Lord Narasimha

Lord Narasimha Blessing Prahlada Witnessed by Lord Shiva & Lord Brahma.

Lord Narasimha In Manifestation Form.

Lord Narasimha, the fourth avatar of God Lord Maha Vishnu, in Ahovalam in Andra Pradesh is where Lord Vishnu manifested himself to be in a form of half lion and half human.He has a human like torso and a lower body with a lion like face and claws. He is primarly known as "Great Protector" who specially defends and protects his devotee's at the times of their need.

History of His Manifestation.

====================

In the previous Avatar of Vishnu, The Varaha kills Hiranyaksha. Being the brother of his, Hiranyakashipu was very angry and wanted revenge against Lord Vishnu and his followers.

He decides that he has to Kill Lord Vishnu and for that he has to gain mystical powers and be master of the 3 world - Heaven , Earth & Pathala.

He then went to Mount Mandarachala and he began to pray to Lord Brahma for many years with great austerity and penance. Brahma pleased with his austerity , appeared and offers him a boon that he will make true of any wished that Hiranyakashipu wishes for. Hearing this Hiranyakashipu requested for immortality as his boon but Brahma rejected this by saying that "All living things must face death,Hiranyakashipu. However you can choose your death wish".

Hiranyakashipu thought hard and wanted to figure a way on how to get his immortality wish.

Thus he began to ask the following :-

"Please let me not meet death from any of the living entities created by you, that i would not die within any residence or outside of any residence, during day time nor night time, on the ground or in the sky.My Death not be brought about by any weapon, nor any human being or animal.I shall not be killied by any demi gods, demons or snakes from the lower planets. "

Brahma Granted his wishes and Hiranyakashipu was so happy that he thought that he has go this immortality wish.

During the period of his austerity and penance, his home was attacked by Indra and other devas.Kayadu the wife of Hiranyakashipu was saved by Sage Narada stating that she was sinless and such must not be killed. He takes her away and into his care and while in his care, he stated to teach the unborn child of Kayadu the teachings of Vishnu. Even at that stage the child became affected by the transcendental instructions of the Sage.

Upon returning from Mount Mandarachala, Hiranyakashipu was pleased with Sage Narada for saving his wife and his unborn child, thus become close friends with the sage and made him into a trusting friend. Once Prahlada was born , he allowed sage Narada to continue to educate his son.

Hiranyakashipu however has started to terrorize the earth, killing and conquering the worlds. He banned all pooja's for Lord Vishnu and declared himself as God. All the devas approached Lord Vishnu for his help, he told them to be patient as prahlada was his devotee and only when Hiranyakashipu seeks to kill prahlada that he shall come forward and kill Hiranyakashipu.

Meanwhile with Sage Narada's teachings, Prahalda began to grow up and became an ardent devotee of Lord Vishnu much to the annoyance of Hiranyakashipu. As he grew older, Hiranyakashipu who wishes his son to become the King of Asura's , sent him to Shanku and Amarka the sons of Shukracharya one of his ardent devotee to transform him. However this effort failed as its was Prahlada who started to teach and change the other boys at the school to be a devotee of Vishnu instead of his Father.

After all efforts of changing Prahlada failed, Hiranyakashipu was very angry and seeked advise from Sage Narada. Knowing that the only way that Lord Vishnu will ever emerge to kill Hiranyakashipu is when Prahlada is in danger, Sage Narada advised Hiranyakashipu that the only way to stop Prahlada from spoiling the other kids and people who now has slowly began to embrace Lord Vishnu instead of Him, was to killing him.

Hiranyakashipu then ordered his warriors to take Prahlada away and kill him. However all the four attempts of killing young Prahlada failed due to Lord Vishnu's saved him at all times.The four attempts were throwing him down a mountain, drowning him, poisioning him and drowning him.

Hearing of their failure to kill him, in anger he summoned young Prahlada to be brought to his courtyard in the evening to be questioned. To the question, if he now accepts Him to be the Supreme Lord of the Universe , Prahlada said nope and mentioned that the Supreme Lord was Vishnu. Hiranyakashipu was furious and asked Prahlada " Is my Enemy whom you worship is anywhere around here" ? Prahlada replied " Yes, He is Omnipresent, There is not a single place that he is not found". Hiranya now was very angry and asked his warriors to heat up a pillar in the courtyard. The Hiranyakashipu asked Prahlada ," if your Lord Vishnu was in the pillar which i have heated up, can you go and embrace the pillar"? Without replying and hesitation, Prahlada ran and hugged and embraced the pillar. Hiranyakashipu was surprised as the pillar did not burn Prahlada. In his utmost anger, he raised from his throne and swiped his Mace and hit the pillar as hard as he can which made a thunderous sound.

To his suprise, the pillar started to crack open and from it, came Lord Narasimha.In form of Half Man - Half Lion. His eyes were big and the nails from his claws were long and sharp. He had a thick moustache on his face. Hiranyakashipu attacked and hit the Lord with his Mace. Lord Narashima just brushed the Mace off.

Hiranyakashipu began to remember his boon, (1) not killed by someone that was created by Lord Bharma, not animal or not human; Narasimha was not created by Brahma and he was neither an human or an animal , (2) Not during the day or night or in the residence or outside of the residence; it was twilight as such it was neither day or night and the place was a courtyard which was neither inside of the house or outside of the house.

The Lord Narasimha caught Hiranyakashipu, carried him to the threeshold of the courtyard and placed him on his lap (3) which was neither in the sky or on the ground, with his sharp nails tore open the body of Hiranyakashipu and killing him. (4) no weapons. After killing Hiranayakashipu, Lord Narasimha's rage did not subdue, he is very furious and angry, all the demigods could not bring down his rage, Lord Brahma appeared and tried to cool him down but was not succesful, seeign this Lord Shiva came down and even he could not pacify Lord Narasimha , seeing this Lord Shiva summoed for Goddess Lakshmi to come and pacify but she was not succesful either. At last only when Prahlada was sent infront of him and told to touch his feet, he was pacified. He blessed Prahlada and made him the King.

Forms of Lord Narasimha

==================

It is said that there is almost 74 forms of Lord Narasimha that is currently evolved with different variety of forms and distinguished by arrangements of weapons on his hands. Out of this, Nine are very prominent and it is called Nava-Narasimha.

They are :-

1. Ugra Narasimha

2. Veera Narasimha

3. Kopa Narasimha

4. Krodha Narasimha

5. Vilamba Narasimha

6. Yoga Narasimha [form that blesses Lord Brahma]

7. Aghora Narasimha

8. Sudharsana Narasimha

9. Lakshmi Narasimha

Some other forms that he is also known as are :-

10.Malola Narasimha

11.Prahlada Varada Narasimha.

12. Ahobila Narasimha

13. Jwala Narasimha

14. Varaha Narasimha

15. Bhargara Narasimha

16. Karanja Narasimha

17. Chattravata Narasimha

18. Pavana Narasimha

19. Pamuleti Narasimha

20. Vaidhye Narasimha

Symbols of Manifestation of Lord Narasimha

===============================

1. God's Omnipresence - God is everywhere. {Lord Emerging from Pillar}

2. Pure Devotion is not one of birthright but of character { Prahlada's devotion}

Mode of Worship

============

Due to the nature of Lord Narasimha form which is Divine Anger. He demands a very high level of attention when worshiped compared to other deities. In almost all his temples, only life long brahmachari's are allowed to be the priest to conduct the pooja's (prayers) due should they make mistakes, only them will have bear the warth or anger of Lord Narasimha.

There are some known prayers that is mentioned in praise of Lord Narasimha. These are some of known prayers:- translatation below the prayers.

{Nirsimhi Maha Mantra}

--------------------------

Om Ugram , Veeram , Maha Vishnu,

Jwalantam , Sarvato Mugham,

Nirshimam, Bhishanam, Bhadram,

Mrityor Mrityur Namam Yaham.

[ O' Angry and Brave Maha Vishnu, Your Heat and Fire Premeate Everywhere,O' Lord Narasimha you are Everywhere, You are the Death of Death and I Surrender To You]

{Narasimha Pranama}

-----------------------

Ito Nrisimhah Parato Nrsimho,

Yato Yato Yami, Tato Nrisimhah

Bahir Nrisimho Hrdaye Nrisimho

Nrisimham Adim Saranam Prapadye.

[ Lord Narasimha is here and also there, Wherever i go Lord Narasimha is there, He is in the heart and outside as well, I surrender to Lord Narasimha, the origin of all things and the supreme refuge]

{Dasavatara - Stotra}

----------------------

Tava Kara Kamala Vare Nakham Adbhuta Sringam,

Dalita Hiranyakasipu 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 fingernail, so in the same way the body of wasp like Hiranyakashipu has been ripped apart by the wonderful pointed nails on your beautiful lotus hand.]

{Kamasika Ashtakam}

-----------------------

Tvayi Rakshathi Rakshakai: Kim Anyai

Tavyi Cha Arakshati Rakshakai: Kim Anyai

Ithi Nischita Dhee: Srayaami Nityam

Nruhareh: Vegavathee Tataasrayam Tvam.

[ O' Kamasikha Narasimha! You are Sarva Sakthen. When you are resolved to protect someone, where there is a need to seek the protection of anyone else? When you are resolved not to protect someone, which other person is capable in 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]

{Divya Prabandha}

-------------------

Aadi Aadi Agam Karandhu,

Isai Paadi Paadi Kanner Malgi,

Engum Naadi Naadi Narasinga Endru,

Vaadi Vaadhum Vaazhi 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]

Legends of Lord Narasimha at Yadagirigutta [ Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple]

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Yadagirigutta hill lies near Bhuvanagiri (Bhongir). Sage Yadarishi son of the great sage Rishyasrunga and Shanta Devi lived here. With the blessing of Anjeya he did his penance in a cave on this hill. Due to his devotion, Lord Narasimha will appear before him in five different forms Jwala, Yogananda, Gandabherunda, Ugra and Lakshmi Narasimha. This manisfestation will later turn into finely sculputed form and will be worshiped as Pancha Narasimha Kshetram.

It is here Lord Narasimha is worshiped by Sages (Rishi). Thus the region of Yadagirigutta is known as Rishi Aradhana Kshetram. Here Lord Narasimha is said has taken the role of a "doctor" and is known as Vaidhya Narasimha. Devotee's with many chronic diseases, under the influence of bad planets, under the influence of witch craft and black magic is brought here to be cured.It is said that Lord Narasimha himslef comes to the devotees's in their dream and treats them and cures them.

Pleased with the Yada Rishi's devotion and proper worship to him, Lord Narasimha has helped a lot of devotee's here. However, after Yada Rishi attained Moksham, other rishi's from all over and from other different tribe came over to worship and please Lord Narasimha. These rishi's began to teach improperly and thus the devotee's began to worship the Lord in improper manner that made the Lord to move out of the Temple and move into the hills.

A lot of rishi's and devotee's searched for him but to no avail.After many years, the Lord appeared in one of the lady devotee's from the same tribe of Yada Rishi, directing her to a large cave where in he revealed himself in his majectic five Avatharams. He taught her the right way of worship him.

Temples & Places of Worship for Lord Narasimha

===================================

To mention a few from hundreds of temple that has been erected for Lord Narasimha:

Ahovalam in Andhra Pradesh is the only place where all nine forms of Narasimha - Nava Narasimha is worshiped.

Shri Ugra Narasimha Samy in Maddur, Karnataka is where his statue of ugra formation is still intact without any damage and it is where Lord Arjuna manifested to get the blessings of Lord Narasimha.

Sri Yoga Narasimha in Melkote, Mysore. The fort situated at the vertical hill overlooking the plains is also famous for another temple there Cheluvanarayana Temple which has an annual vairamudi festival, where the deity is adorned with a crown of dazzling uncut diamonds.

Sri Padhmanabha Swamy temple where Lord Narasimha Murthy is the main deity.

Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy is located in Sholingur (Chola Singa Oor)

Yoga Narasimha Swamy in Dharmapuri, Karimnagar District, Andra Pradesh. This is where Lord Narasimha meditated in Yogamudra after his Ugrarupa subsides.

Sri Kaatu Azhaigya Singar in Sri Rangam, Trichy.

Sri Edappurathu Lakshmi Narasimha Moorthy Temple in Puthuruthy , Kerala.

Laxmi Narasimha Swamy temple in Antarvedi. Festival here is called Bheeshma Yekaadasi.

Aghora Narasimha Temple in Agripalli, Krishna District in Andra Pradesh. Known to be a fear remover in this temple. Goddess Rajalakshmi is also here to keep the Lord Narasimha pacified from his anger.

God Bless.