Shrii NRsimha Jayanti occurs on the 14th day of the bright half of Waishaakha month as per the Hindu calendar. This year it occurs on 16th May 2011.

 

Shrii NRsimha (or Narasimha, as he is popularly called) is considered to be the fourth ?Awataara? (incarnation) of Lord Wishnu and can be considered as a transition from beast to human, since the previous three incarnations were Matsya (Fish), Kuurma (Turtoise) and Waraaha (Boar) and the following ones viz. Waamana (The Dwarf), Parashuraama, Raama, Krishna, Buddha and Kalki, are all human incarnations.

The word ‘NRsimha’ is a compound of two words ‘NR’ meaning ‘a man’ and  ‘simha’ meaning ‘a Lion’. So NRsimha is a combination of a Lion’s head and claws with a human torso.

Lord Wishnu manifests himself on earth in the form of a mortal only when there is a need for him to do so, especially when humanity is in danger and none other than the Almighty himself can protect it from evil. The same reason provoked him to assume the form of NRsimha.

Hiranyakashipu was a demon king and a strong opponent of Gods, specifically jealous of Lord Wishnu. In order to gain supremacy, he performed deep penance towards Lord Brahma. Having pleased the Lord, he gained invincibility for himself to the effect that he would be killed neither on earth nor in the sky, neither in a house nor outside, neither during day nor night, neither by a demon nor a demigod, neither by a weapon nor by divine chants of sages. Thus, being convinced that he had no rival to be afraid of, Hiranyakashipu started exploiting the benefits of the boon. He was atrocious, troubled the rich, the poor and all his subjects alike.

Ironically, his son Prahlaada was an ardent devotee of Lord Wishnu and use to always spend time in praying to him and escaped all efforts made by Hiranyakashipu for restricting his worships & prayers. He also escaped all fatal attacks made upon him by his father.

Once, when confronted with his Father?s demand of proving Lord Wishnu to be all pervasive, Prahlaada affirmed that Lord Wishnu can also be found in a pillar of the palace. An enraged Hiranyakashipu kicked the pillar. Lord NRsimha appeared from the pillar, took Hiranyakashipu on his lap, sat on the palace?s threshold and laying him on his lap, tore off his body with his claws.

Thus Hiranyakashipu was killed by this divine incarnation, yet not upsetting the boon granted to him by Brahma.

It is believed that Lord NRsimha protects his sincere devotees during extremely dangerous situations. He protected Aadi Shankara (who re-established the pious Hindu Dharma during medieval times) from being sacrificed to a Goddess as an offering. This is when the overwhelmed Saint Shankara composed the famous Laxmi NRsimha stotram. Goddess Laxmi is the consort of Lord NRsimha and is often found seated on his lap or next to him in many of the Lord’s idols and images and hence the name ‘Laxmi NRsimha’.

We bring forth for you, the ‘NRsimha stuti’ which is a verse composed in the ‘Mandaaramaalaa’ meter, invocating the all-pervasive form of the Lord and praying for his resort.