Narasimha Jayanthi – 22 May 2005

Brahma - Vishnu - Siva, the Trinity of Hindu Scriptures are responsible for the creation, preservation and destruction of the Universe in that order.

When there is decline of righteousness (Dharma), in the Universe and the good people are put to trouble, Vishnu, the preserver incarnates to set right and uphold Dharma. The form of neither a man nor animal but a combination of both (ie) NaraSimha taken by Vishnu is the fourth in the Dasaavataras(10 Forms). Each incarnation of the Lord was for a specific purpose.That way, the ten incarnations teach us the righteous path of life.

The Narasimha Avatara declares the following.

1. God is omnipresent and omnipotent.
2. God will not let down those who have immense faith in him.
3. God will keep up the word, uttered by his devotee in the fond belief that it would be fulfilled by God.
4. God will always find a way to eliminate those who disobey the law of nature.
5. God hears our prayers and protects.

Hiranyakasipu and Hiranyaksha were two demon brothers. Hiranyaksha was killed in an encounter with Vishnu in his previous incarnation of Varaha Avatara. Angered by the loss of his brother, Hiranyakasipu developed enmity against Lord Vishnu and announced that no one would utter the word of Vishnu in any form in his kingdom. He killed many sages and seers because of their worship of Vishnu.

Hiranya Kasipu had earned a boon from Brahma, the creator that he cannot be killed in anyone of the following ways.

1. He cannot be killed by any of the weapons.
2. He can neither be killed inside a house nor outside a house.
3. He can neither be killed by a man or animal. In addition of his not being killed by any Devas or Trimoorthy.
4. He can neither be killed in day time or night time.
5. He cannot be killed by blood coming out of the body.
6. He cannot be killed either on earth or on space.

Because of this type of boon, none were able to kill him. With this over confidence he was threatening and conquering everyone.

Hiranyakasipu had a son named Prahladha. When Kayathu, wife of Hiranyakasipu was pregnant with Prahlada, Devendra took away Kayathu while Hiranya Kasipu was away. Devendra wanted to destroy both Kayathu and her child. Narada prevented Devendra from such an act and took Kayathu as a refuge in his Ashrama. During her pregnancy, she was brought up in an atmosphere of devotion and recitation of hymns on God. The child in the womb was influenced by the atmosphere and was born with devotion.

When the child grew, Prahlada was admitted to the school run by Hiranyakasipu where the students were taught to worship Hrianyakasipu instead of God Vishnu. Each student was compelled to recite as Hiranya Kasipaya Namaha. Prahlada rebelled and started chanting 'Om Namo Narayanaya' to the utter fear of his teachers. Coming to know that his own son had disobeyed him and was instigating other students to follow suit, Hiranyakasipu wanted to kill Prahlada and tried in vain by ordering him to be killed by noxious reptiles, throwing him in the sea, fire, before an elephant, rolling him from the mountain tops. Finally, he asked his wife Kayathu to administer poison. Prahlada, with unwavering belief and faith faced all the punishments and came out from all problems without any difficulty having been protected by Narayana in whom Prahlada had immense faith. Irritated and angered by the inability of others in killing his son, Hiranyakasipu himself challenged Prahlada to show him his staunch enemy in whom Prahlada deposes confidence. Prahlada said that Hari is omnipresent and can be seen anywhere. Hiranyakasipu asked whether Prahlada could show his enemy in the pillar in his Durbar Hall. Prahlada readily said that Hari is in the pillar too.

Prahlada said 'Narayana' is in the pillar and went on to say that he is in the word spoken by Hiranyakasipu too. Vexed with the words of his son, Hiranyakasipu attacked the pillar with his sword and out came a form with a ferocious head of a lion and strong and healthy body of a man. There was a severe fight going on between the two. At dusk, the lion man struck Hiranyakasipu down and dragged his body to the door steps.

Describing this scene in Srimad Bhaghavatham, Sage Vyasa says as follows.

To make the words of his devotee servant's tone, all pervading the entire universe taking the form of which none has ever seen before and the form of wonder of wonders, in the Durbar hall neither an animal nor a man, god appeared.

The lion man kept the body of Hiranyakasipu on his lap thereby fulfilling the condition that he cannot be killed on earth or space. He tore the stomach with his nails and drank the blood gushing out. By this no weapons was used and there was no spill of blood. The body of Hiranyakasipu was on the lap of lion man who was seated on the door steps. This place was neither in side the house nor outside. When the body was cut open it was the dusk time which was neither day time nor night time. The lion man was a mixture of animal and man and hence was neither a full animal nor a full man by whom Hiranyakasipu could not have been killed.

God found loop-holes in all the boons Hiranyakasipu had obtained. He was thinking that he had obtained a boon which in reality meant to be immortality. But Hiranyakasipu could never think for a moment god is the personification of wisdom and intelligence and he could pick hole in any thing.

The ferociousness of the lion man even after the killing of Hiranya kasipu was so great that the whole three worlds were trembling with fear and none could pacify him. Even Mahalakshmi failed in her attempt. All thedevas requested Prahlada to approach the lion man and pacify. The young devotee Prahlada stood before Nrisimha fearlessly and sang in praise of him. Pleased with the prayer, Nrisimha became calm and made Prahlada the king.

This particular posture of Narasimha killing Hiranya Kasipu with sixteen hands each hand having a weapon and the hand raised up blessing Prahlada standing with hands folded before Nrisimha, can be seen at Srirangam just opposite the shrine of goddess Ranganayaki. This shrine is called Mettu Azhagiya Singar Sannadhi.

There is a legend about this sannadhi too. This sannadhi is located in a high place with steps to climb. Opposite to this shrine there is a Mandap called Ramayana Arangetra Mandapam. Kamba, the famous poet of Ramayana in Tamil language had to introduce his Ramayanam to the public to get their approval. The scholars of that place did not accord approval to the Kamba's Ramayanam because; Kamba had narrated the story of the killing of Hiranyakasipu by Vishnu as Nrisimha in his Ramayanam and this episode does not find a place in the original Ramayanam by Aadi Kavi Saint Valmiki. To the pleading of Kamba the scholars said that they would approve this Ramayanam only if Mettu Azhagiya Singar approves. When Kembu read the portion of Nrisimha killing Hiranyakasibu there was a heavy roar emanating from the shrine of Mettu Azhagiya Singar to the surprise of all. Taking this as sign of approval of Nrisimha, the scholars accorded sanction to Kamba Ramayanam.

Narasimha has played a great part in the life of Adi Sankara by entering the body of Padmapada, Sankara's disciple, and saving him from a Kapalika who was about to chop off Sankara's head. Adi Sankara has sung Slokas in praise of Lakshmi Narasimha - Lakshmi Narasimha Pancharatnam and Lakshmi Narasimha Karavalamba Stotram. In the Karavalmba Stotram, Adi Sankara praises the qualities of Nrisimha in the form of Lakshmi Nrisimha.

Narasimha Jayanthi falls in the Vaisaka Month(April- May) and is observed with devotional fervor in Sri Sankara Matam. Sri Narasimha Jayanthi falls on the 22nd of this month( May 2005), and in the evening before Sunset, special abhishekams will be performed to the vigraha of Narasimha. Special Prasadam of diluted butter milk (Neer More) Jaggary Water (Paanagam) and wet black gram ( Vada Paruppu) are offered to the Lord on the day. The portion of the Srimad Bhagavatam describing the avatara of Narasimha from the pillar and the destruction of Hiranyakasipu is chanted. Devotees observing the Narasimha Jayanthi with devotion and sincerity are blessed with prosperity.