ॐ Hindu Of Universe ॐ
“God’s light is within you, It never leaves you.”
Lord Narasimha or Narasingha is a fierce avatar of the Lord Vishnu. Hindus celebrate this highly auspicious festival of Narasimha Jayanti on Vaisakha Shukla Chaturdashi i.e the 14th day of the Shukla Paksha in the lunar month of Vaisakha.
On this day, Lord Vishnu had re- incarnated (the fourth incarnation of Supreme Lord Vishnu) himself as Narasimha (half man and half lion avatar) to protect his adorned devotee Prahalad and to kill the demon king Hiranyakashipu.
Devotees of Lord Vishnu celebrate this auspicious festival to remove all kinds of negative energies from life and to follow a righteous path for a happy and peaceful life.
The Sanskrit word Narasimha consists of two words “Nara” means man, and “Simha” means lion.
Thus, the word Narasimha means “man- lion” form, referring to a divine avatar of Lord Vishnu.
People living in different parts of India worship Lord Narasimha with different names, such as Narsingh, Narasimba, Narasinghar, Nrisimha, Nrisingha, Narasingha, Narasingh, Agnilochana, and Bhairavadambara.
Narasimha is one of the most popular incarnations of Lord Vishnu, perhaps next only to Lord Rama and Lord Krishna.
The depictions of the Narasimha avatar is available in a variety of Puranas, and sacred scriptures such as the Valmiki Ramayana, Vişņu Purana, Bhagavata Purana, Agni Purana, Brahmanda Purana, Vayu Purana, Kurma Purana, Matsya Purana, Padma Purana, Shiva Purana, Linga Purana and Skanda Purana.
Rituals / Celebrations of Narasimha Jayanti: On the day of Narasimha Jayanti, the devotees need to wake up early in the morning and take a dip in a sacred river such as Ganges, Yamuna, Saraswathi, Godavari, etc.
If this is not possible, then they can take a dip in a nearby river or at their residence while chanting the mantras of Lord Vishnu and Mother Ganga.
Devotees perform the puja for Lord Narasimha with offerings like sandalwood powder (Chandan), saffron (Kesar), coconut (Nariyal), fruits, flowers, incense sticks, and Diyas.
After that, the devotees recite shlokas, mantras in front of the deity.
In the end, they offer Aarti to Lord Narsimha with full faith to receive His divine blessings.
As per mythology, Lord Narasimha appeared at dusk (evening hours).
So, on this day, devotees who keep fast without eating and drinking water, break their fast after performing the prayer and aarti in the evening.
Mantras to worship Lord Narasimha: The chanting of following powerful mantras to pray to Lord Narasimha with due reverence, diligence, and devotion can remove fears, any problematic situation and bestow His blessings.
Narasimha Gayatri Mantra:
Om Nrisimhaye Vidmahe Vajranakhaya Dhimahi Tanno Simhah Prachodayat !!
Sri Narasimha Maha Mantra:
Ugram viram maha-vishnum jvalantam sarvato mukham
nrisimham bhishanam bhadram mrityur mrityum namamy aham !!
Significance: ‘Nara’ is a man and ‘Simha’ is a lion, and ‘Nara-Simha’ is thus a Man-Lion form.
Lord Vishnu took this unbelievable avatar to protect His devotee Prahalad from his own demon father Hiranyakashipu.
Lord Narasimha is a significant iconic symbol of hope against all odds, victory over adharma, and destroyer of obstacles.
All one needs is to call upon Him with faith, like Prahlada, to come out from any inexplicable situation.
Lord Narasimha is one of the widely worshipped deities in Hinduism.
There are numerous pilgrimage sites and ancient temples dedicated to Him throughout India.
Particularly in the state of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, Lord Narasimha is worshipped in numerous forms.
Devotees observe fast, worship Lord Narasimha with a pure heart, and chant mantras and hymns dedicated to Lord Vishnu to win His blessings for conquering the obstacles of life and to live a peaceful life.
Legend of Narasimha Jayanti: According to the Bhagavat Purana, a great sage named Kashyap had a wife named ‘Diti’ and they had two children named Hiranyakashipu and Harinyaksha.
Lord Vishnu, in his previous avatar as Varaha (3rd avatar), killed the evil asura Hiraṇayakṣa to protect mankind and the Earth.
His brother Hiranyakashipu was very annoyed by the death of his brother, hated Vishnu, and decided to take revenge.
He did strong prayers to Lord Brahma and took His blessings.
Hiranyakasipu requested Lord Brahma to grant him an extraordinary boon – “I shall not die within any residence or outside any residence, during the day or at night, nor on the ground or in the sky, neither I shall die by any weapon, nor by any human being or animal, I shall not meet death from any entity, living or non-living created by you, further, I shall not be killed by any demigod or demon or by any great snake from the lower planets”.
Lord Brahma granted the boon, and Hiranyakasipu started ruling all three Lokas (worlds) including heavens with these special powers.
Hiranyakashipu had a son named Prahalad.
Despite being born in a family of demons, Prahalad was a great devotee of Lord Vishnu.
This angered Hiranyakashipu who ultimately decided to kill his own son. Hiranyakashipu’s several attacks on Prahalad failed due to the mystical power of Lord Vishnu.
Feeling helpless, Hiranyakashipu got hold of Prahalad and asked him with anger, “Where is your God?” and banged his weapon hard on a nearby pillar and asked Prahalad to show him his God Vishnu.
Just after that Lord Narasimha, the fourth Avatar of Vishnu emerged out of the same pillar with a tumultuous sound.
Lord Vishnu incarnated in the form of half-man and half-lion- Narasimha avatar to satisfy the boon given by Lord Brahma.
Then Lord Narasimha took Hiranyakashipu in his lap and by using his sharp fingernails (neither animate nor inanimate) as weapons, he disembowelled and killed the demon king.
Since, then devotees started celebrating Narasimha Jayanti, the fierce avatar of Lord Vishnu with great sincerity and austerity.
Summary: Lord Narasimha who is one of the most powerful avatars (half-man and half-lion) of Lord Vishnu, is famously known as the remover of all negative energies and hardships from the life of His devotees.
The purpose of celebrating Narasimha Jayanti is to stay away from wrong deeds (adharma) and to follow the path of righteous deeds (dharma).
Numerous scriptures describe the glory of Lord Narsimha as the one who is the embodiment of victory of good over evil.
Hindus observe a complete fast on Narasimha Jayanti and offer prayers to get His blessings.
Narasimha Jayanti
Narasimha Jayanti, which falls on Vaishakha Shukla Chaturdashi, has significant relevance as per Hindu mythology. It commemorates the day when Lord Vishnu, the universe’s preserver, arrived in the formidable form of Narasimha.
The avatar represents half lion and half man form to defeat the demon Hiranyakashipu, who was causing havoc on Earth. This heavenly incarnation is thought to represent the triumph of good over evil, as well as the final victory of virtue.
Moreover, the auspiciousness day is enhanced by the alignment of Vaishakha Shukla Chaturdashi with the Swati Nakshatra and the weekday Saturday.
This convergence is regarded as a highly propitious time to observe the Narasimha Jayanti Vratam, a sacred ritual of fasting and prayer that is observed by devotees to seek the blessings of Lord Narasimha and invoke his protection and grace.
NARASIMHA JAYANTI : RITUALS
Observing the Narasimha Jayanti Vratam involves adhering to specific rules regarding the fasting period.
As per tradition, the fast is broken on the day following Narasimha Jayanti, after sunrise, but only when the Chaturdashi Tithi is over.
In the event that the Chaturdashi Tithi ends before sunrise, the fast can be broken anytime after sunrise, after completing the Jayanti rituals.
However, if the Chaturdashi Tithi persists beyond three-fourths of the Dinamana, i.e., the time between sunrise and sunset, the fast can be broken during the first half of Dinamana itself.
It is important to follow these guidelines meticulously, as they are believed to enhance the efficacy of the Vratam and bring about the desired spiritual benefits.
NARASIMHA JAYANTI : VISARJAN PUJA
During the Visarjan Puja, devotees offer prayers to Lord Narasimha and immerse the idol or picture of the deity in a nearby water body, such as a river or a lake.
It is also customary to recite the Narasimha Kavacham, a hymn that praises the various aspects of Lord Narasimha and seeks his blessings for protection and well-being.
The fast is usually broken with a simple yet nutritious meal consisting of fruits, vegetables, and dairy products.
Devotees also distribute prasad to family, friends, and the needy as a symbol of their gratitude and devotion towards Lord Narasimha.
Overall, Narasimha Jayanti is a significant festival for Hindus, especially for those who worship Lord Narasimha as their primary deity.
After completing Visarjan Puja and delivering Dana to Brahmin, the fast will be broken the next day.
Narasimha Jayanti
Vaikashi Shukla Chaturdashi is celebrated as Narasimha Jayanti. Lord Narasimha was the 4th incarnation of Lord Vishnu.
On Narasimha Jayanti day Lord Vishnu appeared in the form of Narasimha, a half lion, and half man, to kill Demon Hiranyakashipu.
The combination of Vaikashi Shukla Chaturdashi with Swati Nakshatra and weekday Saturday is considered highly auspicious to observe Narasimha Jayanti Vratam.
The rules and guidelines to observe Narasimha Jayanti fasting are similar to those of Ekadashi fasting.
Devotees eat only a single meal one day before Narasimha Jayanti.
All types of grains and cereals are prohibited during Narasimha Jayanti fasting.
Parana, which means breaking the fast, is done the next day at an appropriate time.
On Narasimha Jayanti day devotees take Sankalp during Madhyahna (Hindu afternoon period) and perform Lord Narasimha Pujan during Sanyakal before sunset.
It is believed that Lord Narasimha appeared during sunset while Chaturdashi was prevailing.
It is advised to keep night vigil and perform Visarjan Puja the next day morning.
The fast should be broken on next day after performing Visarjan Puja and giving Dana to Brahmin.
Narasimha Jayanti fast is broken the next day after sunrise when Chaturdashi Tithi is over.
If Chaturdashi Tithi gets over before sunrise then fast is broken any time after sunrise after finishing Jayanti rituals.
If Chaturdashi gets over very late i.e. if Chaturdashi prevails beyond three-fourth of Dinamana then fast can be broken in the first half of Dinamana.
Dinamana is a time window between sunrise and sunset.
Rituals of the day
Special puja is performed on this day with an idol or picture of Lord Narsimha and Goddess Laxmi
The devotee should wake up early during the Brahma muhurta and take a bath. He or she should wear new and fresh clothes.
Devotees should perform puja and offer gram dal and jaggery to the deity. The puja ceremony should be done with friends and relatives offering items like flowers, sweets, kumkum, Kesar, and coconut.
Fast on this day starts with sunrise and continues until the next day’s sunrise.
One can have one in the day that should be without any kind of cereals or grains.
Narsimha mantra should be recited with rudraksha mala to please and God and attain a more meaningful life.
It is good to donate clothes, precious metals, and sesame seeds on this day to the poor.
Narasimha Jayanti on Thursday, May 04,
Narasimha Jayanti Sayana Kala Puja Time – 03:53 PM to 06:25 PM
Duration – 02 Hours 31 Mins
Next Day Parana Time for Narasimha Jayanti – after 05:47 AM, May 05
On Narasimha Jayanti, Parana Day Chaturdashi would be over before Sunrise
Narasimha Jayanti Madhyahna Sankalp Time – 10:50 AM to 01:22 PM
Chaturdashi Tithi Begins – 11:49 PM on May 03,
Chaturdashi Tithi Ends – 11:44 PM on May 04,
Narasimha Jayanti
Narasimha Jayanti is observed in the country to commemorate the fourth incarnation of Lord Vishnu.
It falls on the Chaturdashi Tithi of Shukla Paksha in the month of Vaishakha.
The name Narasimha is derived from two Sanskrit words that tell the tale of God.
Simha, which means lion, and Nara, which means man, both refer to Lord Vishnu’s half-human, half-lion avatar.
In some parts of India, Narasimha Jayanti is also observed as Vaishakha Shukla Chaturdashi.
On this auspicious day, know all about the puja date, time, the story behind Narasimha Jayanti and mantras one should chant to worship Lord Vishnu.
Narasimha Jayanti
This year, the day will be observed on Thursday, May 4.
According to the Panchang, Chaturdashi Tithi will begin at 11:49 PM on May 3, Wednesday, and will be in effect until 11:44 PM on May 4, Thursday.
The auspicious time for the Narasimha Jayanti Sayana Kala Puja will be from 04:18 PM to 06:58 PM.
The Parana time for Narasimha Jayanti, which falls on the next day, will begin from 05:37 AM, May 5.
The Madhyahna Sankalp time is from 10:58 AM to 01:38 PM on May 4.
Narasimha Jayanti : Story
As per Hindu mythology, Prahlad was a devoted follower of Lord Vishnu.
His father, King Hiranyakashipu, did not appreciate the fact that he used to worship the God every time.
He made repeated attempts to stop Prahlad from praying, but was never successful.
During one of his evil attempts to harm Prahlad, Lord Vishnu took the form of Narsimha – half-lion, half-human body – and protected his devotee.
He killed the oppressive Hiranyakashipu to symbolise the triumph of good over evil.
Narasimha Jayanti : Significance
The devotees perform puja during the Vaishakha Chaturdashi sunset, which, according to the mythology, is when Lord Vishnu transformed into Lord Narasimha.
On this day, devotees observe Sankalp during Madhyahna and perform Lord Narasimha Pujan during Sanyakal, which is the time before sunset.
They observe a fast, and in order to please the God, they present flowers, treats, kumkum, kesar, and coconuts as prasad.
Devotees also repeat the Narasimha mantra while wearing a rudraksha mala.
Narasimha Jayanti : Mantra
It is believed that one can put a stop to all of their anxieties and fears by reciting the Narasimha Gayatri Mantra, which is highly beneficial. It is believed that by chanting this, Lord Narasimha shields a person from harm and cure their worries.
“Om Narsimhaye vidmahe vajranakhaya dhimahi tan no simhah Prachodayat |
Vajra nakhaya vidmahe tikshna damstraya dhimahi tan no narasimhah Prachodayat ||”
The Birthday Of Lord Vishnu’s 4th Avatar – Narasimha Jayanti
Narasimha Jayanti is considered an extremely auspicious festival among the Hindus. On this particular day, Lord Vishnu had come down to Earth as Narasimha (half man and half lion form), his 4th incarnation.
Hence, this day is observed with great delight as Narasimha Jayanti.
It is celebrated to negate any sort of negative forces from life and abstain from ill deeds as well as injustice.
This day is suitable for the removal of hidden negativities that can impact your health, career, finance, love life, or even family.
Narasimha Jayanti Significance
The goal of Narsimha Jayanti is to nullify Adharma and walk the path of Dharma.
One who observes fast on this day and prays to the Lord with integrity will be blessed with wish fulfilment.
Moreover, it is said that if anyone shows hostility towards others then that person should pay regard to Lord Narasimha on this day with devotion and this will make them calmer.
Lord Narasimha saves his followers from evil eyes and conspiracies in life.
Rituals For Narsimha Jayanti
There are certain Puja rituals performed on the day of Narasimha Jayanti to gain the grace of Lord Vishnu. They are as below:
- Wake up before sunrise.
- After taking a bath, start worshipping Lord Narasimha.
- Offer Chandan powder (sandalwood), Kesar (saffron), coconut, fruits, and flowers.
- Chant ‘Narasimha Gayatri Mantra’ after this.
- Devotees who conduct fasting should donate things like til (sesame) or gold as per their convenience.
Narasimha Jayanti Story
There lived a Rishi (sage) named Kashyap in India long back.
He and his wife, Diti had two sons namely Hiranyaksh and Hiranyakashipu.
It is said that the Varaha Avatar (Boar) of Lord Vishnu had killed Hiranyaksh.
Due to this, Hiranyakashipu pledged to avenge the death of his brother.
In his intent to defeat Lord Vishnu, he performed a profound Tapasya (Penance) and pleased Lord Brahma to attain the boon of being unconquerable.
Hiranyakashipu started misusing this power.
He gained control over heaven with his evil intentions and began to harass the Gods, Rishis, and Munis (Ascetics).
That time around, a baby boy named Prahlad was born to his wife Kayadhu.
Despite being born in the demon family, Prahlad who was a staunch devotee of Lord Vishnu worshipped him with utmost devotion and love.
He did not fear his father’s reprimand and continued his reverence for the Lord.
Enraged by this, Hiranyakashipu set an intention to kill his own son.
Hiranyakashipu’s many attacks on Prahlad went in vain due to Lord Vishnu’s grace. Feeling hopeless, he then decided to burn his son alive.
Prahlad was impelled to sit in the fire together with his aunt Holika who had the boon of not being burnt in the fire.
But, Lord Vishnu’s Leela (divine play) made it possible and Holika died in the fire, leading Prahlad out of the fire without being hurt.
Fierce Hiranyakashipu then held Prahlad and asked him, “Where is your God?”.
He banged his weapon on the side pillar and asked him again to show his God.
To his utter shock, Lord Narasimha appeared out of the pillar.
Hiranyakashipu had the boon of not being killed by Devas, either in human or animal form, neither during the day nor the night.
He couldn’t even be killed on the earth or space, and no weapon could be used.
Hence, Lord Vishnu emerged in the body of Narasimha, half-man and half-lion.
He laid Hiranyakashipu in his lap and killed him using his sharp nails.
May the Lord protect you all from the negativities in life and grant you peace, prosperity and happiness.
Happy Narasimha Jayanti.
Narasimha Jayanti Significance
On the 14th day of the Shukla Paksha, Lord Narasimha, the fourth incarnation of Lord Vishnu, emerged during the sunset on Chaturdashi.
The Hindu festival of Narasimha Jayanti is observed on Vaisakh Chaturdashi, the 14th day of the Shukla Paksha, and is one of the most important in the Hindu calendar.
Narasmiha Jayanti Date and Time
- Narasimha Jayanti: Thursday, May 4,
- Narasimha Jayanti Sayana Kala Puja Time: 4:18 PM to 06:58 PM
- Duration: 02 Hours 40 Mins
- Parana Time On Next Day for Narasimha Jayanti: 05:38 AM, May 05
- Narasimha Jayanti Madhyahna Sankalp Time: 11:17 am to 01:56 pm
- Chaturdashi Tithi Starts At: 11:49 PM on May 03,
- Chaturdashi Tithi Ends At: 11:44 PM on May 04,
Rituals of Narasmiha Jayanti
On this day, Lord Vishnu appeared as Narasimha, a half-lion, half-man who killed the demon Hiranyakashipu.
People observe a fast on Narasimha Jayanti.
The fasting rules are identical to those for Ekadashi fasting. Devotees consume only one meal before the day, which does not contain any grains or cereals and Vishnu Puja.
After the Jayanti day has passed, Parana is performed the next day at an appropriate time.
Devotees take Sankalp and perform Lord Narasimha Puja during Sankalp on Narasimha Jayanti day, before sunset, during Madhyahna, the Hindu afternoon time.
It is best to keep night vigil because it is believed that Lord Narasimha appeared during sunset when Chaturdashi was in effect.
When Chaturdashi Tithi ends after sunrise the next day, Narasimha Jayanti Parana is completed.
If Chaturdashi Tithi ends before sunrise, the fast is broken sometime after sunrise after finishing Jayanti rituals.
If Chaturthi lasts longer than three-fourths of Dinamana, which is the time between sunrise and sunset, the fast is to be broken in the first half of Dinamani.
Story of Narasimha
The origins of the Jayanti festival
The most terrifying of all the avatars was Vishnu’s Narasimha Avatar.
Vishnu assumed the avatar Narasimha to kill Hiranyaksha’s brother, Hiranyakashipu, who was also the father of Prahlad, after killing Hiranyaksha in the form of Varaha.
Lord Vishnu had a great devotee in Prahlad.
Hiranyakashipu was hell-bent on vengeance for his brother’s murder.
Brahma was fascinated by his austere penance.
Brahma appeared and bestowed a blessing on Hiranyakashipu.
Hiranyakshipu asked Brahma for immortality without hesitation. Brahma was put on the spot and said that although he couldn’t grant him immortality, he could certainly tie his death with conditions.
As a result, Hiranyakashipu asked Brahma to bless him with the following conditions:
- To avoid being killed by any of Brahma’s living creatures.
- To avoid being killed inside or outside any residence.
- To avoid being killed at any time of day or night.
- Not to be killed on the ground or in the air.
- To not be killed by any weapon, living or nonliving creature.
- To bestow upon him the gift of having no opponent.
Brahma then disappeared after bestowing his blessings on him.
Hiranyakshipu thought he had triumphed over death.
Prahlad became a traitor by worshipping the enemy of Daitya-Kul, Vishnu, and thus invited his death.
Shiva bestowed a blessing on Holika, Hiranyakashipu’s sister, and Prahlad’s aunt. Holika was untouched by fire thanks to the boon (Agni).
Holika sat on a pyre with little Prahlad on her lap in order to kill him.
However, instead of burning Prahlad, the pyre burned Holika alive, leaving Prahlad unharmed by the flames.
Hiranyakashipu’s assassination
Hiranyakashipu was angered by his sister’s murder, and he grew angrier by the day. Hiranyakashipu had reached his limit, and after several failed attempts to kill Prahlad, he asked Prahlad to worship him instead of Vishnu.
Prahlad declined, instead of telling his father that he would only worship Vishnu, the supreme being who was far superior to Hiranyakashipu.
Hiranyakashipu became enraged and asked Prahlad if Vishnu was the supreme power and omnipresent, would he be present in the pillar in front of him.
Prahlad said that the Lord could be found everywhere, including Hiranyakashipu.
Hiranyakashipu swung his mace at the pillar, smashing it to bits.
Lord Vishnu appeared in the form of Narasimha, who was half-lion, half-human.
The lord approached Hiranyakashipu, raised him and laid him on his thighs in the courtyard, then tore Hiranyakashipu’s chest apart with his claws.
In order to defend Prahlad, the Lord killed Hiranyakashipu at dusk, which was neither day nor night.
As a result, when Hiranyakashipu was killed, the boon was not disregarded, and he was killed by a half-human, half-animal avatar who used his nails as a sword, and he was killed not on the ground or in the sky, but on the Lord’s thigh.
Final Thoughts
Lord Narasimha’s tale represents the victory of good over evil.
In Narasimha Jayanti, devotees who worship the Lord by fasting are said to triumph over their adversaries. Their days of misfortune are thought to be coming to an end, but forces hold them at bay.
Fasting on that day to please Lord Narasimha also ensures disease prevention, abundance, bravery, victory and prosperity.
Hope you guys understood the significance of Narsingh Chaturdashi.
So, this Narsimha Jayanti, take the pledge to be the pillar of truth and victory.
Happy Narasimha Jayanti in Advance!
Lord Narasimha
INTRODUCTION :
Narasimha is an avatar of Lord Vishnu, who incarnates in order to protect Dharma, and to protect the earth and heaven from the Demon King Hiranyakashipu, and for saving the child devotee Bhakt Prahalad, from the clutches of Hiranyakasipu.
IMPORTANCE :
During Krita Yuga, there was a demon king known as Hiranyakasipu who has got various boons from Lord Brahma through his severe penance, and has become a more powerful demon king, and he has ordered the devas, demons, and other living beings in the earth and heaven to worship him.
All the living beings, were suffered by his cruel acts, and prayed to Lord Vishnu to safeguard them from Hiranyakasipu.
Lord Vishnu took Narasimha avatar and destroyed Hiranyakasipu.
Bhakt Prahalad was the son of Hiranyakasipu, but was an ardent devotee of Lord Vishnu.
After killing Hiranyakasipu, Narasimha has made Prahalad as the king for that region.
Narasimha is the ‘Great Protector’ who protects his devotees from their enemies.
He is referred in various puranas, and his importance is clearly mentioned.
Narasimha is also mentioned in the great epic Mahabharatha.
There are many famous temples dedicated to Lord Narasimha.
Some of them are as follows:-
- Mangalagiri Temple, Andhra Pradesh
- Yadagiri gutta Temple, Telangana
- Dharmapuri Temple, Telangana
- Singaperumal Koil Temple, Chengalpattu
- Yoga Narasimha Temple, Sholinghur
- Sri Malayadri Temple, Andhra Pradesh
- Sri Narasimha Swamy Temple, Kottayam, Kerala Narasimha Jayanthi festival will be celebrated widely in Narasimha temples, and in Vishnu temples, which will occur during May month of every year.
Various abhishekams will be taken place on that auspicious day, and Lord Narasimha deity will be decorated with flowers and garlands.
CONCLUSION :
Lord Narasimha, has taken the avatar for removing the evil forces from this earth and for protecting the good ones.
He is worshipped mainly for removing our sins in our life, and for removing several health related problems, problems due to black magic, mental related problems, enemy related problems etc.
Let us worship Lord Narasimha and be blessed.
“OM SREE NARASIMHAYA NAMAHA”
“OM SREE LAKSHMI DEVIYE NAMAHA”
“OM SREE BHAKTA PRAHALADARE NAMAHA”
Lord Narasimha Jayanti The Story that Teaches Us All the Power of Devotion & Belief
Narasimha Jayanti marks the day on which Lord Narasimha appeared.
It often falls on Vaishakha Shukla Chaturdashi and is known as the birth of Narasimha- the 4th avatar of Lord Vishnu.
Narasimha Chaturdashi is going to be celebrated on Tuesday 25th May.
The day is going to collide with Swati Nakshatra and Saturday which is deemed to be highly auspicious.
So folks, are you going to observe a fast or vratam to please Lord Narasimha? Keep reading this blog for more valuable details.
Find out Narasimha Jayanti story here.
All about Narasimha God or Lord Vishnu’s Fourth Avatar
Do you know why Lord Vishnu appeared on the earth in the form of his fourth avatar? Well, there is an interesting story behind it.
Every avatar of Vishnu had a specific purpose to fulfill. You will find the mention of His fourth incarnation in Shrimad Bhagavatam or Bhagavata Purana.
According to this holy scripture, Prahalada was the son of demoniac Hiranyakashipu. Lord Vishnu had killed his brother Hiranyaksha.
While Prahalada devoted himself in Hari-Bhakti, Hiranyakashipu developed the grudge against Shri Hari over the period.
When he came to know that Prahalada had great devotion for Lord Vishnu, he tried deviating him from Hari-Bhakti.
He even hired the eminent teachers Sanda and Amarka to impart the best education to his son.
But all went in vain as Prahlada has no interest in worldly thing but the adulation of Narayan.
When he came to know that it’s impossible to deviate Prahlada from Hari-Bhakti, he despised his own son. He tried innumerable ways to kill Prahlada.
In his last attempt, Hiranyakashipu took the help of his sister Holika.
He asked her to kill Prahlada by sitting on a burning pyre with him. Holika had the boon that no fire would ever burn her.
But when she sat on the pyre with Prahlada, she turned into ashes and Prahlada came unharmed.
This made Hiranyakashipu even more furious.
Later he asked Prahlada if God is great; if He lives everywhere.
Prahlada replied him yes, God is everywhere.
Then Hiranyakashipu asked him if He resides in the pillars of his palace.
Again Prahlada replied yes.
Laughing out loud on his son’s reply, Hiranyakashipu hammered his weapon on one of the pillars.
Suddenly, there was a turbulent sound and he saw Lord Vishnu’s Narasimha avatar emerging out of the pillar.
The Ending of Hiranyakashipu
As Hiranyakashipu had a special benediction from Lord Brahma that no human would ever kill him; neither by day nor by night; neither in the sky nor on the land or by any weapon, Lord Vishnu incarnated himself in a very different avatar.
He came out of one of the pillars with the body of half a lion and half a human.
It was neither day nor night but twilight.
There was no weapon involved; no battle was fought.
Lord Narasimha took him at the entryway of the palace.
He killed him with his nails and ended his menace.
As Narasimha appeared at the dusk on the Chaturdashi, the day is called Narasimha Chaturdashi or Jayanti.
Narasimha Jayanti Significance
Narsingh Chaturdashi signifies the win of good over evil.
It gives people a lesson that no matter how strong evil may be, it can be defeated.
The power of belief is stronger than anything.
It is said that people who fast on this day get Bhagwan Vishnu’s blessings. The Lord also fulfills their wishes and desires.
The fasting has same rituals as of Ekadashi vrat.
Devotees start the fast by worshipping and taking only one meal before Narasimha Jayanti.
On the auspicious day, they adulate Bhagwan Narsingh and observe a day-long fast.
They do not take grains and cereals but fruits.
They break the fast the next day on parna.
Narasimha Jayanti Mantra
Reap multifarious benefits by chanting Narasimha mantra given below-
Ito Nṛsiṁhaḥ Parato Nṛsiṁho
Yato Yato Yāmi Tato Nṛsiṁhaḥ
Bahir Nṛsiṁho Hṛdaye Nṛsiṁho
Nṛsiṁham Adiṁ Saraṇaṁ Prapadye
Narasimha Jayanti
Lord Narasimha is a fierce incarnation of Lord Vishnu.
There is no one equal to his power and might.
Lord Narasimha is extremely fierce but very tender from the inside too.
He’s always there standing like a rock to protect his devotees.
The birth anniversary of Lord Narasimha is celebrated as the Narasimha Jayanti on the Chaturdashi day of the Vaishakh month.
What is the Importance of Narasimha Jayanti?
Narasimha Jayanti is a festival to celebrate the strong relationship between the devotee and the Lord. Prahlad was an ardent devotee of Lord Vishnu.
He used to pray Lord day in and day out, which was not liked by his father, King Hiranyakashipu.
When the tyranny of King Hiranyakashipu on his devotee Prahlad reached its peak, then the Lord became angry and in this anger, he assumed his fiery incarnation.
Even in anger, Lord Vishnu didn’t lose control of himself.
He attacked only the enemies and not the innocent humans.
This incarnation teaches us that even when we are angry, we should not give up our conscience.
We must have compassion for mankind.
Narasimha Jayanti is also a festival symbolizing the victory of good over evil.
By celebrating Narasimha Jayanti , we should take a pledge to keep ourselves motivated in our devotion to God and stay away from evils.
Know the Story of Lord Narasimha on Narasimha Jayanti
In ancient times, there were two demons Hiranyaksha and Hiranyakashipu.
Once Hiranyaksha hid the earth in the sea, therefore, Lord Vishnu took the incarnation of Varaha to take out the earth and kill Hiranyaksha.
Hiranyakashipu was filled with anger towards Lord Vishnu to avenge his brother’s murder.
He did hard penance and took a boon from Brahmaji that neither any arm nor any weapon, neither day nor night, neither man nor animal, neither deities nor demons could kill him.
He misused this boon and started torturing people.
His wife Kayadhu gave birth to a son whose name was Prahlad.
Prahlad became a great devotee of Lord Vishnu.
Hiranyakashipu did not like this and made various efforts to kill Prahlad.
In the end, Lord Vishnu killed Hiranyakashipu by taking Narasimha’s avatar from a pillar.
The devotees observing a fast on Narasimha Jayanti should definitely read the Vrat Katha since it’s considered very beneficial.
How to Worship on Narasimha Jayanti
- Wake up early in the morning, take a bath and wear fresh clothes.
- Then clean the picture of Lord Narasimha. Clean the puja space and set it up for the Puja.
- Take the blessings of Lord Ganesha before conducting the puja.
- After this, offer red flowers and pitambar to Lord Narasimha.
- Offer fresh fruits and sweets to him as Bhog. Make a wish and chant any mantra of Lord Narasimha 108 times.
- Conclude the puja and distribute the Prasad among the devotees.
Special Mantras of Lord Narasimha
|| Kshroam || This is the Beej Mantra of Lord Narasimha.
|| Ugram Veeram Mahavishnum, Jvalantam Sarvatomukham ||
|| Narasimham Bhishanam Bhadram, Mrityormrityu Namamayham ||
|| Om Nrim Nrum Nrum Narasimhay Namah ||
Narasimha Gayatri Mantra || Om Vajrankhay Vidmahe Tekshna Dantraya Dhimahi. Tanno Narasimha Prachodayat ||
Chant any of these mantras as per your wish on Narasimha Jayanti to receive beneficial results.
Special Remedies to Perform Narasimha Jayanti
- Offer Nagkesar to Lord Narasimha in his temple to gain wealth.
- Offer a peacock feather to the Lord on Narasimha Jayanti to remove the malefic defects in the horoscope.
- You can offer curd to Lord Narasimha to avoid problems that may lead to court visits.
- To remove the unknown fear of enemies, bathe the Lord’s idol with cold water.
- If there is any financial loss then offer silver to the Lord on Narasimha Jayanti .
How to Observe Pooja and Fasting on Narasimha Jayanti Day
The day of advent of Lord Narasimha is observed as Narasimha Jayanti.
He is an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, the supreme God of protection and sustenance.
Narasimha is a unique form that has a human physique and a lion head.
Lord Vishnu incarnated in the form of a man-lion to annihilate the evil demon Hiranyakashipu and establish dharma, the ultimate righteousness.
Narasimha is believed to have appeared at the sunset time, on the Vaishak Shukla Paksha Chaturdashi day, that is, the 14th day of the bright fortnight, in the month of Vishaka (April–May).
Hence, Narasimha Jayanti is celebrated with piety on that day, with poojas and fasting.
Story of Narasimha
Hiranyakashipu was a fearsome Asura.
He developed a strong hatred towards Vishnu, as the Lord had earlier put an end to his brother Hiranyaksha, for saving the world from his cruelties.
Hiranyakashipu did intense penance towards Lord Brahma and obtained from him exceptional boons, which made him almost unconquerable.
Well-armed with these protective blessings, Hiranyakashipu let loose a reign of terror on all the worlds, dethroning the Devas, committing untold atrocities on sages, saints and humans, and mercilessly punishing anyone who took the name, Vishnu or Narayana.
Unable to withstand the demon’s assaults, people surrendered to Lord Vishnu seeking his mercy and intervention and the Lord stepped in to save the harassed beings.
Hiranyakashipu was blessed with a son Prahlada, who turned out to be the most ardent devotee of Vishnu himself.
This pious young prince virtually lived on the Lord’s sacred name and by singing his glory right in Hiranya’s palace, while the world outside bowed to the Asura’s diktats.
Hiranya could not digest his own son defying him openly and taking the name of his sworn enemy with great reverence, and tried all his means to make the boy change his mind and fall in line, but nothing helped.
Exasperated, he tried even to kill him by various means, but nothing worked against that divinely blessed youngster.
Firmly believing that it is none other than his great adversary Vishnu, who was instigating and protecting the young boy, Hiranya asked his son where exactly the Lord is and if he can be found in a pillar in his own palace.
When Prahlada replied in the affirmative, Hiranya smashed his mace at the pillar with intense rage, so as to locate and challenge his incredible foe.
Lo and behold! The pillar split open and out emerged the phenomenal figure of a man-lion, with eyes emitting fire.
This spectacular manifestation simply grabbed the bewildered Hiranyakashipu with his hands, dragged him to the palace entrance, laid him on his lap, tore his body with his sharp nails and destroyed the ruthless demon, at sunset time.
Thus, this remarkable Narasimha put an end to a deadly demon who looked unassailable, without violating any of the amazing boons that he had obtained, and saved his devotee and also the entire world, from his unbearable atrocities.
Narasimha Jayanti – Pooja and Fasting
Narasimha worship on the day of his Jayanti assumes special significance and so is the fasting observed on the occasion.
People can get up at Brahma Muhurth, very early in the morning, freshen themselves up, install the images of the Lord and the Goddess, offer lamp, dhoop, fruits, flowers and Prasad to the deities and perform pooja.
It is considered special to offer jaggery and gram sprouts to the Lord on this day.
People can then chant sacred hymns like Vishnu Sahasranama and those in praise of Lord Narasimha.
They can start the fasting subsequently, by offering water filled in a vessel to the Sun God and with the chants, ‘Om Vishnu Vishnu Vishnu’ and ‘Nrusingh Devadevesh Tava Janmadinae Shube Upavas Karishyami Sarvabhoga Varjithaha’.
People can observe complete fast till the next morning or can do partial fasting by consuming fruits and milk, but avoiding food items made of rice and grains.
During the day, they can chant hymns dedicated to the Lord and read stories on Narasimha Avatar from Bhagavatha Puran.
Doing charity is considered beneficial, while feeding the poor, especially the poor children is believed to get for the devotees, divine blessings.
As Narasimha appeared at the sunset, doing pooja for him at the twilight time is considered highly propitious.
People can make offerings to him like milk, curd, butter, ghee and sugar and offer prayers, during this evening pooja.
There is a firm belief that those who observe Narasimha Jayanti with devotion and faith will get liberation from the cycle of birth and death and reach Vaikunta, the abode of Lord Vishnu.
Narasimha Jayanti Puja
Nava Narasimha Homam And Chinnamasta Homam – Relieves all Malefic Effects of Bhumi Karaka and Rahu Inflictions, Bless Raja Yoga
The Mystic and combined Powers of Lord Nava Narasimha and Vidyut Shakti of Goddess Chinnamasta Protect Devotees from the Malefic Effects of Mars and Rahu. Both the Supreme Powers are considered to be the Great Cosmic Power, produces Supernatural and Electrifying Energy, that acts at all levels of Creations.
The powers of the divine Supremacy, of 9 immense Qualities of Lord Narasimha and the Goddess Chinnamasta is going to be highly venerated for relieving all from Malefic Effects of Mars and Planet Rahu.
This Terrific powerful Homam nullifies furiousness, anguish, violent attack, bad qualities, Rigidness, terrifying life accidents, worldly desires, greed, obsession and never diminished hunger.
This powerful Homam awakens all powerful Mystic Powers and Kundalini Shakti, bless all with Knowledge, Courage, Strength, Family Bonding, Life Desires, well-balanced life, Good Fortune, Liberate from Sins, protect devotees from evil effects and Remove Enmity and Conflicts.
Why this day is called Narasimha Jayanthi?
On Narasimha Jayanthi Lord Vishnu manifested as Lord Narasimha. Lord Vishnu has appeared in the form of half lion, half man to kill the demon Hiranyakashipu as Lord Narasimha on Vaishakha Shukla Chaturdashi day.
Sri Ahobilam is a place situated in Cudappah District of Andhra Pradesh, preserved nine temples of Lord Narasimha, the dedicated nine forms of Lord Narasimha, was discovered around 3000 years ago and Moola Murthi is said to be Swayumbhu, “Self-manifested“.
Significance of Narasimha Jayanthi
Narasimha Jayanthi is an appearance day of Lord Narasimha. On this day offering prayers to Lord Narasimha will clear all the malefic effects of Mars affecting the Mangal Graha will face delay in wedding-bells, disharmony with spouse, divorce or death of your spouse.
This day is very ideal one who wish to attain self-realization, wealth, possessions, name, fame and status.
Realizing yourself is a fundamental aspect of human value system and also achieving the aims of life concerning the well-being and upkeep of your family members and also denotes one’s own spiritual attainment.
Forms of Nava Narasimha (9 Forms of Lord Narasimha)
Lord Ugra Narasimha
Lord Yoga Narasimha
Lord Jwala Narasimha
Lord Bhargav Narasimha
Lord Krodha Narasimha
Lord Pavana Narasimha
Lord Malola Narasimha
Lord Chatravata Narasimha
Lord Karanja Narasimha.
Lord Narasimha Maha Mantra
Om Ugram, Viram, Maha-Vishnum,
Jwalantam, Sarvato Mukam,
Nirshimham, Bhishanam, Bhadram,
Mrityor-Mrityur namam yaham
I bow down before, the ferocious Lord Narasimha who is brave and the cosmic breath of Lord Vishnu, is full of radiance, bright, kind-hearted and saves us from death and evil.
Why this day is called Chinnamasta Jayanthi?
Goddess Shakti in the form Goddess Chinnamasta has appeared on this Vaishakha Shukla Chaturdashi day to bless courage and protect devotees from Evil Effects of Rahu.
The Powerful Chinnamasta Homam Removes the Negativities and all Evil Effects and unfavorable position of the planets, Bless Peace of Mind, Good Fortune, Successful Career and Solve Severe Health Issues, depression and Manglik Doshas.
Significance of Goddess Chinnamasta
Goddess Chinnamasta symbolizes, sexual self-control, on one side and sexual energy, on the other, in an visible form.
She represents aspects of life, wants and desires, short-lividness, calamities, re-construction and re-birth.
She believes one’s divine capabilities, have enormous power to invoke the divine power at any given point of time.
She is well-known for self-sacrifices, self-inflictions combined with sensual pleasures. She portrays headless goddess, holding in one hand the severed-head and the “Sabre’ on the other.
Goddess Chinnamasta Moola Mantra
” OM Shreem Hreem Hreem Vajra Vairocaniye Hreem Hreem Phat Svaha”
Our prayers to Goddess Chinnamasta, bless us with stable mind, abundant wealth and prosperity
Combined Benefits of Nava Narasimha Homam & Chinnamasta Homam
Eliminate Enemies, Death and Danger, Bless Peace and Joy
Remove Indebtedness, Bless Astounding Financial Gains, Life Desires
Remove marriage hurdles, conflicts with spouse, Bless Harmony
Destroy evil eye, win legal battles, Relieve negative energies, Cure Disease
Bless amicability, good will, Goodwill and wealth is safe and secured
Remove aggressiveness, hostile, Bless Victory, good health and prosperity
Remove pressure of adversities and bestow Long Life
Remove failures and Losses, bless Wisdom, Free from Stress & Pains
Narasima Jayanti
Narasimha Jayanti celebrates the birth anniversary of Narasimha Bhagawan, and is observed on Vaishakha Chaturdashi of Shukla Paksha. Narasimha is the fourth incarnation of Bhagawan Vishnu.
As mentioned in Hindu scriptures, Bhagawan Vishnu appeared in the form of an aggressive and violent creature, which was half human and half lion, to kill an asur named Hiranyakashipu.
He appeared with the face of a lion and the trunk of a man.
Vishnu devotees observe fast on this day.
Narasimha Jayanti
The Dasavataras of Bhagawan Vishnu are meant to redeem the world from all evil and re-establish righteousness for the benefit of mankind.
Narasimha, the ferocious avatar of Vishnu, was also born with an aim to destroy and attain victory over Asur King Hiranyakashipu, and put an end to his cruelty.
In this avatar, Vishnu appeared as half lion and half man, to protect his devotee and ardent admirer, Prahlad.
Hirayakashpu had the boon that he could not be killed during day or night, inside or outside, by any Bhagawan, asur, animal or man.
Thus, Vishnu took the form of Narasimha, partial lion and partial man, with claws in hand and killed him at the twilight when it was neither day, nor night.
Narasimha is a Sanskrit word made of two words, ‘nar’ meaning human, and ‘simha’ meaning lion.
He is also known by many other names such as, ‘Hiranyakashipu Vamsa’ or the one who killed Hiranyakashipu, ‘Bahiravadambara’ or one whose roar causes horror, ‘Karala’ or the one who has sharp teeth projecting out and ‘Agni Lochana’ or the one who has fire in eyes.
Narsimha Jayanti is celebrated on the 14th day of Shukla Paksha of Vaishakha month, or Vaishakha Chaturdasi.
ORIGIN AND SIGNIFICANCE:
As mentioned in Bhagavad Purana, there was a great sage, Kashyap who had two sons Hiranyakashipu and Harinyaksha.
Vishnu, in his 3rd avatar as Varah, killed Harinyaksha to protect Earth from his evil deeds.
Agonized by his brother’s mutiny, Hiranyakashipu held great enmity for Vishnu, and decided to avenge his brother’s death.
He prayed strongly to Brahma, and asked for a boon by which, he can be killed neither inside nor outside of his residence, neither on land, nor water nor air, neither by any Bhagawan nor an animal nor an asur, neither by a man nor a woman, neither in the day nor at night, and not by any weapon that existed on earth.
Brahma granted him the boon.
This boon made Hiranyakashipu invincible, and he ruled all the three loks. Hiranyakashipu had a son Prahlad, who, in spite of being born in an asur family, was a great devotee of Vishnu.
Hiranyakashipu could not accept his own son’s faith towards his biggest enemy, Vishnu. He tried to kill Prahlad many times, but all his efforts went in vain, because Vishnu always protected Prahlad, out of love for his devotees.
One day, in order to prove that Vishnu was not omnipresent, Hiranyakashipu banged his weapon hard on a pillar of his palace, and asked Prahlad to prove his Devta’s existence in it.
Vishnu emerged from the same pillar as Narasimha, and carried Hiranyakashipu to the doorstep of the palace, placed him in his lap and disfigured his bowel with his sharp claws.
This bypassed the boon, as it was twilight (neither day nor night), and he placed him in his laps (neither on land, not water, nor air), and attacked him with his claws (which was not classified as a weapon), on the doorstep of the palace (which was neither inside, nor outside the palace).
He finally killed the asur.
Since then, devotees started celebrating the great festival of Narasimha Jayanti.
Significance:
Narasimha avatar is an incredible form of Shri Hari to kill Hiranyakashipu and to protect his own devotee.
It’s an iconic avatar, celebrated as a triumph against all odds and victory over adharma.
All one needs is to call Sri Hari in faith.
Narasimha Bhagawan is one of the widely worshipped Bhagawans in India.
Devotees observe fast with proper rituals and with pure heart, to win the battles against evil and lead a peaceful life.
DIETIES ASSOCIATED WITH THE FESTIVAL:
Narasimha Bhagawan is the fourth incarnation of Vishnu.
Thus, Shri Hari along with Lakshmiji, is worshipped on the auspicious occasion of Narasimha Jayanti.
CUSTOMS, TRADITIONS AND RITUALS:
On this day, special puja is performed for Narasimha Bhagawan, during the pradosh period, as it is believed that Narasimha appears during sunset on Chaturdashi.
Special puja is performed with murti of Narasimha Bhagawan.
Keeping a vrat for this day is of great significance.
Donation of food, clothing and metal is considered beneficial on the occasion of Narasimha Jayanti.
Special food preparations for this day are made.
Panaka, which is actually a cool sweet drink made of tulsi leaves, sugar and khas, is specially prepared on this day.
Halwa made from moong dal or chana dal is also a prominent speciality of the day.
Devotees also study the episode of Narasimha avatar in Bhagavad purana.
The festival is considered to be very auspicious if it comes on Saturday with Swathi Nakshatra.
PUJA VIDHI AND KATHA:
Vidhi:
- Wake up in Brahma muhurta and take a bath.
- Take an oath of performing puja with all rituals.
- Observe fast for the whole day without any grains or cereals, and visit the temple.
- Clean the room and chowki where worship has to be done.
- Wash and clean the moola virat of Bhagawan Narsimha and Lakshmi ji.
- Dress Narsimha Bhagawan in yellow clothes.
- Spread a yellow cloth on the chowki, where the murti is to be placed.
- Place the murti of Narasimha Bhagawan and Lakshmiji in the east position of the house, facing the west.
- Keep fruits, flowers, sandalwood, camphor, roli, incense, saffron, panchmeva, coconut, akshat, gangajal, black sesame and pitambar for worship.
- Also place Kalash with coconut on top and mango leaves on the edge of kalash.
- Make a Ganesha with betelnut and pray to him.
- Offer prayers to Navagraha and ignite Ashta Deepak and dhoop.
- Offer an arghya to Bhagawan Narsimha and chant the mantra “Parithranaya Sadhunaam Jatho Vishnornrikesari”.
- Offer Pulihora as naivedyam.
- Offer other sweets like moong dal halwa and chana dal halwa, to Bhagawan
- Listen to the tale of Narasimha Bhagawan and chant Mantra:
Ugram ViramMaha Vishnum JvalantamSarvato Mukham NirsimhamBhishnam Bhadram Mrutyar Mrityum Nmamy Aham.
- Break the fast on the next day, after visarjan puja, along with aarti, and donation to Brahmin.
- One should also chant Narasimha mantra 21 times as: SRI NARASIMHA JAYA NARASIMHA JAYA JAYA NARASIMHA.
Katha:
- Once upon a time, in a village named Avanti Nagar, there lived a priest named Anandacharya.
He served at the Narasimha temple in the village.
He and his wife prayed daily so that the couple could be blessed with a kid.
One day, Narasimha Bhagawan came in his dreams and told him to perform Narasimha vrat, and a Brahmin named Vishwananda would help him to do the rituals.
Soon, the Anandacharya met the Brahmin, and completed the vrat procedure.
They were blessed with a boy and lived happily ever after.
- Once there was a gentle king named Vikramsingha, of the Kalinga Dynasty, who had fierce rivalry with the neighbouring state of Kosala.
Vikramsingha wished to put an end to this, through a war.
When he travelled, he came across a Narasimha temple and promised that if he won, he would observe a vrat.
He won the battle but forgot his promise.
This angered Bhagawan Narsimha, and he paralyzed Vikramsingha.
Later, one night, Vikramasingha had a dream of roaring lions, and he remembered his promise.
Soon, he performed a vrat and got free from his curse.
- Srinivas Acharya was a priest in the Narasimha temple of Krishnagiri. He had two beautiful daughters.
On the day of their eldest daughter, as they crossed the jungle to go to the venue, some thieves attacked them.
People shouted and prayed to Narasimha for help.
Soon Bhagawan came in the form of a lion and helped them.
They were saved from the hands of the thieves and the marriage also conspired successfully.
- Ramayya was a trustee of the Narasimha temple in Kalinga.
He was very honest and allocated all donations honestly for the benefit of the temple.
But there was another man Chalamayya, who was very jealous of Ramayya, and replaced him as a trustee.
He used to carry all the charity with him.
On this occasion, people of Kalinga prayed to Narasimha.
Chalamayya saw a roaring lion in his dreams and the next day, he saw that everything in his house got destroyed.
He understood that all his evil deeds have led to his misery.
He then worshipped Narasimha Bhagawan for forgiveness and atonement of his sins.
- There was a carpenter named Kurmandha, in Ratnagiri.
He was childless even after many years of marriage.
Once he went to a merchant’s house and saw the merchant performing Narasimha vrat.
Kurmandha listened to the first two stories of Narsimha and then left for work.
Soon Kurmandha and his wife were blessed with a boy, but he was crippled.
One day when a sage saw the boy, he told Kurmandha that his son was crippled because Narasimha Bhagawan was angry about Kurmandha leaving the vrat katha half way.
The sage asked Kurmandha to take his son to Narasimha temple and listen to all the five stories.
Kurmandha did the same and soon his child walked normally.
Thus, he remained a devotee of Narasimha Bhagawan for the rest of his life.
CELEBRATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY:
Narasimha Jayanti is a festival to celebrate the birth anniversary of Bhagawan Narasimha, and also victory of dharma over adharma.
Generally, worshipers observe vrat for the whole day and perform abhishek and keertan at dusk period of the day.
Tadawas, a village in Rajasthan, celebrates Narasimha Jayanti with great enthusiasm. Thousands of people from nearby villages attend this festival to enjoy the Narsingh leela.
Two avatars of Vishnu, Narsimha and Varah, are the most fascinating characters of this mela.
Some of the temples in India that celebrate the festival enthusiastically are:
- Lakshmi Narasimha temple in Mangalagiri, Andhra Pradesh
- Prahlad ghat in Hardoi, Uttar Pradesh
- Shri Lakshmi Narasimha temple in Maharashtra
BENEFITS OF CELEBRATING NARASIMHA JAYANTI:
Narasimha Jayanti is celebrated with an aim of removing adharma, and walking on the path of Dharma and righteousness.
When one observes fast on Narasimha Jayanti in the right manner, one gets blessed with many benefits such as:
- Success in legal issues.
- Protection from diseases and ailments.
- Improvement in health, peace and prosperity.
- Overcoming financial crisis.
- Child and good health of children
Bhagawan Narsimha blesses his devotees with all his compassion and love, and most importantly guides them in following the right path in life.
Narasimha Jayanti Naarasimha Kshetras
Narasimha, or Nrsimha or Narsingh, is the fourth incarnation of Lord Vishnu and is popularly known as ‘man-lion’ or ‘half man – half lion’ incarnation.
Narasimha Jayanti date is May 21.
The main aim of the Narasimha avatar was to end the tyranny of Hiranyakashipu and restore the path of Dharma.
Prahlada the young son of Hiranyakashipu and an ardent devotee of Lord Vishnu paved the way for the removal of Adharma.
Narasimha Jayanti Mantra
Om Ugram Veeram Mahavishnum Jwalnetam Sarvthomugham
Narasimham Bheeshanam Bhadram Mrityu Mrityu Namabhayaham
ॐ उग्रं वीरं महाविष्णुं ज्वलन्तं सर्वतोमुखम्।
नृसिंहं भीषणं भद्रं मृत्यु मृत्युं नमाम्यहम्॥
Narasimha Jayanti is observed on the 14th day of the Shukla Paksha (waxing phase of moon) in Vaisakha month (April – May).
It is believed that Lord Vishnu appeared in the form of Narasimha on the day to destroy demon Hiranyakashipu.
Some Vishnu devotees observe a fast on the day.
Special prayers and pujas are performed on the day. Jaggery and gram sprouts are offered to the deity.
How to Observe Puja and Fasting on Narasimha Jayanti Day?
In morning after taking bath perform Puja to Narasimha with dhoop, lamp, flowers, fruits and naivedya (prasad food).
Then chant Vishnu Sahasranama Stotra.
After this take a vessel full of water and offer it to Surya and begin the fast.
Start the fasting with this mantra
ओम विष्णु: विष्णु: विष्णु:
– नृसिंह देवदेवेश तव जन्मदिने शुभे उपवास करिष्यामी सर्वभोगवर्जित:
Those devotees fasting on Narasimha Jayanthi day visit Lord Vishnu temples.
Fasting is from sunrise to sunset.
Those opting for partial fast can consume milk, fruits, and food items not made using rice and grains.
Prayers dedicated to Narasimha are chanted on the day. The best prayer is to read About The Avatar of Narasimha In The Bhagavata Purana
People also give alms on the day and perform Annadhanam (donate food to poor). Donating food to poor children is highly meritorious on the day.
It is believed that those people who observe Narasimha Jayanti vratham will reach the ‘Vaikunta’ – abode of Vishnu.
Evening Puja at Twilight is Important
The most important puja on the day is performed evening when there is twilight – Narasimha appeared during twilight just after sunset.
The deity should be offered milk, sugar, curd, ghee and butter during the evening puja.
After this the fast is broken by taking Charanamrit.
Story of the Appearance of Narasimha
Demon Hiranyakashipu had obtained a boon from Brahma that he could not be killed by man or beast, by day or by night and from inside or outside.
And also he could not be killed by any weapon.
After receiving such a powerful boon, Hiranyakasipu conquered heaven and earth and declared himself as God and asked people to worship him and not Vishnu.
But Hiranyakashipu’s son, Prahlāda, was a staunch Vishnu devotee and disobeyed his father.
The whole kingdom worshiped Hiranyakasipu, but in his own house, his son worshiped Vishnu.
Father tried all means to change his son, but he failed miserably.
He then tried to kill but each time the young boy escaped from the clutches of death with the blessings of Vishnu.
Fed up with his son, one-day Hiranyakasipu challenged Prahlada and, looking to a stone pillar, asked, ‘If your god is omnipresent, is he in this pillar also?’ Prahlad answered, ‘HE is present in the pillar and even in the rust.’
Hearing this Hiranyakasipu slashed hard on the pillar with a sword.
Suddenly, Lord Vishnu emerged from the pillar in the form of a Narasimha and slew the demon at dusk.
Narasimha killed the demon by keeping him in his lap and tearing his heart with bare hands thus overcoming all the boons the demon had attained from Brahma.
Narasimha Jayanti
Narsimha Jayanti is another important festival among the Hindus and is celebrated on Vaisakh Chaturdashi (14th day) of the Shukla Paksh.
Narsimha is the fourth incarnation of it Lord Vishnu where he appeared as a man-lion that is the face was like a lion and the trunk was like a man.
He had killed demon Hiranyakashipu on this day.
All Lord Vishnu devotees also observe fast on this day.
It is known that Narsimha appeared during the sunset on Chaturdashi and that is why the puja is performed during those hours.
The purpose of Narasimha Jayanti is to remove adharm and to follow the path of dharam.
Dharam is to perform correct deeds and not harm anyone.
Rituals of the day
- Special puja is performed on this day with idol or picture of Lord Narsimha and Goddess Laxmi.
- Devotee should wake up early during the Brahma muhurat and take a bath. He or she should wear new and fresh clothes.
- Devotees should perform puja and offer gram dal and jaggery to the deity. The puja ceremony should be done with friends and relatives offering items like flowers, sweets, kumkum, kesar and coconut.
- Fast on this day starts with sunrise and continues until the next day’s sunrise. One can have one in the day that should be without any kind of cereals or grains.
- Narsimha mantra should be recited with rudraksha mala to please and the God and attain a more meaningful life.
- It is good to donate clothes, precious metals, and sesame seeds on this day to the poor.
Fasting on Narsimha Jayanti is said to relieve all problems of devotees.
They should try to meditate and recite mantras in isolation for better results.
There are numerous temples in southern India that are dedicated Lord Narsimha where regular prayers and pujas are offered to the Lord.
Strong dedication is required to be priests in the temples of Narsimha and devotees should also meditate while in temple.
Narasimha Jayanti
Narasimha Jayanti is observed on the fourteenth day of the Shukla Paksha in Vaishakh month. This is an important Hindu festival.
Lord Narasimha is the fourth avatar of Lord Vishnu. It is believed that by attending Narasimha Homam on this day, one can attain supreme power.
Narasimha Jayanti signifies the victory of good power over evil forces. Praying Lord Narasimha on this day blesses the devotees and Lord safeguards their devotees from any misfortune and legal matters.
History:
According to Hindu Scriptures, in ancient times there was a Saint called Kashyap, he had a wife Diti, and two sons Hiranyaksha and Hiranyakashipu.
When Lord Vishnu’s third incarnation Varaha killed Hiranyaksha, Hiranyakashipu swore revenge.
He performed tough penance to impress the creator, Lord Brahma.
Pleased by his penance Lord Brahma appeared, Hiranyakashipu wished not to be killed under the following circumstances; neither inside his house nor outside, neither during day nor night, neither by an entity living or non-living not by any weapon, neither on the ground nor in the sky, neither by a Human nor by an animal, neither Deva nor Asura, nor any being created by Lord Brahma.
Lord Brahma granted the boon and Hiranyakashipu established his rule in heaven, with his forces and invincibility.
All the Devas went to Lord Vishnu to get rid of Hiranyakashipu and Lord Vishnu promised that he will kill Hiranyakashipu.
In the meantime, his wife Kyadhu gave birth to a son named, Prahalad, who grew devoted to Lord Vishnu, he used to tell the importance of the Lord’s Devotion to Asura’s kids.
When Hiranyakashipu came to know about this he got angry and tried to distract Prahalad from Lord Narayana in various ways and make him a demon, but failed.
Hiranyakashipu decided to kill such a son.
He tried to kill him by elephant, fire, poison, snakes, and warriors but Prahalad was saved by worshipping Lord Vishnu on each attempt.
Even his people started praying to Lord Vishnu. Frustrated, Hiranyakashipu asked Prahalad where is Lord Vishnu and he said Lord Vishnu is omnipresent.
Hearing this Hiranyakashipu asked if his God resides in a pillar of his chamber and Prahalad said yes.
Furious, Hiranyakashipu smashed the pillar with his mace and Lord Narasimha appeared before him, half man, half lion.
Lord Narasimha dragged Hiranyakashipu to the doorway of the place and held him on his lap and ripped him apart with his nails during Twilight.
By killing Hiranyakashipu, Narasimhadeva restored peace and harmony in the universe.
Importance:
Lord Narasimha is a fierce avatar and a significant iconic symbol of hope against all odds and victory over the bad.
Lord Narasimha is worshipped in various forms in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
Lord Narasimha is prayed in different parts of India and is known by many different names, such as Narasimba, Nrisingha, Narasinghar, Narsingh, Agnilochana, and Bhairavadambara.
People who worship Lord Narasimha are blessed with courage, prosperity, and abundance.
Puja and Tithi:
Worshippers wake up early in the morning and take a bath and wear clean clothes. Some people also take a dip in a sacred river.
Worshippers pray to Lord Narasimha and Goddess Lakshmi and offer aarti with full devotion and sincerity.
Devotees offer saffron, coconut, fruits, flowers, diyas, and incense sticks.
According to Hindu mythology, Lord Narasimha appeared in the evening therefore people who keep fast on this day should break their fast after performing prayer and aarti in the evening, and refrain from eating grain or cereal during fast.
Narasimha Jayanti fasting relieves a person from all his problems.
The Lord Narasimha: A Symbol of Devotion and Protection
Narasimha Jayanti:
Narasimha Jayanti: Celebrating the Victory of Good over Evil
Narasimha Jayanti is an important Hindu festival celebrated on the 14th day of the bright half of Vaishakha month, which usually falls in the months of April or May.
The festival is celebrated to mark the birth anniversary of Lord Narasimha, the fourth incarnation of Lord Vishnu.
The day is believed to be very auspicious and is celebrated with great fervor and enthusiasm by devotees all over the world.
The legend of Narasimha:
According to our history, Narasimha was born to destroy the demon king Hiranyakashipu, who had received a boon from Lord Brahma, making him almost invincible.
Hiranyakashipu was a tyrant who wanted to be worshipped as God and forbade his son Prahlad from worshipping Lord Vishnu.
However, Prahlad continued to worship Lord Vishnu, which infuriated Hiranyakashipu.
Hiranyakashipu tried various ways to kill Prahlad, but Lord Vishnu protected him every time. Finally, Hiranyakashipu challenged Prahlad to show him where his God was, and Prahlad replied that
God is everywhere, even in the pillar near them. Enraged, Hiranyakashipu tried to destroy the pillar, and Lord Narasimha emerged from it, half-man and half-lion.
Narasimha then killed Hiranyakashipu, thus saving Prahlad and restoring order to the universe.
Celebrations:
On Narasimha Jayanti, devotees offer special prayers and perform various rituals to seek the blessings of Lord Narasimha.
The day usually starts with devotees taking a bath and visiting the temple to offer their prayers.
They also offer special prasad and perform aarti to Lord Narasimha.
Many devotees observe a fast on this day, and some even perform a havan or yagna to seek the blessings of the Lord.
Conclusion:
Narasimha Jayanti is a significant festival that symbolizes the victory of good over evil.
It reminds us that no matter how powerful and invincible evil may seem, it will always be defeated by the forces of good.
The festival also highlights the importance of faith and devotion in our lives.
Celebrating Narasimha Jayanti with family and friends can help us strengthen our faith and renew our commitment to leading a righteous life.
6 Spiritual and Cultural Activities for Children to Celebrate Narasimha Jayanthi
Narasimha Jayanthi is a festival that commemorates the victory of good over evil and the triumph of Lord Narasimha, the fourth avatar of Lord Vishnu.
On this day, children can participate in various activities that promote spiritual and cultural awareness.
Here are some activities that children can do on Narasimha Jayanthi:
1.Learn about Lord Narasimha: Children can read or listen to stories about Lord Narasimha and his significance.
They can also learn about the symbolism behind his appearance and why he is worshipped.
2. Offer prayers and perform puja: Children can participate in puja by offering flowers, fruits, and other items to Lord Narasimha.
They can also chant mantras and offer prayers to seek his blessings.
3. Participate in bhajans and kirtans: Children can sing bhajans and kirtans to celebrate the festival and express their devotion to Lord Narasimha.
4. Create artwork: Children can create artwork such as drawings or paintings of Lord Narasimha or scenes from his stories.
5. Make and share prasadam: Children can help in preparing and distributing prasadam (blessed food) to family and friends as a way of sharing the joy and blessings of the festival.
6. Listen to discourses and talks: Children can attend talks or discourses about the significance of Narasimha Jayanthi and its relevance in today’s world.
Overall, Narasimha Jayanthi is a great opportunity for children to learn about and connect with their cultural and spiritual roots.
It can also help instill important values such as devotion, compassion, and respect.
“The Legend of Narasimha: The Story of the Half-Man, Half-Lion Avatar of Lord Vishnu”
According to our history, Lord Vishnu took the form of Narasimha, a half-man and half-lion, to protect his devotee Prahlada from his father Hiranyakashipu, a demon king who wanted to kill his son for worshiping Lord Vishnu.
As the legend goes, Hiranyakashipu had gained a boon that made him virtually indestructible.
He could not be killed by man or beast, neither indoors nor outdoors, neither on land nor in the air, and not even during the day or night.
This made him arrogant and he began to challenge the gods and demand that everyone worship him instead.
However, his son Prahlada remained devoted to Lord Vishnu and refused to worship his father.
This angered Hiranyakashipu, who tried to kill Prahlada multiple times but failed due to Lord Vishnu’s protection.
Finally, Hiranyakashipu challenged Prahlada to prove the existence of Lord Vishnu. Prahlada replied that Lord Vishnu is omnipresent and can be found everywhere, including in a pillar nearby.
Hiranyakashipu struck the pillar in anger, and Lord Vishnu emerged in the form of Narasimha, who was neither man nor beast, and could not be killed by any of the conditions specified in the boon.
Narasimha then proceeded to kill Hiranyakashipu at dusk, using his claws instead of weapons, and thus fulfilling the conditions of the boon.
Prahlada was saved and Narasimha became a revered deity, especially during the festival of Narasimha Jayanti, which celebrates his birth.
The story of Narasimha is a reminder of the triumph of good over evil, and the power of devotion and faith.
It teaches us to remain steadfast in our beliefs and trust in the protection of the divine.
Significance of Narasimha Jayanti
Narasimha Jayanti is celebrated as an important Hindu festival observed on the fourteenth day of the Shukla Paksha in Vaishakh month.
Devotees are dedicating the Narasimha Jayanthi to Lord Vishnu in the fourth avatar or incarnation `Narasimha“.
According to Hindu belief, it was on the dusk of this day, Lord Narasimha killed the evil Hiranyakashipu.
The pooja is practising on the day of Narasimha Jayanthi at the evening time.
As stated in Hindu mythology, Sage Kashyap and his wife Diti had two sons namely Hiranyaksha and Hiranyakashipu.
To save the earth from wickedness, Lord Vishnu was forced to kill Hiranyaksha.
But that was a shock to Hiranyakashipu and decided to take revenge.
Hiranyakashipu begins to penance to please Lord Brahma.
He appeared in front of Hiranyakashipu and blessed him.
And so on Hiranyakashipu started to rule all Lokas and also the heavens.
His actions to rule al Lokas and heaven make all the Devas were helpless.
At the same time, Kayadhu, wife of Hiranyakashipu gave birth to his son Prahlad.
But his child was not similar to any demons.
His misfortune takes that child totally devoted to Lord Narayana.
Except for Prahlad, all others changed from devotion.
Hiranyakashipu was forced to distract him from Lord Vishnu to make him a demon.
But his son didn’t accept that.
At last, he decided to burn his son.
While he was sitting over his sister Holika’s lap, Hiranyakashipu burned him.
Holika had the favour of God that she couldn’t burn-in fire.
He utilised that favour. But unlucky, Holika died due to the severe devotion of Prahlad to Lord Vishnu.
Nothing happened to Prahlad. After that, the followers of Hiranyakashipu started to devotee Lord Vishnu.
By seeing this too, he became very aggressive and both father and son started to debate with each other.
He asked Prahlad about the existence of Lord Vishnu and challenged him to appear in front of him.
But he replied that the Lord has resided in everything.
Hiranyakashipu asked Prahlad about the presence of Lord Vishnu in the pillar.
Prahlad agreed with his father’s statement about the presence of God in the pillar.
By listening to it, Hiranyakashipu smashed the pillar.
Suddenly Lord Narasimha killed him by tearing his chest with his nails and blessed Prahlad by saying that one who would practise fasting on that day will retrieve from all the problems.
The death of Hiranyakashipu symbolises the victory of good over evil. Because Narasimha is the representation of power and victory.
During the day of Narasimha Jayanti, devotees observe special puja to Lord Narasimha and Goddess Lakshmi.
For that, devotees wake up early in the morning and after bathing they are wearing new clothes.
While conducting puja to God, they offer flowers, sweets, kumkum, saffron, coconut, gram dal and jaggery.
Most of the devotees practise fasting with sunrise and continue till the next day sun rises.
It is necessary to avoid eating cereals or grains and rice items. But they can consume milk and fruits.
During that day, devotees are chanting the mantra of Lord Narasimha by using rudraksha mala.
And also they are donating clothes, precious metals, sesame seeds to the poor people.
By attending Narasimha homam, people will get supreme power.
It helps to get rid of the difficulties in business.
Lord Narasimha is regarded as the protector against evil, so he helps to avoid the cruels and evils away.
Yet, it helps to clear the sins and get salvation.