Om! Gam! Ganapathaye! Namaha! Om! Sri Raghavendraya Namaha! Om! Namo! Bhagavathe! Vasudevaya! Om! Ham! Hanumathe Sri Rama Doothaya Namaha!
SRI NARASIMHAAVATHARA - SIGNIFICANCE
Ahobile GaarudaSailaMadhye Krupaavasaath Kalpitha Sannidhanam! Lakshma Samalingitha Vaamabhagam LakshmiNrusimham Saranam Prapadye!! Lord Sri Maha Vishnu has incarnated on this Earth in many forms called Avatharas. All his Avatharas had specific significance and were always meant for a particular cause or purpo purpose. se. It could could be for for Dusta Dusta Siksha Sikshana, na, or for Sista Rakshana Rakshana,, or for protecti protection on of Dharma etc. The longevity and form form of His Avatharas depends on on the needof the hour hour and the purpose. purpose. The types types of avatharas Lord Vishnu Vishnu has taken are classifie classified d into Paripoorna Avathara, Amsaavathara, Aavesaavathara, and Archaavathara. Significance of Narasimha Avathara
Out of the several avatharas of Lord Vishnu, ten important incarnations are classified as Dasaavatharas. Among them Nrusimhaavathara has attained attained a rare significance and importance. All His avatharas are generally of a single form. But Nrusimhaavathara Nrusimhaavathara is is of a dual form, form, Nara + Simha. Simha. Nara means means man and and Lion Lion is an an animal. imal. Narasimha Narasimha th means means combi combined ned form form of a Lion and a Man. Man. This This was the 4 avathara among the Dasa Dasaav avat atha hara rass an and d it wa wass a Krut Krutha ha Yuga Yuga Avat Avatha hara ra said said to ha have ve take taken n plac placee in Chakshuva Chakshuva Manvanthar Manvanthara. a. It is said that reference reference to Lord Narasimha Narasimha is found in as many as 15 puranas, and a separate Purana (Upa Purana) itself has been scripted in his name called Nrusimha Purana. It was an instant avathara, called as Aavesaavathara (no prior preparations were made) wher wh eree the the Lord Lord Na Naras rasim imha ha appe appears ars in a very very fero feroci ciou ouss an and d fasc fascin inat atin ing g form form.. Narasimha Avathara is referred to as a very powerful, precious avathara and the Lord Narasimha is depicted as a great protector protector at the time of need. He is the God of Gods. He is Mrithyu for the Mrithyu (one who eliminates the death cycles)
Sri Vishnu Vishnu Sahasr Sahasraa Nam Namaa descri describes bes Lord Lord Vishnu Vishnu as “Naara “Naarasim simhaV haVapu apu Sreem Sreemaan aan Kesavah Purushothama” meaning He is the one who has taken a rare and unique form of a man and a lion whose worship will eradicate the ignorance, possessor of Goddess of wealth Sri Maha Lakshmi who always dwells in his chest, one who has beautiful and charm charming ing hai hair, r, the giver giver of knowle knowledge dge to Gods, Gods, greate greatest st amo among ng all Purus Purushas has,, the Supreme Soul, who is omnipotent and omniscient. Legend behind the Avathara (Story (Story of Prahlada) Prahlada)
The legend behind this goes back to the days of Krita Yuga when two demon brothers Hirany Hiranyaks aksha ha and Hi Hiran ranyaka yakasip sipaa were were creati creating ng lot of troubl troublee to the man mankin kind d and devath devathas. as. The elder elder brothe brotherr Hi Hiran ranyak yaksha sha was killed killed by Lord Lord Maha Maha Vishnu Vishnu in his his Varaha Avathara. In order to take a revenge on Lord Vishnu, the demon demon Hiranyakasipa started doing a severe penance. penance. When Lord Brahma appeared before him as a result of the penance Hiranyakasipa Hiranyakasipa asks for a rare boon. boon. The boon was that he he (Hiranyakasipa) should not get killed by any deity or demi God or demon, by a man or a beast, should not get killed with five elements (Pancha Bhootha), either in the day or night, either indoors or outdoors, by any kind of weapon and accordingly the boon was granted by Lord Brahma. In the mean time Hiranyakasipa’s wife Vedavathi who was pregnant before he left for the penance delivered a male child Prahlada who went on to become an ardent devotee of Lord Sri ManNarayana for whose sake and cause the Lord had totake the Narasimha Avathara. While he was in his Mother’s Mother’s womb Prahlada Prahlada was listening and responding responding to divine stories. Seeing this this sage Narada preached preached (upadesa) (upadesa) Prahlada the Narayana Ashtakshari Manthra and the child started reciting this manthra while he was in his mother’s womb itself. As Prah Prahla lada da star starte ted d grow growin ing g he start started ed lear learni ning ng Na Nara raya yana na Tatv Tatvaa an and d start started ed influencing his friends also with his preachings’ which his father Hiranyakasipa did not like. Since Since Prahlada was not listeni listening ng to his father’s father’s words in this context context and not stopping the recitation of Narayana Manthra, several attempts were made to change the mind of Prahlada and lots of restrictions were also imposed on him. But they were of no use and Prahlada was showing showing exemplary courage courage every time. In the process he had to meet with severe punishments also in the hands of his demon father Hiranyakasipa but every time getting saved with the kind Grace of Lord Sri ManNarayana. Hiranyakasipa was fed up with his son’s attitude and wanted to finish him once for all. In the immediate next confrontation with his son Prahlada on the issue of Lord Sri Man Narayana’s omnipresence, Hiranyakasipa emotionally asks his son Prahlada to show the Lord in a pillar pillar in his palace and and hits the pillar with his his mace. All pervading Lord SriManNarayana in order to prove the truth in his devotee’s words instantly appears and comes out of the the pillar in a rare and ferocious form form as Narasimha. Keeping in mind mind
the boon Hiranyakasipa had on his death, Lord Narasimha pounces upon the demon, drags him to the threshold of the palace door, keeps him on his thighs and kills him with his finger nails (Nakha) at a time when it was Pradosha (neither day nor night) thus fulfilling the conditions of his death. Afte Afterr kill killin ing g the the demo demon n Hi Hira rany nyaka akasi sipa pa,, the the fearf fearful ul an and d fero feroci ciou ouss form form of Lord Lord Narasimha did not calm down and it was roaring, creating greaterscare among the devathas. To make him co cool ol down Devathas had to request request Prahlada to to pray him him and it is said that they had to even invoke Goddess Lakshmi also to come down to pacify him. Finally Finally with the prayers from from Prahlada Prahlada and with the presence presence of his consort consort Goddess Goddess Lakshmi, Lakshmi, Lord Lord Narasimha Narasimha got coole cooled d down. Prahlada Prahlada was crowne crowned d as the emperor of the kingdom which he ruled for several thousands of years. Purpose of Narasimhaavathara
The specific specific purpose of this avathara was for protection protection of his devotee Prahlada from his demon father Hiranyakasipa, to prove a point and to make true the words of his devotee that God is is in existence every every where. Prahlada’s episode proves proves that God will always come to the rescue of his devotees who prays him with sincere devotion. Why this rare form?
Because of the rare boon Hiranyakasipa had the Lord had to take this rare form which was neither neither man nor animal. animal. In using using the Lion Head, the message message was that Lion, Lion, the king of animals hunts its target and kills it only when it is hungry and non else and doesn’t doesn’t store its food food unlike other animals. animals. Similarly Similarly in his Narasimha Narasimha Avathara the purpose was only to kill the demon Hiranyakasipa to save his devotee and nothing else and there was no need need to kill any body else. else. The avathara also ended ended with the killing of Hiranyakasipa. He is the lion among the Gods and the people. people. He killed him with his nails which is not a weapon and the timing was neither day time nornight, it was Pradosha Pradosha time. He killed him on on his thighs to fulfill the condition condition of not getting killed in Pancha Bhoothas. It is said that the Dasaavatharas of of Lord Vishnu have link to the concept of evolution starting with Mastyaavathara (Pisces) transformed into a full fledged human being in Ramaavathara and Krishnaavathara. Narasimhaavathara is the beginning of transformation from animal to man (half animal and half man) Temples of Lord Narasimha There are many temples in our country dedicated to Lord Narasimha out of which majority are in South India India and more so in Andhra Pradesh. Some of the major major temples of Lord Lord Na Nara rassim imh ha are are Aho Ahobila bilam m, Ya Yada dagi giri rigu gutt tta, a, Man Mangal galagir agirii, Sim Simhach achalam alam,, Dharmapuri Dharmapuri,, Antharvedi Antharvedi,, and Kadiri which which are all in Andhra Pradesh, Pradesh, Namakkal,
Ghatikachala, and Chintalvadi in Tamil Nadu, Melukote, Saligrama, and Mulabagalu in Karnataka States. Brief about Ahobilam:
Out of all the temple templess of Lord Lord Narasi Narasimh mhaa the one at Ahobi Ahobilam lam has attain attained ed lot lot of significance and importance and it is said to be the geographical location where the Nrusimha Nrusimhaavatha avathara ra and the story of Bhaktha Prahlada Prahlada hadtaken place. place. “Aho” means means spectacular, surprising, surprising, awesome, and “Bilam” means cave. cave. Ahobilam means the Lord Lord appeared in a cave suddenly in a spectacular and astonishing form. Here the Lord Narasimha got manifested (Swayambhu) in a cave after killing the demon demon Hiranyakasi Hiranyakasipa pa andis called as Ugra Narasimha. Narasimha. This place is called called as Upper Upper Ahobilam (Eguva (Eguva Ahobilam). There is a temple for Goddess Lakshmi besides the main temple where Goddess Lakshmi is called as Chenchu Lakshmi. It is believ believed ed that that during during Thretha Thretha Yuga, Yuga, Lord Lord Sri Rama had visited visited Ahobil Ahobilam am and worshipp worshipped ed Lord Narasim Narasimha ha during during his search search for Goddess Goddess Seetha Seetha Devi. Devi. As per Sri Madbha Madbhagav gavath atham, am, it is said said that that Pandav Pandavas as also also had visite visited d and wo worsh rshipp ipped ed Lord Lord Narasimha at Ahobilam. Lord Lord Na Nara rasi simh mhaa is said to be the fami family ly deit deity y ofLo ofLord rd Venk Venkat ates eswa wara ra.. As per Venkatachala Mahatyam it is said that Lord Venkateswara had visited Ahobilam at the time of his marriage with Goddess Padmavathiand worshipped the Lord Narasimha by installin installing g the idol idol along along with Goddess Goddess Laxmi. Laxmi. This temp temple le is in in Lower Lower Ahobilam Ahobilam (Dig (Diguv uvaa Ahob Ahobil ilam am)) in the the down down hill hills. s. It is also also said said that that at the the time time of Lord Lord Venkatesw Venkateswara’s ara’s marriage the offerings offerings (Nivedana) (Nivedana) of the preparatio preparations ns were givento givento Lord Narasimha at Ahobilam as per the directions of Lord Brahma. Ahobilam is also called as Nava Narasimha Kshetramwhere Lord Narasimha is said to have manifested manifested in nine different different forms forms within Ahobilam. The nine forms are Jwala, Ahobila, Malola, Krodha, Karanja, Bhargava, Yogananda, Chatravata, Chatravata, and Paavana. All these locations are not easily accessible and one has to go with their own arrangements. It is said that the place of the pillar from which Lord Narasimha came out for killing the demon Hiranyakasipa Hiranyakasipa is located located about 5 km to the east of Upper Ahobilam temple. temple. A symbolic iron pillar is erected there where it is said that Lords foot prints are available. This place is called as Ugra Sthambam (Ferocious (Ferocious pillar). Ahobil Ahobilam am is locat located ed about about 24 Km from from Allagad Allagadda da in Kurno Kurnool ol Distr District ict of Andhra Andhra Prades Pradesh h on the banks of sacred sacred river river called called Bhavanas Bhavanasini ini.. The place place is locat located ed in Nallamala forests of Andhra Andhra Pradesh. The temple is is on the top of Vedadri Vedadri hills about 2800 ft. above the sea level.
For stay and accommodation at Upper Ahobilam there are choultries constructed by different different voluntary voluntary organization organizationss where where dormitory dormitory facilities facilities are available. available. At Lower Ahobilam one can get guest house facilities as well as dormitory facilities provided by various voluntary organizations including TTD. Nrusimha Jayanthi
It is believed and said that Narasimhaavathara has occurred on the 14 th day of Lunar Month called Sukla Chaturdasi in the lunar month Vaisakha in the star constellation of Swathi. To commemorate commemorate the incarnation incarnation of Lord Narasimha, Narasimha, special celebrations celebrations are held every year on this day called Nrusimha Nrusimha Jayanthi. This is year it is happening happening on 7th day of May, 2009. On this occasion occasion Lord Narasimha Narasimha is to be worshippe worshipped d with special special prayers. Worshipping the Lord Lord during Pradosha time on this day is very effective effective and arghya to be given with the following sloka Parithranaya Saadhunaam Jaatho VishnorNrukesari Gruhanarghyam Maya Dattam SaLakshmirNruhari: Swayam! In some some cult cultur ures es ther theree is a trad tradit itio ion n of fast fastin ing g on this this day. day. On this this day day spec specia iall celebratio celebrations ns are held in all the temples temples of Lord Narasimha. Narasimha. At Ahobilam Ahobilam a ten day festival is held on this occasion. Lord Narasimha – The Divine Astro Remedy
Worshipping Lord Narasimha is considered to be very effective remedy for astrological related related problems problems especially especially the Mars related and Saturn Saturn related related problems problems.. Mars is considered to be the Paramatma Amsa Amsa of Nrusimhaavathara. Nrusimhaavathara. For people born under the star constellation of Mrigasira, Chitta and Dhanista whose star Lord is Mars, regular worship worship of Lord Narasimha Narasimha will be very useful. useful. In general general for Navagraha Navagraha Doshas, apamrityu dosha, sufferings from ill health, debts, enemies, obstacles in life, Lord Narasimha Narasimha worship worship is a suggested suggested remedy. remedy. It will also be very useful and effective effective while undergoing the periods of Sade Sath, Astama Sani, and Ardhastama Sani (all related to Saturn). Some of the powerful prayers of Lord Narasimha
Nrusimha Mantra Rajam, Nava Narasimha Mantram, Prahlada Virachita Narasimha Kava Kavach cham am,, Sri Sri Nrus Nrusim imha ha Panc Pancha hamr mrut utha ha Stho Sthoth thra ram m (by (by Lord Lord Sri Sri Ra Rama ma), ), Sri Sri Mantrarajapada Sthothram (by Lord Shiva), Rina Vimochana Sri Nrusimha Sthothram (from Nrusimha Purana), Nakha Sthuthi (Sri Madhvacharya), Sri Narasimha Sthuthi (by Sri Narayana Narayana Panditach Panditacharya), arya), Sanaischara Sanaischara Virachita Virachita Sri Nrusimha Nrusimha Kavacham, Kavacham, Sri Nrusimha Nrusimha Karavalamb Karavalambaa Sthothram Sthothram (by Sri Aadi Sankaracharya) Sankaracharya).. All these are very powerful prayers and will yield definite results if done with all sincerity and devotion.
ANNEXURE Nrusimha Mantra Rajam Ugram Veeram Maha Vishnum Jwalantham Sarvathomukham! Nrusimham Bheeshanam Bhadram Mruthyu Mruthyum Namaamyaham!!
I surrender surrender and bow to Lord Narasimha Narasimha “who is ferocious ferocious and heroic, heroic, who is Maha Vishnu, radiant and glowing from all sides, who is omnipresent, who is terrific, who is adorable, who bestows auspiciousness and who is the death of death personified." Above sloka is called as Sri Nrusimha MantraRajam, a very powerful manthra when recited with sincere devotion, will come to the rescue of the person in times of need, sudden aberrations and obstacles in life. Nava Naarasimha Manthram Jwaalaa Ahobila Maalola Krodha Karanja Bhargava! Yogaananda Chatravata Paavana Navamoorthaya!! Runa Vimochana Sri Nrusimha Sthothram Devata karya sidhyartham sabhasthambha samudbhavam! Sri Nrusimham mahaveeram namami runa mukthaye!!
Lakshmyaalingitha vamangam bhakthanaam varadayakam! Sri Nrusimham mahaveeram namami runa mukthaye!! Aantramaladharam, sankhachakrabjaaayudha dhaarinam! Sri Nrusimham mahaveeram namami runamukthaye!! Smaranath sarvapapagnam khadruja vishanasanam! Sri Nrusimham mahaveeram namami runamukthaye!! Simhanadena mahatha digdhanthi bhayanasanam! Sri Nrusimham mahaveeram namami runamukthaye!! Prahlada varadam Srisam daithyeswaravidharanam! Sri Nrusimham mahaveeram namami runamukthaye!! Krooragrahaih peedithanam bhakthanamabhaya pradham! Sri Nrusimham mahaveeram namami runamukthaye!! Vedavedanthayajnesam BrahmaRudradhivandhitham! Sri Nrusimham mahaveeram namami runamukthaye!!
Ya idham patathe nithyam runamochana samjnitham Anruni jaayathe sadhyo, dhanam seegramavapnuyath Above sthothram is an extract from Sri Nrusimha Purana. Daily reciting this sthothram will ward off evils and sufferings from ill health, debts and enemies. Maata Nrusimhascha Pitaa Nrusimha Bhrataa Nrusimhascha Sakha Nrusimha!! VidyaaNrusimho Dravinam Nrusimha Swami Nrusimha Sakalam Nrusimha!! Itho Nrusimha Paratho Nrusimha Yatho Yatho Yaamithatho Nrusimha!! Nrusimhadevaadaparam Na Kinchittasm Kinchittasmat at Nrusimham Saranam Prapadye!! Irrespective of the caste and creed people strongly believe and have faith in Lord Narasimha who has become a family deity and a source of instant remedy for many day to day problems. problems. Lord Narasimha bestows bestows health, education, education, wealth, prosperity, prosperity, and relieves his devotees from all types of debts (Rinas) Bharjanam Bhavabeejanaam Sarjanam Sarvasampadam! Traasanam Yamadoothanam Nruharrnama Garjanam!! Nrusimha Nrusimha Nrusimha Sri Krishnaarpanamasthu Krishnaarpanamasthu
