Tension between spiritualism and materialism in Bala Krishna Sama’s Prahlad

Abstract

Bal Krishna Sama’s Prahlad is the conflict of spiritual existence over the material supremacy in the contemporary time. In the context, the western world reflects materiality because they are guided by science and technology and Eastern culture is God centered which reflects spirituality. Prahlad brings in the debate of Eastern values and ethics and its way of living to that of the Western. The West is fast derailing from the values and ethics and, instead are depended on material supremacy. Prahlad is a character who denies the material lust over the spiritual path of devotion of God. He despite his father Hiranya Kashyapu’s lure and threat does not adhere to way beyond belief of lord Bishnu, the Hindu deity. His faith is so strong that he denies all sorts of material and worldly pleasure to devotion of God. Prahlad is threatened and punished through several means to quit the path of devotion but he continues to his stern faith because he knows the ultimate truth is the almighty and nothing else. It is this belief that persists even today in the Eastern world i.e. spiritualism which, however is being fast declining in the Western world. The essence of this work lies on materiality versus spirituality in Prahlad in the reference to the Eastern and Western lifestyles.