Narasimha

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'Yoga-Narasimha' form at a temple in Vijayanagara, Hampi, India

Narasiṃha ("man-lion") (also known as Narasingh, Narasinga) (नरसिंह in Devanagari) is desribed as the fourth incarnation (Avatara) of Lord Vishnu within the Vedic/Puranic texts of Hinduism. He is worshipped in deity form by a significant number of Vaishnava groups throughout India (especially in the South) and is primariliy known as the 'Great Protector', being a form of Vishnu who specifically defends and protects his devotees in times of need.

1 Scriptural background
2 Mood of worship
3 Symbolism
4 Significance
5 Places of pilgrimage
6 Temples dedicated to Narasimha
7 See also
8 External links

[edit] Scriptural background

An ancient carving of Narasimha with Hiranyakashipu on his lap

The most famous story regarding Narashima is described in the Bhagavata Purana :

In his previous avatar (incarnation) of (Varaha), Vishnu killed a rakshasa known as Hiranyaksha. Hiranyaksha's brother Hiranyakashipu, greatly angered by this, started to abhor Lord Vishnu and His followers. Further, he decides to put an end to Vishnu by gaining mystical powers through performance of a great penance for Brahma, the chief among the demigods (devas). Brahma, pleased with his austere penance, then appeared before Hiranyakashipu and granted him a boon. Hiranyakashipu asked for the following:

That he would not die on Earth or in Space, nor in fire or water, neither during the day or at night, neither inside a building nor outside, not by a weapon of holding (i.e a sword) or throwing (i.e an arrow), nor by anyone created by Brahma.

Thus being granted this boon, Hiranyakashipu then believed himself to be immortal and decided it was now time to avenge the death of his brother Hiranyaksha.

Meanwhile, while Hiranyakashipu had been performing his penance, the divine sage (rishi) called Narada protected Hiranyakashipu's wife after her home had been overtaken by a war party. While under the guidance of Narada, her unborn child (Hiranyakashipu's son) Prahlada, was affected by his transcendental instructions even at such a young stage of development (through the sound vibrations). Thus, Prahlada when born was gradually recognised as being a very devoted follower of Vishnu, much to his father's disappointment.

As Prahlada grows in age, his father Hiranyakashipu becomes upset at his devotion to Vishnu, who he sees as his mortal enemy. Eventually his anger leads him to attempt to kill the boy Prahlada in many ways, but each time Prahlada is protected by Vishnu's mystical power. When asked, Prahlada refuses to acknowledge his father as the supreme lord of the universe and claims that Vishnu is omnipresent.

Finally in disgust Hiranyakashipu points to a particular pillar and asks if his Vishnu is in it? Prahlada answers, He was, He is and He will be. In an alternate version of the story, Prahlada answers He is in pillars, and he is in the least twig. Hiranyakashipu, unable to control his anger, smashes the pillar with his mace, and then following a tumultuous sound, Vishnu in the form of Narasimha appears from it and in defence of Prahlada moves to attack his father. In order to kill Hiranyakashipu and not upset the boon given by Brahma, the form of Narasimha was chosen. Hiranyakashipu could not be killed by human, deva or animal, Narasimha is neither one of these, as he is a form of Vishnu incarnate as a part-human, part-animal. He comes upon Hiranyakashipu at twilight (when it is neither day nor night) on the threshold of a courtyard (neither indoors nor out), and puts the demon on his lap (neither earth nor space). Using his nails (neither animate nor inanimate) as weapons, he disembowels and kills the demon.

Even after killing Hiranyakashipu, Narasimha cannot control his fury. None of the present demigods were able to calm Narasimha's fury, not even Shiva. So all the gods and goddesses called His consort, Goddess Laxmi. She knew that the way to calm him down, was with great devotion. Thus, at the request of Laxmi, Prahlada was presented to Narasimha, and finally, he was calmed by the prayers of his devotee. He is invoked by His devotees in danger and there are testimonies of people who were saved by Him. There is one story in which He saved Adi Sankara from being sacrificed to goddess Kali by a Kapalika. Thus Adi Sankara composed Laksmi-Nrsimha stotra.

[edit] Mood of worship

Narasimha deity being offered a flower (puja) during a flood in Mayapur.

Due to the nature of Narasimha's form (divine anger), it is considered essential that worship is given with a very high level of attention compared to other deities. In many temples only life-long celebates (brahmacarya) will be able to have the chance to serve as priests to perform the daily puja. Forms where Narasimha appears sitting in a yogic posture, or with the goddess Lakshmi are the exception to this rule, as Narasimha is taken as being more relaxed in both of these instances compared to his form when first emerging from the pillar to protect Prahlada.

[edit] Symbolism

Narasimha indicates God's omnipresence and the lesson is that God is everywhere. For more information, see Vaishnava Theology.
Prahlada's devotion indicates that pure devotion is not one of birthright but of character. Prahlada, although born an asura, demonstrated greatest bhakti to God.

[edit] Significance

Killing Hiranykashyapu by incarnating as Narasihma is one of Vishnu's major exploits. In Indian tradition of festivity this episode is related with Holi, India's one of four most important festivals and hence the legend has a nation-wide popularity. In South Indian art - sculptures, bronzes and paintings, Vishnu's incarnation as Narsimha is one of the most chosen themes and amongst Avatars perhaps next only to Rama and Krishna in popularity.

[edit] Places of pilgrimage

The main places of pilgrimage associated with Sri Narasimha are those places where the events described above are reputed to have taken place. These are:

Ahobilam
Antarvedhi
Kadiri
Simhachalam
Yadagirigutta
Mangalagiri
Hemachalam, (Mallooru), Warangal
Namakkal
Melkote
Devarayana Durga
Savana Durga
Chintalvadi
Ghatikachala (Known today as Sholingur, derived from Chola singa oor)
Saligrama, Udupi Dist.

The first seven are located in the present-day state of Andhra Pradesh in India. Namakkal, Ghatikachala and Chintalvadi are located in the state of Tamil Nadu and Devarayana Durga, Savana Durga, Melukote, Saligrama are in Karnataka.

[edit] Temples dedicated to Narasimha

Shri Yogananda Narasimha Swamy, Vedadri, near to Vijayawada
Shri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy, Antarvedi, West Godavari District, AP
Shri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy, Mallooru, Warangal District (~70KM from Bhadrachalam), AP
Shri Lord Lakshmi-Narasimha Swamy temple, Korukonda, near to Rajahmundry
Shri Narasimha temple, Malakonda, Prakasham District, AP
Shri Prasanna Narasimha Swamy temple, Singarakonda, Prakasham district, AP
Shri Narasimha Swamy Temple, Khammam, Khammam District, AP. The etymology of Khammam is said to be derived from the deity of the temple.
Shri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple Sholinghur, Tamil Nadu. More information on Sholinghur temple .
Shri Yoga Narasimha, situated on a hilltop fortress at Melkote, Mysore District, Karnataka (Kannada for Mele- Top, Kote- Fort). The Fort, situated on a near vertical hill is a strategic area, overlooking the plains, giving the controllers a vantage point. Melkote is also the site of the famous Cheluvanarayana Temple and the Annual Vairamudi festival, where the deity is adorned with a crown of dazzling uncut diamonds.
At Ahobalam, mythologically known as the birth place of Lord Narasimha, there exist Navanarsimha (nine Narasimhas). This is also a deity at the village of Saligrama near Hassan in Karnataka:
1. Ugra Narasimha
2. Krodha Narasimha
3. Malola Narasimha
4. Jwala Narasimha
5. Varaha Narasimha
6. Bhargava Narasimha
7. Karanja Narasimha
8. Yoga Narasimha
9. Chhatravata Narasimha/Pavana Narasimha/Pamuleti Narasimha