Lord Narasingh: The protector God

 

 

 

 

“I will not die inside or outside. Neither on earth, nor in heaven, nor water. Don’t die with weapons, don’t die with arms. Let me not die at the hands of men, nor let me die at the hands of animals.” With these words, Hiranyakashyapu, the second son of Kashyap and Diti prayed to Lord Brahma. After getting the boon, he started ruling all Lokas including heaven. Hiranyakashyapu became king of entire universe and started his demonic rule. Kayadhu, the wife of Hiranyakashyapu gave birth to a son named Pralhad who was a devotee of Lord Narayana. Hiranyakashyapu was very angry with his son Pralhad. Lord Vishnu responded to the prayers of Pralhad and killed Hiranyakashyapu. The incarnation of Lord Vishnu who killed Hiranyakashyapu and saved earth is termed as Lord Narasingh who was a half lion and half man and killed him with his nails by cutting the chest.

 

The day was Vaishakh Shukla Chaturdashi. It is also believed that people who fast on this day are blessed by Lord Narasimha. On Vaishakh Shukla Chaturdashi (fourteenth day in the bright fortnight of the Hindu lunar month Vaishakh) protector of devotees Lord Vishnu incarnated as Narsingh (“Nar” means man and “Singh” means Lion), he appeared from a pillar to make true the words of devotee Pralhad. He killed the King of demons, Hiranyakashyapu and ended his terror from the world. Since then, this day has been celebrated as a festival. Rai Bahadur B A Gupte, Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, London, Honorary Member -Bombay Art Society, Associate Member Asiatic Society of Bengal, Member Royal Agricultural Society of London, formerly Honorary Assistant Superintendent of Ethnography to the Government of Bombay, Assistant Director of Ethnography for India and retired Deputy Minister, and Member of Council, Indore. Wrote a great book ‘Hindu Holidays And Ceremonials With Dissertations On Origin, Folklore, And Symbols’ in 1916’. The book is a landmark of the Ethnographic Survey of India.

 

This survey has a complete history about the festival Narasingh Jayanti celebrated in India since ancient times. Devotees of Bhagwan Narasingh knew about the story of the incarnation of Lord Vishnu as Narasingh. Adi Shankaracharya who reviewed Sanatan Dharma had an encounter with Lord Narasingh. There is a detailed story about how Lord Narasingh saved Adi Shankaracharya. Adi Sankara composed the very powerful Lakshmi-Narasingha Karavalambam Stotram at the very spot in front of Lord Narasimha. From this period people started worshipping Lakahsmi Narasingha. In temples like Sarveshwara Devalayam, Shri Balaji temple in Seminary hills etc in the city there are idols of Lakshami Narasingha and devotees celebrate Narasingh Jayanti with fervour in these temple premises.