LORD NARASIMHA is the fourth incarnation of Lord Vishnu. In his half-lion half-human he was designed to free the world and alleviate the sufferings of devotees symbolizing fight against evil and tyranny. Lord Narayana is considered to be the origin of the other transcendental forms of God. He is significantly worshipped by Vaishnavites as the ‘Great Protector.’ Also according to the scriptures, Lord Narasimha is amsha, an expansion of Narayana.Rig Veda refers to Vishnu’s qualities as Narasimha being ‘some wild beast, dread, prowling and mountain roaming’. In evolution theory, this avathar reflects the transformation of animal to man.
Narasimha story is rich with symbolisms. The transfer of work in each avatara and transforming from one deity to another is not surprising. It is a declaration of the one form of the Supreme Being taking many forms. God is everything and everything is God. ‘Thunilum irrupaan; thurumbilum iruppan’ from Nalatira Divya Prabandham means ‘He is in an iron pillar and also in its rusts.’ There is a long verse in Sapthapatha Brahma explaining the avatars. The condensed version of this principle is contained in Matsya Purana. The Lord manifests when righteousness is at stake. Narasimha avatar is a demonstration of willingness in the face of adverse circumstances.
Brahma’s boon is overcome by the Lord circumventing the boon; the aid expected by the devotee. At the metaphysical level, semi-animal represents the Jeevatma and the semi-lion, the Paramatma. The concept of ‘Mriga-sharira’ shows a wholesome merge between the two; ‘mriga’ meaning animal. Prahalada is a pointer of the bhakti path. He shows unconditional devotion. One may be born as a demon, but there is redemption if one has faith and the willingness to brush up character. Prahalada is a perfect example of saranagathi – surrender. It took much for Mother Lakshmi to cool down Narasimha; the universal motherhood love and balancing by feminine energy of the Lord’s spiritual energy.
Namaste Narasimhaya
namas te narasiḿhāya
prahlādāhlāda-dāyine
hiraṇyakaśipor vakṣaḥ-
śilā-ṭańka-nakhālaye
ito nṛsiḿhaḥ parato nṛsiḿho
yato yato yāmi tato nṛsiḿhaḥ
bahir nṛsiḿho hṛdaye nṛsiḿho
nṛsiḿham ādiḿ śaraṇaḿ prapadye
tava kara-kamala-vare nakham adbhuta-śṛńgaḿ
dalita-hiraṇyakaśipu-tanu-bhṛńgam
keśava dhṛta-narahari-rūpa jaya jagadīśa hare
TRANSLATION
1) I offer my obeisances to Lord Narasimha, who gives joy to Prahlada Maharaja and whose nails are like chisels on the stone like chest of the demon Hiranyakasipu.
2) 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.
3) 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 wasp like demon Hiranyakasipu has been ripped apart by the wonderful pointed nails on Your beautiful lotus hands.
