The child, Prahlada, was a very faithful devotee to the Lord Vishnu. The child's father, Hiranyakashipu, was a very cruel man who demanded that his son worship him instead of the Lord Vishnu. Hiranyakashipu decided to kill his young son by throwing him in a pot of boiling water. The child showed no fear, and proudly proclaimed that he loves and honors Lord Vishnu, and that Lord Vishnu is everywhere and sees everything. Hiranyakashipu said to his son, "If your God is everywhere, is he in this stone pillar? Will he come and save you from your death?" At that moment, Lord Nrisimha, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu that is half-man and half-lion, burst out of the pillar and ripped Hiranyakashipu apart, saving the young, saintly child from his wicked father.