SHREE NARASIMHA AVATAR

 Lord Narasimha was the fourth Avatar of Lord Vishnu, which was taken to kill the demon Hiranyakashipu. The story of Narasimha avatar is connected with the story of Hiranyakashipu and Prahlad. In Vishnu’s Varaha avatar the lord killed Hiranyakashipu’s brother Hiranyaksha. By this action Hiranyakashipu got angry towards Vishnu and decided to kill Mahavishnu. For this he took deep penance to appease Lord Brahma and attain magical powers to defeat Lord Vishnu. The Tapas continued for several years and Brahma Dev got satisfied with his great devotion and asked him what boon he need. Hiranyakashipu asked for eternity, but Brahmadev gave him the boon that he can choose his death according to his wish. Thus Hiranyakashipu wants his death to be in the following ways that, he will not be killed by any man or animal, not in air, water or sea, not in the home or outside, not at the day or at night, and not by any asthra or sasthra. Picture of Lord Narasimha Avatar of Maha Vishnu By attaining the boon Hiranyakashipu considered himself as immortal. With his powers he began to ruin the life of people in three worlds. He asked all devotees of Vishnu to worship him instead of the Lord. Those who haven’t obeyed to worship Hiranyakashipu was killed without any mercy. He captured whole world and made every one under his control. He imprisoned Devans and Rishis. Everyone was terrified with his mystic powers and went to Lord Vishnu for help. Vishnu gave them the relief that Hiranyakashipu’s son Prahlad will become the cause of his death. So every Gods and Goddesses patiently waited to see how Prahlad will become the cause of the death of Hiranyakashipu. As years passed by Kayadhu, the wife of Hiranyakashipu, gave birth to Prahlad in the Ashrama of Narada Muni. Sage Narada used to tell stories of Lord Narayana to child Prahlada. Hearing the glorious tales he became the devotee of Lord Narayana. Hiranyakashipu who wanted everyone to worship him was greatly disappointed by hearing his own son chanting the names of Maha Vishnu. To change the mind of Prahlad the King sent his son to the Ashramam of Shukracharya’s sons Shaku and Amarka. However they were also unsuccessful in breaking the solid devotion of Prahlad. Picture of Prahlad and sage Narada All the efforts of Hiranyakashipu in changing the mind of Prahlad were in vain. At last he got angry with his son and decided to kill him. But each time Hiranyakashipu tries to kill Prahlad Lord Vishnu’s magical hands were there to protect him. The King’s soldiers tried to kill Prahlad by poisoning him, drowning him in water, and throwing him down from mountain. But Lord Vishnu saved him from all these attempts. The King then created a bonfire and asked his sister Holika to sit with Prahlad on her lap inside it. As Holika was immune to fire he thought that his son will be killed. But Prahlada escaped from fire without any harm. Read the full story of Prahlad and Holika here The angry Hiranyakashipu challenged Prahlad asked where his Narayana can be found. Prahlad replied “My Vishnu is omnipresent and there is not a single place Narayana is not found”. The King was furious and got up from his throne and asked Prahlad “Can you show me your Vishnu in this pillar as well?” Prahlad said “Yes, He is!” The King hit the pillar strongly with his mace. With a thundering sound the pillar cracked and Lord Vishnu appeared in the form of Lord Narasimha – the half man half lion form. The furious Narasimha grabbed Hiranyakasipu, pulled him to his lap and tore open his body with his claws to kill the asura. Picture of Lord Narasimha Killing Hiranyakashipu, Prahlada nearby Lord Narasimha took this way to kill Hiranyakashipu so that Lord Brahma’s boon could not be offended. As Hiranyakashipu’s death wish and Brahma’s boon, Lord Narasimha was neither a man nor an animal, the time was twilight neither day nor night, he sat on the threshold of the room keeping the body of the Rakshas Hiranyakashipu on thighs, used his nails to kill the demon instead of astra or sasthra. After killing the demon Hiranyakashipu Lord Narasimha was furious and was pacified when his devotee Prahlad touched his feet. Prahlad was crowed as the next King by Lord Narasimha.