Sri Narasimha Avathara - A rare form of Lord Vishnu

Ugram Veeram Maha Vishnum 

Jwalantham Sarvathomukham
Nrusimham Bheeshanam Bhadram 

Mruthyu Mruthyum Namaamyaham

"I surrender and bow to Lord Narasimha who is ferocious and heroic; who is Maha Vishnu; radiant and glowing from all sides; who is omnipresent; who is terrific; who is adorable; who bestows auspiciousness and who is the death of death personified".

Lord Vishnu has incarnated on this Earth in many forms called Avatharas. All his Avatharas had specific significance and were always meant for a particular cause or purpose. It could be for Dushta Sikshana, or for Sishta Rakshana or for protection of Dharma etc. The longevity and form of His Avatharas depends on the need of the hour and the purpose. Avatharas of Lord Vishnu are classified into Paripoorna Avathara, Amsaavathara, Aavesaavathara and Archaavathara.

Significance...

Out of several avatharas of Lord Vishnu, ten important incarnations are classified as Dasaavatharas. Among them Nrusimhaavathara has attained a rare significance. All His avatharas are generally of a single form. But Nrusimhaavathara is of a dual form, Nara + Simha. Nara means man and Lion is an animal. Narasimha means, combined form of a Lion and a Man. This was the 4th one among the Dasaavatharas and it was a Krutha Yuga Avathara said to have taken place during Chakshusa Manvanthara. It is said that reference to Lord Narasimha is found in as many as 15 puranas and a separate Purana (Upa Purana) itself has been scripted in his name called Nrusimha Purana.

It was an instant avathara called Aavesaavathara (no prior preparations were made) where, Lord Narasimha appears in a very ferocious and fascinating form. Narasimha Avathara is referred to as a very powerful, precious avathara and the Lord Narasimha is depicted as a great protector at the time of need. He is the God of Gods. He is Mrithyu for the Mrithyu, the one who eliminates the death cycles.

Vishnu Sahasra Nama Stothram describe Lord Vishnu as 'NaarasimhaVapu Sreemaan Kesavah Purushottama' meaning; He is the one who has taken a rare and unique form of a man and a lion whose worship will eradicate the ignorance; possessor of Goddess of wealth Sri Maha Lakshmi who always dwells in his chest; one who has beautiful and charming hair; the giver of knowledge to Gods; greatest among all Purushas; the Supreme Soul who is omnipotent and omniscient.

Legend behind the Avathara (story of Prahlada)

The legend behind Sri Narasimha Avathara goes back to the days of Krita Yuga when two demon brothers Hiranyaksha and Hiranyakasipa were creating lot of trouble to the mankind and devathas. The elder brother Hiranyaksha was killed by Lord Vishnu in his Varaha Avathara. In order to take a revenge on Lord Vishnu, the demon Hiranyakasipa started doing a severe penance. When Lord Brahma appeared before him as a result of the penance, Hiranyakasipa asks for a rare boon. The boon was that he (Hiranyakasipa) should not get killed by any deity or demi God or demon, by a man or a beast, should not get killed with five elements (Pancha Bhoothas), either in the day or night, either indoors or outdoors, by any kind of weapon and accordingly the boon was granted by Lord Brahma.

In the mean time Hiranyakasipa’s wife Vedavathi who was pregnant before he left for the penance delivered a male child Prahlada who went on to become an ardent devotee of Lord Sri ManNarayana for whose sake and cause the Lord had to take the Narasimha Avathara. While in Mother’s womb itself Prahlada was listening and responding to the divine stories. Seeing this sage Narada preached (upadesa) Prahlada the Narayana Ashtakshari Manthra and the child started reciting this manthra while he was in his mother’s womb itself.

As Prahlada started growing he started learning Narayana Tattva and started influencing his friends also with his preachings’ which his father Hiranyakasipa did not like. Since Prahlada was not listening to his father’s words in this context and not stopping recitation of Narayana Manthra, Hiranyakasipa made several attempts to change the mind of Prahlada and lots of restrictions were also imposed on him. But they were of no use and Prahlada was showing exemplary courage every time. In the process he had to meet with severe punishments also at the hands of his demon father Hiranyakasipa but, every time getting saved with the kind Grace of Lord Sri ManNarayana.

Hiranyakasipa was fed up with his son’s attitude and wanted to finish him once for all. In the immediate next confrontation with his son Prahlada on the issue of Lord Sri Man Narayana’s omnipresence, Hiranyakasipa emotionally asks his son Prahlada to show the Lord in a pillar in his palace by hitting it with his mace. All pervading Supreme Lord SriManNarayana in order to prove the truth in his devotee’s words instantly appears and comes out of the pillar in a rare and ferocious form Narasimha. Keeping in mind the boon Hiranyakasipa had on his death, Lord Narasimha pounces upon the demon, drags him to the threshold of the palace door, keeps him on his thighs and kills him with his finger nails (Nakha) at a time when it was Pradosha (neither day nor night) thus fulfilling the conditions of his death.

After killing the demon Hiranyakasipa, the fearful and ferocious form of Lord Narasimha did not calm down and it was roaring, creating greater scare among the devathas. To make him cool down Devathas had to request Prahlada to pray him and it is said that they had to even invoke Goddess Lakshmi also to come down to pacify him. Finally with the prayers from Prahlada and with the presence of his consort Goddess Lakshmi, Lord Narasimha got cooled down. Prahlada was crowned as the emperor of the kingdom which he ruled for several thousands of years.

Purpose of Narasimhaavathara...

The specific purpose of this avathara was for protection of his devotee Prahlada from his demon father Hiranyakasipa; to establish a point and to make true the words of his devotee the existence (omnipresent) of God everywhere. Prahlada’s episode proves that, God will always come to the rescue of his devotees who prays him with sincere devotion.

Why this rare form?

Because of the rare boon Hiranyakasipa had, Lord Vishnu had to take this rare form which was neither a man nor animal. In using the Lion Head, the message was that Lion the king of animals hunts its target and kills it only when it is hungry and non else and doesn’t store its food unlike other animals. Similarly in Narasimha Avathara the purpose was only to kill the demon Hiranyakasipa to save his devotee and nothing else and there was no need to kill anybody else. The avathara also ended with the killing of Hiranyakasipa. Lord Narasimha is the lion among the Gods and the people.

He killed Hiranyakasipa with his nails which is not a weapon and the timing was neither day time nor night, it was Pradosha (twilight) time. He killed him on his thighs to fulfill the condition of not getting killed in the midst of Pancha Bhoothas. It is said that Dasaavatharas of Lord Vishnu have a link to the concept of evolution starting with Mastyaavathara (Pisces) transformed into a full fledged human being in Sri Ramaavathara and Sri Krishnaavathara. Sri Narasimhaavathara is the beginning of transformation from animal to man (half animal and half man)

Temples of Lord Narasimha...

There are several temples in our country dedicated to Lord Narasimha out of which majority are in South India and more so in Andhra Pradesh. Some of the major temples of Lord Narasimha are Ahobilam, Yadagirigutta, Mangalagiri, Simhachalam, Dharmapuri, Antharvedi, and Kadiri all in Andhra Pradesh; Namakkal, Ghatikachala; Chintalvadi in Tamil Nadu; Melukote, Saligrama, and Mulabagalu in Karnataka States.

Brief about Ahobilam Temple...

Out of all temples dedicated to Lord Narasimha, the one at Ahobilam has attained unique significance since it is said to be the geographical location where Nrusimhaavathara and the story of Bhaktha Prahlada had taken place. “Aho” means spectacular; surprising; awesome; “Bilam” means cave. Ahobilam means, Lord appeared in a cave suddenly in a spectacular and astonishing form.

Here, Lord Narasimha got manifested (Swayambhu) in a cave after killing the demon Hiranyakasipa and is called Ugra Narasimha. This place is called as Upper Ahobilam (Eguva Ahobilam). There is a temple for Goddess Lakshmi besides the main temple where Goddess Lakshmi is called as Chenchu Lakshmi a tribal form of the Goddess.

It is believed that during Thretha Yuga, Lord Sri Rama had visited Ahobilam and worshiped Lord Narasimha during his search for Goddess Seetha Devi. As per Bhagavatha Purana it is said that, Pandavas also had visited and worshiped Lord Narasimha at Ahobilam.

Lord Narasimha is said to be the family deity of Lord Venkateswara. As per Venkatachala Mahatyam it is said that Lord Venkateswara had visited Ahobilam along with Goddess Padmavathi and worshiped Lord Narasimha by installing the idol of Narasimha along with Goddess Laxmi. This temple is in Lower Ahobilam (Diguva Ahobilam) in the down hills. It is also said that, at the time of Lord Sri Venkateswara’s marriage, the offerings (Nivedana) of preparations made were given to Lord Narasimha at Ahobilam as per the directions of Lord Brahma.

Ahobilam is known as Nava Narasimha Kshethra where, Lord Narasimha is said to have manifested in nine different forms within Ahobilam. They are... Jwala, Ahobila, Malola, Krodha, Karanja, Bhargava, Yogananda, Chatravata and Paavana. All these locations are not easily accessible and one has to go with their own arrangements.

It is said that the place of the pillar from which Lord Narasimha came out for killing the demon Hiranyakasipa is located about 5 km to the east of Upper Ahobilam temple. A symbolic iron pillar is erected there where it is said that Lords foot prints are available. This place is called as Ugra Sthambam (Ferocious pillar).

Ahobilam is about 24 Km from Allagadda in Kurnool District of Andhra Pradesh on the banks of the sacred river Bhavanasini located in Nallamala forests of Andhra Pradesh. The temple is on the top of Vedadri hills about 2800 ft. above the sea level.

For stay and accommodation at Upper Ahobilam there are choultries constructed by different voluntary organizations where dormitory facilities are available. At Lower Ahobilam one can get guest house facilities as well as dormitory provided by various voluntary organizations including TTD.

Sri Nrusimha Jayanthi...

It is believed and said that, Narasimhaavathara had occurred on the 14th day of the bright fortnight (Sukla Chaturdasi) in the Lunar Month Vaisakha maasam in the constellation of Swathi Nakshathra during Pradosha time. To commemorate the incarnation of Lord Narasimha, special celebrations are held every year on this day of Vaisakha Sukla Chaturdasi called Nrusimha Jayanthi. Lord Narasimha is worshiped with special prayers and pooja on this occasion. Worshiping the Lord during Pradosha time on this day is very effective and Arghya to be given to Lord Narasimha with the following sloka...

Parithranaya Saadhunaam Jaatho VishnorNrukesari
Gruhanarghyam Maya Dattam SaLakshmirNruhari: Swayam!

In some cultures there is also a tradition of fasting on this day and special celebrations are held at all temples of Lord Narasimha on this occasion.

Sri Krishnaarpanamasthu