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Narasimha Jayanthi Narasimha Jayanthi is being celebrated today,Vaisakha Shukla Chaturdashi (14th day of the waxing phase of the lunar month of Vaishaka). On this day Lord Vishnu had appeared in the form of Narasimha ( half lion and half man) as the fourth avathara, to protect his dear devotee Prahlada and to kill his demoniac father Hiranyakashipu. The depictions of Narasimha avathara is available in a large number of sacred texts and Puranas such as Vishnu Purana, Bhagavatha Purana, Agni,, Brahmanda , Vayu, Kurma, Matsya, Padma, Kurma, Linga and Skanda Puranas, As per legend, Hiranyakashipu had received a special benediction from Lord Brahma that he could not be killed by any human being, demigod, or animal, or any other entity. He could not be killed by any kind of weapons, neither during day nor night, neither on earth nor on the sky. So, for the sake of Prahlada, the Lord had to incarnate and appear appear in half-man half-lion form and kill the rakshasa king with His nails at twilight, thus satisfying all the conditions. We have earlier studied the story of Prahlada : A pdf file to refresh our memories is attached.

The Nine Forms Of Lord Narasimha
It is said that Lord Narasimha appears to save his devotees from danger. Adi Shankaracharya was saved by Lord Narasimha when he was being sacrificed to Goddess Kali. Guru Adi Shankaracharya then composed the Lakshmi-Narasimha Stotram to please the Lord.
Lord Narasimha is commonly depicted as a creature that is half-man and half lion. He has a ferocious expression on his face and has long and sharp finger nails. These finger nails are the only weapons he possesses. He has also been described in more than 74 forms, based on the pose and weapons he holds. There are nine forms that are the most famous : different versions have slightly varying lists. These nine are together called the Nava Narasimha:

Ugra-narasiṁha: The word ‘Ugra’ is translated as ferocious. The lord is depicted as the ferocious form with Hiranyakashyapu’s mutilated body on his lap. Prahalada stands before the Lord with his head bowed. It is said that it was in this form that the Lord gave darshan to Garuda and Adi Shankaracharya.

Kroddha-narasiṁha: This form of the Lord is depicted with extruded teeth. The form also is a combination of the third avatar of Lord Maha Vishnu – Varaha. He holds the Mother Earth in between his teeth.

Malola Narasimha:’Maa’ refers to Goddess Lakshmi and ‘lola’ refers to lover. This form of Lord Narasimha has the Goddess Maha Lakshmi depicted in it. This is one of the calmest forms of the Lord.

Jwala Narasimha: This is one of the most ferocious forms of the Lord. He is depicted as a beast with eight hands. He used two hands to tear open Hiranyakashyapu’s stomach, two garlands on himself with the intestines, two hands are used to hold the demon in place and the last two hold the weapons – conch and discuss.

Varaha Narasimha: This form of Lord Narasimha is also called Prahalada Varadar or Shanta Narasimha. This form is also often depicted along with Goddess Lakshmi or the Varaha Avatar of Lord Maha Vishnu.

Bhargava Narasimha: Lord Parashurama was blessed by Lord Narasimha. The form in which he appeared is known as Bhargava Narasimha. This form is similar to the Ugra Narasimha form.

Karanja Narasimha: It is said that Lord Hanuman once did a penance to see Lord Rama. Lord Maha Vishnu appeared as Lord Narasimha instead. The form of Lord Narasimha has a resemblance to Lord Rama. He holds the bow and arrow and has the serpent Ananta spread over his head as an umbrella. Karanja is a tree under which Lord Hanuman performed the penance and where Lord Narasimha appeared.

Yoga Narasimha:In this form, Lord Narasimha holds a meditative pose. He has his legs crossed and his eyes are closed. His hands rest in a yogic mudra that denoted peace. It is said that it was in this form that Lord Narasimha taught his devotee Prahalada all the basics of yoga.

Lakshmi Narasimha: The Lakshmi Narasimha form is a calm depiction of Lord Narasimha. The Lord is shown with his consort Chenchu Lakshmi. It is said that during the avatar of Lord Narasimha, Goddess Lakshmi took birth as Chenchu Lakshmi in the home of some tribals in the Nallamalai forests to be with Lord Narasimha. There are tribals who worship this form of Lord Narasimha even to this day. All the nine forms of the Lord can be worshipped in the Ahobilam temple, located in Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh. The temple consists of nine shrines to Lord Narashimha located around 5 Kms. According to the sthala Purana, the entire story of Narasimha avatara and the killing of Hiranyakashipu took place here. Lord Narasimha destroys sins, grants virtues, moral religious merits and objects of human pursuit. He fulfils all the wishes for the seekers of worldly desires. The Lord grants ultimate peace, knowledge, and joy.

Narasimha Gayatri Mantra
< vajranakhaya dhimahi tan no simhah Prachodayat |
Vajra nakhaya vidmahe tikshna damstraya dhimahi tan no narasimhah Prachodayat ||
Sri Narasimha Maha Mantra
Ugram viram maha-vishnum jvalantam sarvato mukham |
nrisimham bhishanam bhadram mrityur mrityum namamyaham ||”