vishnu and due to His blessings, Holika got killed in the fire, while Prahlada escaped unhurt. That day is celebrated by burning the effigy of Holika.
In the changing social scenario, some ignorant people equate it with burning of women and brand it as a cruel act. But the story is not real and depicts great science in a popular language for easy comprehension of laymen. Since it is related to Avatara (अवतार), it is necessary to know the science of Avatara also.
अवतार विज्ञान The Science of Avatara
Transformation (परिणाम) can be of two types: evolution (विवर्त्त) and incarnation (अवतार). When something changes while retaining its own essential features and form, it is called evolution (विवर्त्त). When the transformation involves only a part and not the whole, and it is for a specific purpose, it is called incarnation – Avatara (अवतार). The word Avatara literally means “coming down (अव) as savior (तारक)”. When a cosmic catastrophe occurs (धर्मविप्लव – यदा यदा हि धर्मस्य ग्लानिर्भवति), the Omnipresent Universal Controller intervenes (तदात्मानं सृजाम्यहम्) in that part (this is His coming down – paying special attention to a limited part) to bring order (परित्राणाय साधूनां विनाशाय च दुष्कृताम्। धर्मसंस्थापनार्थाय).
The first such intervention was after the creation began from a singularity, where everything was in equilibrium – hence not perceptible (अनिर्वचनीय). There are different types of Avataras. The most famous is the Dashavatara (दशावतार) – the ten incarnations, which is related to the evolution of the universe, and which occur (with one exception), after about every 432000 years. The time frame of the evolution is divided into two parts: 5 formative evolution (उत्सर्पिणी) and 5 non-formative and destructive evolution (अवसर्पिणी). Nrisimha Avatara (नृसिंह अवतार) took place during the first half as the 4th Avatara.
The universe is called Jagat (जगत्) because everything in it is ever moving (गच्छतीति जगत्). The motion is of two types: wave motion (तिरश्चीनो विततो रश्मिरेषा) like the motion of a person drunk with wine (सुरा) – moving straight, but in a wavy motion, and those who move in a highly tortuous path going round and round (पर्व). The first are perceptible because they radiate out (दिवति भासति इति देवम्). Hence they are called Suraah (सुराः). The others do not radiate, but become more massive due to their nature of confinement in layers. Hence they are called Asuraah (असुराः). The protons are Suraah and neutrons are Asuraah. In the macro universe, Jupiters (अर्वाग्वसु वै देवानां ब्रह्मा) and black holes (पराङ्वसु असुराणाम्) are their equivalent. The continuous conversion of protons into neutrons and vice versa is called fight between them (देवासुर संग्राम).
- मत्स्य अवतार The universe is known to be inside a Cosmic Microwave Background (अपांमयपुरुषः), whose temperature has been measured to be about 1% of the absolute temperature or 2.725 Kelvin. This is very very cold and is called Apomaya Parameshthi (आपोमय परमेष्ठी प्रजापतिः). The first Matshya Avatara (मत्स्य अवतार) was related to the first development of forms in the universe after the initial expansion came to a halt due to friction generated by the background to create a bow-shock effect (seen when a boat is pushed into still water). This led to back reconnection that created a chain reaction (माद्यतीति मत्स्य – मदँ॒ तृप्तियो॒गे + स्यन्).
Read the detailed science of मत्स्य अवतार here. - कूर्मः अवतार Since the radiation has a wavy motion like a person drinking wine (कश्य – मद्य), it is called Kashyapa (कश्यप). Since everything was created out of such radiation (कश्यपानात्), everything is called a derivative of Kaashyapa (सर्वाः प्रजाः काश्यप). When it slowed down (स यत् कूर्मोनाम एतत् वा रूपं कृत्वा प्रजापतिः प्रजाः असृजताकरोत्), it led to formation of giant nebulae (यदकरेद् तस्मात् कूर्मः). These nebulae were formed out of primordial radiation (कश्यपो वै कूर्मः). These nebulae have the shape of a tortoise – with a flat underbelly with a semi-spherical disc both ways. From these nebulae, everything starting with galaxies were formed (यत्ते शिल्प कश्यपरोचनावत्). They do not move or spread out (स महामेरुं न जहाति). Thus, the second Kurma Avatara (कूर्मः अवतार) is related to formation of the background material on which the churning (समुद्रमन्थन) started to create everything.
Read the detailed science of कूर्मः अवतार here. - वराह अवतार The third Avatara is called Varaaha (वराह अवतार). After the initial radiation (मरीचि) cooled down (अग्नेरापः), it started condensing (अपांशरः). Space is not still, but has motion in it due to energy, which moves objects around (वायुर्वै तत्सुत्रम्). This has led some scientists to speculate string theory. This energy condensed the primordial radiation (अग्निसोम) to consolidate and form structures (पिण्डनिर्माण). The process that used energy leading to formation of quarks is called Varaaha for this reason, which literally means that which spread out into one structure (वृणँ प्रीण॑ने। अहँ व्या॑प्तौ। वृणुते इति वरः। अह्नोतीति अहः। वरश्चासौ अह्नश्चेति वराहः). Detailed mechanism of these Avataras are not being discussed.
- नृसिंह अवतार The fourth Nrisimha Avatara (नृसिंह अवतार) is related to formation of protons and neutrons. One basic principle enunciated by the Vedas is that we cannot describe massive objects completely (अनवर्णे इमे भूमी). This is because we “see” massive objects when their radiation reaches our eyes. Except or without the radiation, we cannot see the object. But when we touch it, we cut out the radiation and touch the body that emits radiation. Thus, what we see (the radiation) is not what we touch (mass). Either way, we cannot define the object properly.
Initially, the radiating galaxies and their central black holes were created. We could not see the black hole, which provided mass to the structure. We could only see the galaxies, which are shining very brightly, making it difficult to observe (दुर्निरीक्षाय ते नमः). The central black hole sitting on the lap of the galaxy is called Hiranya Kashipu because it tried to controll the outward motion of the radiation of the galaxy by its pressure of collapsing inwards (हर्यँ गतिका॒न्त्योः + कन्यन् = हिरण्यम्, कशँ॒ गतिशास॒नयोः॑। स तु कश्यपस्य दित्यां पत्न्यां जातः। तस्य भार्या कयाधुः। को वायुः। स एव आवृतेन धृता।). However, the galaxy churned its inside out (macro equivalent of proton-nuclear conversion) to shine brightly (नमो नृसिंहरूपाय दैत्योरःस्थल दारिणे। कोटिसूर्य प्रभायास्मै दुर्निरीक्षाय ते नमः।). The Avatara is called Nrisimha because of its tendency of getting the desired effect through churning inside out (नॄ न॒ये + हिसिँ हिं॒साया॑म्).
In this process, extensions of the radiating arms came out, which are called its off-spring (सन्तान), because it is similar to the mother structure (अवयव-अवयवी प्रवाह). When such arms are symmetrical like in spiral galaxies, it looks very pleasant. Milky Way galaxy has four such arms. These are called Samhrada, Anuhlada, Hlada and Prahlada (संह्रादः, अनुह्लादः, ह्लादः, प्रह्लादः) respectively. Of these, the interior one is called Prahlada. Since it is nearer to the central black hole, there is exchange of force between it and the magnetic field of the black hole. The magnetic field is called Hola (होला) or Holika (होलिका) because it changes polarity from time to time (हु॒ दानाद॒नयोः॑). Since the interior arm survives the interaction with the black hole through the magnetic field (अर्द्धपक्वेः च होलकः), it is described as Prahlada getting unburnt by Hola, who herself gets damaged. Since this process is repeating everywhere from the universe to a pole (आब्रह्मस्तम्भपर्यन्त), it is said that Nrisimha appeared from a pillar (स्तम्भ). Since there is no concept of day or night there, it is said that the time was evening, which is neither day nor night.
There are eight gluons. These are called Vasu in our scriptures (अग्निश्च जातवेदाश्च। सहोजा अजिराप्रभुः। वैश्वानरो नर्यापाश्च। पङ्क्तिराधाश्च सप्तमः। विसर्पेऽवाष्टमोऽग्निनाम्। एतेऽष्टौ वसवः क्षिता इति). The quarks are confined by these eight gluons in eight different ways. These are called सम्पात, विप्रपात, महापात, निपातन, बक्र, तीर्यक्, ऊर्द्ध्व, लघु. Since these are the characteristics of Anushtup (अनुष्टुप्), it is said to represent Nrisimha.
Why is Holikadahana celebrated one day before Full Moon Day?
The last question is why Holikadahana is celebrated one day before Full Moon Day of Chaitra or the advent of spring. Ritu is important for procreation. It is also related to fertility cycle. Spring is the best period for fertility. It is marked by a change over from cold to warm season. It is also marked by the large varieties of flowers and leaves that spring up to life. People contact cold during this change over period. Hence, the previous night, people gather around fire to give up the last vestige of cold. The next day, then apply the dried and powdered leaves and flowers to their body and take a thorough bath, which cleanses the bodies. This natural principle is enforced by making it ritualistic.