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Devotee's Dream, Brahma's Pride

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SPEAKING TREE: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/47081936.cms

By S Srinivasan

Narasimha avatar, one of the

ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu, is unique in many ways. In the other

avatars Vishnu was born at a particular time, grew up in this world and

helped His devotees at some other time, but as Narasimha, both his

appearance on earth and His coming to the aid of His devotee were

simultaneous and instantaneous.

Maitreya, Parasara's disciple

and author of Vishnu Purana asks why the Lord always seems to be

partial, why he helps the Devas and kills asuras. In reply, Parasara

narrates to him the story of Narasimha, who comes to the rescue of the

little boy Prahlad, the son of asura king Hiranyakashipu.

As Narasimha the Lord shows

great qualities of leadership and presence of mind. A good leader stands

by the decisions of those around him, never exposing them. He stands by

them and upholds their decisions in troubled times.

Hiranyakashipu wanted to take

revenge on Lord Vishnu, who had killed his younger brother. He did

severe penance and received many boons from Brahma, including one that

specified that he will not be killed by man, animal, deva, astra,

shastra, dry or wet weapon. He would not be killed on land, in heaven,

at day or night. Pleased to the core, Hiranyakashipu declared himself to

be supreme.

Lord Vishnu, the only one to

survive the pralay, who created this entire universe including Brahma,

the one the Vedas refer to as moksha adhikari, the Supreme, could have

easily overruled the boons given by Brahma and killed Hiranyakashipu.

But he didn't do that.

He protected Brahma's words;

at the same time He found a way out — He took the form of Narasimha,

half-lion, half-man. He sat on a raised platform, put Hiranyakashipu on

his lap and killed him by tearing his stomach with his nails. This is

described evocatively in the Srimad Bhagavatham .

When Hiranyakashipu threatened

to kill Prahlad for insisting that Lord Vishnu was Supreme, Vishnu came

to Prahlad's rescue in the form of Narasimha. This way, both Brahma and

Sage Narada's words were honoured, that Prahlad would not be killed.

Kayatu, the wife of Hiranyakashipu, was with child when the king

proceeded to perform penance.

Indra tried to kill the child

in her womb, when Narada stopped him and informed him that a great

Vishnu bhakt was to be born to her.

The Alwars have sung beautiful

songs on Narasimha avatar. Prahlad insists that the Lord is Omnipresent.

An exasperated Hiranyakashipu strikes at the pillar, asking if the Lord

resided in the pillar, too. That very moment the pillar split open and

Vishnu appeared in the form of Narasimha.

Vedanta Desika, the renowned

Vaishnavite scholar says: “Not knowing where Hiranyakashipu would look

for him, the Lord put Himself everywhere — so He still resides in all

matter in the form of Narasimha''.

Narasimhatapaneeya Upanishad

refers to Vishnu as Narasimha Triyambaka — one who has three eyes, Tapana, indu, agni nayanaha — the sun, the

moon and agni

are his three eyes. Lord Shiva in Mantraraja Pada Stotram tells Parvati that the most ugra rudra is the Lord as

Narasimha.

In this manner, Vishnu did

what he had to do without overruling the boons given by Brahma and

Narada. In order to honour the word of His disciples and followers and

to protect them, He innovates and finds a way out. Vishnu devotees

believe that in this way, Narasimha comes to the rescue of all those who

believe in Him and pray to him, just as He came to the rescue of child

Prahlad.

(Narasimha Jayanti was celebrated

yeasterday)