Narasimha Avatar (Nara means “man” and Simha means “lion”) was the fourth incarnation of Lord Vishnu in the form of a part-man and part-lion who killed the despotic demon king Hiranyakashipu and restored dharma on the Earth. This incarnation happened in Satya Yuga. Narasimha’s head was of a lion, and the body was of a man with the claws of a lion. Narasimhi is the name of his wife who is an incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi.
The Narasimha Avatar Story:
There are about 17 different versions of the story. It is mentioned in Valmiki Ramayana, Vishnu Purana, Bhagavata Purana, Agni Purana, Brahmanḍa Purana, Vayu Purana, Brahma-Purana, Vishnudharmottara Purana, Kurma Purana, Matsya Purana, Padma Purana, Shiva Purana, Linga Purana, Skanda Purana, and Harivamsha.
Hiranyakashipu Gets the Boon of Immortality:
Lord Vishnu, in his third incarnation as Varaha Avatar, killed Hiranyaksha, who was the brother of Hiranyakashipu. Because of this, Hiranyakashipu got furious and became an enemy of Lord Vishnu. To get more powers, he started an austere penance. After many years of hard penance, Lord Brahma was pleased and appeared before him. He asked him to ask for any boon he wants.
So, Hiranyakashipu asked for immortality, but Brahma denied that as it was not possible. So, Hiranyakashipu asked for another boon that he would not be killed by any human, animal, or god, by any weapon, or by any living or non-living entity created by Brahma. He also asked that he would not be killed in the day or night, inside or outside a residence, in the sky, or on the ground. Lord Brahma granted this boon to him.
After getting this boon, Hiranyakashipu attacked Indra, the king of gods, and defeated him. He became the lord of the three worlds. He started persecuting devotees of Lord Vishnu and forced people to worship him as a god. Devotees of Vishnu were brutally killed by him.
The Rebellion of Prahlada:
He had a son whose name was Prahlada, who was a staunch devotee of Lord Vishnu. One day, Hiranyakashipu came to know about his devotion towards Lord Vishnu, and he became very furious but realizing that Prahlada was his own son, he tried to convince him that not Vishnu but he was the lord of three worlds, and he should worship him and not Vishnu. But Prahlada did not agree with him and continued his devotion towards Lord Vishnu. So, Hiranyakashipu ordered his men to kill him as a punishment.
When the soldiers tried to kill Prahlada with their swords, their swords could not even touch him. Then they attempted to trample him with elephants, but elephants did not do that. Then they threw him into a big pan containing boiling oil, but again, Pralhad was untouched. So after that, Hiranyakashyapu ordered his sister, Holika (who was immune to fire), to take Prahlada on her lap, and they were put on fire but to his surprise, Holika was turned into ashes and Prahlada survived again.
The Appearance of Narasimha Avatar:
When asked, Prahlada told him that Lord Vishnu was protecting him, and he was present everywhere. So, Hiranyakashipu asked him whether he was present in the pillar of his palace. Prahlada said that, of course, Lord Vishnu was everywhere, and he was in the pillar also. So, the demon kicked the big pillar. The pillar broke with a crackling noise, and a lion-headed, ferocious-looking man appeared from it. Hiranyakashipu was very scared and started running. Soon the Narasimha caught him and took him to the threshold of his courtyard and made him sleep on his lap.
He yelled, “Look Hiranyakashipu, this is neither day nor night, you are not inside the residence or outside the residence. I am neither a human nor a god. You are neither on the Earth nor in the sky, and I am not killing you with any weapon but with my nails.” By saying so, Narasimha tore Hiranyakashyapu’s stomach with his fingernails, and the demon died immediately.
Even after killing Hiranyakashipu, Narasimha Avatar of Lord Vishnu was unable to control his anger. Hence, Prahlada started singing the praise of Narasimha Avatar, and then he became quiet.
After that, Prahlada became the king, and he ruled for the next many years. Prahlada is also known as Bhakta Prahlada. There are some movies made about his life in Bollywood as well as in regional Indian languages.
What Happened to Narasimha Avatar after He Killed Hiranyakashipu?
1. There are mainly two stories mentioned in the Hindu texts. After the death of Hiranyakashipu, Narasimha went to Vaikuntha (the abode of Lord Vishnu) and became one with Him.
2. Narasimha was so fierce and angry that even after killing Hiranyakashipu, his fury did not subside. Gods feared that the universe would annihilate because of it. They approached Lord Shiva to solve the problem. Lord Shiva took the form of Sharabha and killed Narasimha.
Origin of the Story of Narasimha Avatar:
Some scholars believe that the story of Narasimhas has a basis in the Vedas. There are some verses in different hymns that might be the source of the story.
1. Vishnu Hymn in the Rigveda (1.154):
“For this, his mighty deed is Visnu lauded, like some wild beast, dread, prowling, mountain−roaming; He within whose three wide−extended paces all living creatures have their habitation.”
2. Indra-Namuchi Legend in the Shatpatha Brahmana of the Yajurveda (12.7.3):
“By means of the Surâ-liquor Namuchi, the Asura, carried off Indra’s (source of) strength, the essence of food, the Soma drink. He (Indra) hasted up to the Asvins and Sarasvatî, crying, ‘I have sworn to Namuchi, saying, “I will slay thee neither by day nor by night, neither with staff nor with a bow, neither with the palm of my hand nor with the fist, neither with the dry nor with the moist!” and yet has he taken these things from me: seek ye to bring me back these things!”
It is possible that the Narasimha form is inspired by the Rigveda verse mentioned above and Asura Hiranyakashipu and his boon from the Yajurveda verse.