Brief Story of Narsimhadev Lord Narsimhadev is the most ferocious form of Krishna. Krishna took this formidable form of half-man, half-lion to protect his pure five-year old devotee, Prahlad Maharaj. The father of Prahlad Maharaj was Hiranyakashipu, the greatest demon of his time, who thought he was invincible. He had received boons from Lord Brahma that he would never be killed by a man or an animal, or by any weapon, that he would not see death during the night or day, inside a building or outside and that he would neither die on land nor in the sky. While Prahlad Maharaj, Hiranyakashipu’s son, was in his mother’s womb, his mother was captive in Narada Muni’s ashram. As a result, mother and child were constantly listening to transcendental narrations of Krishna and Prahlad was born a pure devotee of Krishna. Prahlad returned to his demon father’s kingdom where his materialistic education was ensured. However, instead of taking the instructions of his demoniac teachers, Sanda and Amarka, he would defeat them. Furthermore, he convinced all his school friends that worship of Vishnu was better than wasting one’s childhood in futile play. Sanda and Amarka were afraid that Prahlad would become a devotee instead of a materialistic leader like his father so they approached Hiranyakashipu for help. Despite all combined efforts of these demons, Prahlad was unflinching in his determination to serve Lord Krishna. Hiranyakashipu could not tolerate his defeat in bringing up the heir to his throne. He tried to kill Prahlad by having him thrown off a cliff, thrown into a pit of snakes, plunged into boiling oil, administered poison through his food but in each case Krishna protected His devotee and Prahlad remained hurt. Hiranyakashipu was infuriated that he was not able to kill his son. About to himself attempt to kill his son, he challenged Prahlad: “Where do you get your strength from?” Prahlad replied, “From the same person who gives you strength my father. His name is Vishnu. He resides everywhere”. The demon could tolerate no more. In anger he pointed to a pillar on the threshold of his palace, “Is your Vishnu within this pillar? Then I’ll kill Him.” As he prepared his sword to slice the pillar the Supreme Lord thunderously emerged from the pillar and appeared in his wonderful, ferocious form of Lord Narsimhadev. The Lord performed his pastimes by fighting with the demon for some time and then taking Hiranyakashipu on His lap (neither on the ground nor in the sky), He ripped him apart with his sharp nails. Hiranyakashipu was killed at dusk (neither night nor day), on the threshold of the palace (neither inside nor outside), by the nails of the Lord in the form of half-lion, half-man (not by a weapon, man, nor beast). After Hiranyakashipu was killed, Lord Narsimhadev roared ferociously until Prahlad pacified him with prayers. Thus the entire universe was relieved of the rule of Hiranyakashipu and everyone was jubilant. Sri Nrisimha Pranama (from the Nrisimha Purana, offered by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to Lord Jagannatha in Jagannatha Puri) namas te narasimhaya prahladahlada-dayine hiranyakasipor vaksah- sila-tanka-nakhalaye I offer my obeisances to Lord Narasimha, who gives joy to Prahlada Maharaja and whose nails are like chisels on the stonelike chest of the demon Hiranyakasipu. 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 within the heart and is outside as well. I surrender to Lord Nrsimha, the origin of all things and the supreme refuge. tava kara-kamala-vare nakham adbhuta-srngam dalita-hiranyakasipu-tanu-bhrngam kesava dhrta-narahari-rupa jaya jagadisa hare jaya jagadisa hare 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 ones 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. The Nrisimha Gayatris Om Nrisimhaye vidmahe vajranakhaya dhimahi tan nah simhah pracodayat Om. Let us think well aware of Nrisimha, the lightning-nailed. May the Lion promote our thought. vajra nakhaya vidmahe tikshna damstraya dhimahi tan no narasimhah prachodayat Let us meditate on He who is known as the possessor of nails as hard as thunderbolts and sharp teeth. Let us be enthused by Lord Narasimhadeva. Sri Nrisimha Maha-mantra ugram viram maha-vishnum jvalantam sarvato mukham nrisimham bhishanam bhadram mrityur mrityum namamy aham I bow down to Lord Narasimha who is ferocious and heroic like Lord Vishnu. He is burning from every side. He is terrific, auspicious and the death of death personified.
Posted on: Fri, 14 Nov 2014 18:13:49 +0000
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