The Story of Narasimha

The Story of Narasimha: The Fierce Protector

At a time when demons threatened the cosmic order, Hiranyakashipu, a tyrannical king, gained near invincibility through a boon from Lord Brahma. His penance was so severe that Brahma granted him a wish: "I cannot be killed by man or beast, inside or outside, day or night, nor by any weapon or god. Arrogant with power, Hiranyakashipu declared himself the supreme deity and forbade the worship of Vishnu. Those who disobeyed faced torture or death.

But his own son, Prahlada, defied him. Born a devout follower of Vishnu, Prahlada preached the glories of the god even as his father raged. Hiranyakashipu tried relentlessly to kill the boy: he threw Prahlada off cliffs, poisoned him, placed him among poisonous snakes and even unleashed war elephants - but Vishnu's divine protection saved the child each time.

Enraged, Hiranyakashipu roared: "If your Vishnu is everywhere, is he in this pillar?" Prahlada calmly replied: "Yes, even in this stone." The king struck a nearby pillar with his mace. With a thunderous crack, the pillar split open and Narasimha-Vishnu's fearsome half-man, half-lion avatar emerged.

Narasimha's form defied all the conditions of Hiranyakashipu's blessing:

• Neither human nor animal (lion’s head, human torso)
• Neither inside nor outside (on the palace threshold)
• Neither day nor night (at twilight)
• No weapon used (claws tore the demon’s chest)
• Neither earth nor sky (placed the demon on his lap)

With a roar that shook the heavens, Narasimha disembowelled Hiranyakashipu and ended his reign of terror. But the Avatar's fury was unrelenting - his rage threatened to consume the universe until Prahlada calmed him with tears of devotion. Narasimha blessed Prahlada as the new king and ushered in a golden era of justice.

This myth explains and symbolises Narasimha's role as the 'destroyer of evil':

• Divine loopholes – No arrogance can outwit cosmic law
• A parent’s worst foe – Sometimes evil wears familiar faces
• Unwavering faith – Prahlada’s devotion saved the world

Today, Hindus worship Narasimha during Narasimha Jayanti, celebrating the victory of righteousness over blind power. Temples depict him with fierce eyes and claws, a reminder that divinity manifests itself in unexpected forms to protect the faithful.