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{{Hdeity infobox| <!--Wikipedia:WikiProject Hindu mythology-->
{{Hdeity infobox| <!--Wikipedia:WikiProject Hindu mythology-->
Image = Ugranarasimha_statue_at_Hampi.JPG
Image = Sri_Kadiri_Narasimha.jpg
| Caption = Incarnation of Vishnu as "man-lion."<br/>Above is ''Yoga Narasimha'' form at a temple in [[Vijayanagara]], Hampi, [[India]]
| Caption = Incarnation of Vishnu as "man-lion."<br/>Above is ''Yoga Narasimha'' form at a temple in [[Vijayanagara]], Hampi, [[India]]
| Name = Narasimha
| Name = Narasimha

Revision as of 02:22, 4 March 2008

Narasimha
Devanagariनरसिंह

Narasiṃha ("man-lion") (also spelt as Narasingh, Narasinga) (नरसिंह in Devanagari) is described as an incarnation (avatara) of Vishnu within the Puranic texts of Hinduism [1] who takes the form of half-man / half-lion, having a human torso and lower body, but with a lion-like face and claws.[2] He is worshipped in deity form by a significant number of Vaishnava groups throughout India (especially in the South) and is primarily known as the 'Great Protector', being a form of Vishnu who specifically defends and protects his devotees in times of need. [3]

Scriptural background

References to Narasimha are found in a wide variety of the Puranic scriptures, with seventeen versions of the main narrative[4], some in more detail than others. The Bhagavata Purana (Canto 7), Agni Purana (4.2-3), Brahmanda Purana (2.5.3-29), Vayu Purana (67.61-66), Harivamsa (41 & 3.41-47), Brahma Purana (213.44-79), Vishnudharmottara Purana (1.54), Kurma Purana (1.15.18-72), Matsya Purana (161-163), Padma Purana (Uttara-khanda 5.42), Shiva Purana (2.5.43 & 3.10-12), Linga Purana (1.95-96), Skanda Purana 7 (2.18.60-130) and Vishnu Purana (1.16-20) all contain depictions of the Narasimha pastime. There is also a short reference in the Mahabharata (3.272.56-60) and an Upanishad (Narasimha tapani Upanisad) named in reference to him.

Narasimha and Prahlada

Narasimha kills Hiranyakashipu, as Prahlada and his mother bow before Lord Narasimha

The story of Narasimha as described in the Bhagavata Purana is as follows:

In his previous avatar 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. To which end he decides to attempt to kill Vishnu by gaining mystical powers, which he believes Brahma, the chief among the devas will award to him if he undergoes many years of great austerity and penance. This initially seems to work as planned with Brahma becoming pleased by Hiranyakashipu's austerities.[5] Brahma thus appears before Hiranyakashipu and offers him a boon that he will personally make true anything he wishes for. In reply to which Hiranyakashipu requests the following:

O my lord, O best of the givers of benediction, if you will kindly grant me the benediction I desire, please let me not meet death from any of the living entities created by you.

Grant me that I not die within any residence or outside any residence, during the daytime or at night, nor on the ground or in the sky. Grant me that my death not be brought about by any weapon, nor by any human being or animal.

Grant me that I not meet death from any entity, living or nonliving. Grant me, further, that I not be killed by any demigod or demon or by any great snake from the lower planets. Since no one can kill you in the battlefield, you have no competitor. Therefore, grant me the benediction that I too may have no rival. Give me sole lordship over all the living entities and presiding deities, and give me all the glories obtained by that position. Furthermore, give me all the mystic powers attained by long austerities and the practice of yoga, for these cannot be lost at any time.[6]

One day whilst Hiranyakashipu was performing austerities at Mandaracala Mountain, his home was attacked by Indra and the other devas[7], seizing the opportunity in his absence. At this point the divine sage, Narada intervened in order to protect Hiranyakashipu's wife, Kayadu, who he describes as 'sinless'. [8] Following this event Narada takes Kayadu into his care and while under the guidance of Narada, her unborn child (Hiranyakashipu's son) Prahlada, became affected by the transcendental instructions of the sage even at such a young stage of development. Thus, Prahlada when later growing as a child began to show symptoms of this earlier training by Narada, gradually becoming recognised as a devoted follower of Vishnu, much to his father's disappointment.[9]

An ancient carving of Narasimha with Hiranyakashipu on his lap

Hiranyakashipu eventually becomes so angry and upset at his son's devotion to Vishnu (who he sees as his mortal enemy) that he decides he must kill him[10] but each time he attempts to kill the boy, 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 all-pervading and omnipresent. To which Hiranyakashipu points to a nearby pillar and asks if 'his Vishnu' is in it:

"O most unfortunate Prahlada, you have always described a supreme being other than me, a supreme being who is above everything, who is the controller of everyone, and who is all-pervading. But where is He? If He is everywhere, then why is He not present before me in this pillar?"[11]

Prahlada then 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 thighs (neither earth nor space). Using his sharp nails (neither animate nor inanimate) as weapons, he disembowels and kills the demon.[12]

Even after killing Hiranyakashipu none of the present demigods were able to calm Narasimha's fury, not even Shiva. So all the gods and goddesses called His consort, the goddess Lakshmi, but she was also unable to do so. Then, at the request of Brahma, Prahlada was presented to Narasimha, and finally, he was calmed by the prayers of his devotee.[13]

Based on this story it is believed by followers that Narasimha protects his sincere devotees when they are in cases of extreme danger and there are testimonies of people who were saved by Him to this effect. 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.[14]

Mode 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 celibates (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.

Prayers

A number of prayers have been written in dedication to Narasimha avatar. These include:

The Nirsimha Maha-Mantra

Om Ugram, Viram, Maha-Vishnu,
Jwalantam, Sarvato Mukam,
Nirshimham, Bhishanam, Bhadram,
Mrityor-Mrityur namam yaham.

"O' Angry and brave Maha-Vishnu, your heat and fire permeate everywhere. O'Lord Nirshimha, your faces are everywhere. You are the Death of death and I surrender to You."

ito nrsimhah parato nrsimho,
yato yato yami tato nrsimhah,
bahir nrsimho hrdaye nrsimho,
nrsimham adim saranam prapadye

"Lord Nrsimha is here and also there. Wherever I go Lord Nrsimha is there. He is in the heart and is outside as well. I surrender to Lord Nrsimha, the origin of all things and the supreme refuge." (Narasimha Pranama)[15]

tava kara-kamala-vare nakham adbhuta-srngam,
dalita-hiranyakasipu-tanu-bhrngam,
kesava dhrta-narahari-rupa jaya jagadisa hare

"O Kesava! O Lord of the universe! O Lord Hari, who have assumed the form of half-man, half-lion! All glories to You! Just as one can easily crush a wasp between one's fingernails, so in the same way the body of the wasplike demon Hiranyakasipu has been ripped apart by the wonderful pointed nails on Your beautiful lotus hands." (from the Dasavatara-stotra composed by Jayadeva)[16]

Tvayi Rakshathi Rakshakai: Kim Anyai:,
Tvayi Cha Arakshati Rakshakai: Kim Anyai:,
Ithi Nischita Dhee: Srayaami Nityam,
Nruhareh: Vegavathee Tataasrayam Tvam!

"O kamasikha Narasimha! you are sarva sakthan. When You are resolved to protect some one, where is the need to seek the protection of anyone else? When You are resolved not to protect some one, which other person is capable of protecting us?. There is no one. Knowing this fundamental truth, I have resolved to offer my saranagati at your lotus feet alone that rest at the banks of Vegavathi river." (Kamasika Ashtakam by Vedanta Desika)

Aadi Aadi Agam Karandhu,
Isai Paadi Paadi Kanner Malgi,
Engum Naadi Naadi Narasinga Endru,
Vaadi Vaadum Il Vaazh Noothale!

"I will Dance and melt for you within my heart to see you, I will sing in praise of you with tears in joy, I will Search for Narasimha and I am a householder who still Searches to reach you(to attain Salvation)." (Divya Prabandha)

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.

Significance

Killing Hiranykashyapu by incarnating as Narasimha is one of Vishnu's major exploits. In Indian tradition of festivity this episode is related with Holi[17], 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.

Holi

One of Hiranyakashipu's attempts to kill Prahlada was to have him sit on a burning pyre with his sister Holika. Holika had a special gift that prevented her from being harmed by fire. Prahlada chanted Vishnu's name and in the battle of good against evil, Holika was burnt down but nothing happened to Prahlad. The burning of Holika is celebrated as Holi festival in Hinduism[18].

Places of pilgrimage

Narasimha deity in Bhaktapur Darbar, Nepal

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:

  1. Ahobilam, Kurnool district, Andhra Pradesh
  2. Antarvedi, Narsapur, Andhra Pradesh
  3. Chintalvadi
  4. Devarayana Durga
  5. Ghatikachala (Known today as Sholingur, derived from Chola singa oor)
  6. Hemachalam, (Mallooru), Warangal, Andhra Pradesh
  7. Kadiri, Ananthapur District, Andhra Pradesh
  8. Mangalagiri, Near Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh
  9. Melkote
  10. Multan, Pakistan
  11. Namakkal
  12. Narasimha Konda, Nellore, Andhra Pradesh
  13. Narsinghpur, Madhya Pradesh
  14. Simhachalam, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh
  15. Savana Durga
  16. Saligrama, Udupi Dist.
  17. Yadagirigutta, Near Bhongir, Andhra Pradesh
  18. Gudha , Rajasthan
  19. Kole Narasimha Pur Islampur Dist, sangli Maharashtra
  20. Parikkal, Tamil Nadu

The first eight 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.

Temples dedicated to Narasimha

File:100 0251 det1.jpg
Narasimha claws Hiranyakasipu at Banteay Srei in Cambodia.
  • Ahobilam or Ahobalam is a major center of pilgrimage in south India, located in the Nandyal Taluka of Kurnool district in Andhra Pradesh, India. According to the legend, this is where Lord Narasimha blessed Prahlada and killed the demon Hiranyakashipa. It is an important place of worship for Vaishnavas and is one of the 108 Divya Desams.
There are nine main Narasimha deities, collectively known as Navanarasimha:
  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
There is also a further deity at the village of Saligrama near Hassan in Karnataka.
  • Yoga Narasimha Swamy, in Dharmapuri, Karimnagar District, Andhra Pradesh. It is said that at Dharmapuri, Narasimha Deva meditated in Yogamudra, after his Ugrarupa.
  • Kadiri Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple in Kadiri, Anantapur Dist, Andhra Pradesh. [1]
  • Parthasarathy Kovil Azhagiya Singar at Tiruvellikeni, Chennai.
  • Sri Padmanabhaswamy temple - Lord NarasimhaMurthy is one of the Main Deity in the Temple.
  • Sri 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.
  • Shri Yogananda Narasimha Swamy, Vedadri, near to Vijayawada
  • Shri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy, Antarvedi, West Godavari District, AP
  • Shri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy, Yadagiri Gutta, Nalgonda 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 Narasimha temple, Parikkal, Tamil Nadu
  • Shri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple Sholinghur, Tamil Nadu. More information on Sholinghur temple.
  • Narsinghji Temple at Gudha , Rajasthan
  • Sri Yoganarasimha devalaya, Mysore-Karnataka
  • Sri Yoga Narasimha Kovil at Chintalavadi, Tamil Nadu
  • Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy,Malleswaram, Bangalore. [2]
  • Sri Laxmi Narasimha Temple, 1420, Sadshiv Peth. Pune, India
  • Sri Kaattu Azhagiya Singar, Srirangam, Tiruchirapalli

See also

Footnotes

  1. ^ Bhag-P 1.3.18 "In the fourteenth incarnation, the Lord appeared as Nrisimha and bifurcated the strong body of the atheist Hiranyakasipu with His nails, just as a carpenter pierces cane."
  2. ^ Bhag-P 7.8.19-22
  3. ^ Steven J. Rosen, Narasimha Avatar, The Half-Man/Half-Lion Incarnation, p5
  4. ^ Steven J. Rosen, Narasimha Avatar, The Half-Man/Half-Lion Incarnation, p1
  5. ^ Bhag-P 7.4.1 "Lord Brahma was very much satisfied by Hiranyakasipu's austerities, which were difficult to perform"
  6. ^ Bhag-P, Canto 7 7.3.35-38
  7. ^ Bhag-P 7.7.6 "The victorious demigods plundered the palace of Hiranyakasipu, the King of the demons, and destroyed everything within it. Then Indra, King of heaven, arrested my mother, the Queen"
  8. ^ Bhag-P 7.7.8 "Narada Muni said: O Indra, King of the demigods, this woman is certainly sinless. You should not drag her off in this merciless way. O greatly fortunate one, this chaste woman is the wife of another. You must immediately release her."
  9. ^ Bhag-P 7.8.6
  10. ^ Bhag-P 7.8.3-4 "Thus he finally decided to kill his son Prahlada. Hiranyakasipu was by nature very cruel, and feeling insulted, he began hissing like a snake trampled upon by someone's foot."
  11. ^ Bhag-P 7.8.12
  12. ^ Bhag-P 7.8.29 "Lord Nrisimhadeva placed the demon on His lap, supporting him with His thighs, and in the doorway of the assembly hall the Lord very easily tore the demon to pieces with the nails of His hand."
  13. ^ Bhag-P 7.9
  14. ^ Sri Nakshmi Nrsimha Karavalamba stotra, by Adi Sankara Bhagawat Pada
  15. ^ Steven J. Rosen, Narasimha Avatar, The Half-Man/Half-Lion Incarnation
  16. ^ Steven J. Rosen, Narasimha Avatar, The Half-Man/Half-Lion Incarnation
  17. ^ indiasite.com "ancient lore trace the roots of this festival to the story of Prahlad"
  18. ^ indiasite.com "ancient lore trace the roots of this festival to the story of Prahlad"
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