Hiranyakashyap got a blessing from Lord Vishnu that he would not be killed by man or animal, at day or night, inside or outside, above or on the ground.
Hiranyakashyap said that only he should be worshipped, not God. His own son, Prahlad continued to worship Lord Vishnu. This made his father angry.
Hiranyakashyap asked his sister, Holika, to put Prahlad on her lap, while they both sat in a fire.
Holika made Prahlad sit on her lap. She was protected by a shawl that kept her from being burnt. The shawl flew from her to Prahlad. So, Holika burned, while Prahlad was safe.
Lord Vishnu appeared as half-man, half-lion and killed Hiranyakashyap at night, on his porch steps.
