The
story of Narasimha is one of
Vishnu’s ten avatars taken to restore Dharma and righteousness in the world.
The story revolves around Hiranyakashyapu
and his son, Prahlada. Hiranyakashyapu’s elder brother Hiranyaksha was killed by Vishnu in Varaha Avatar for terrorizing the world. Enraged by his brother's
death, Hiranyakashyapu vowed revenge against Vishnu. Hiranyakashyapu decided to pray to Brahma to obtain boons of
immortality.
While
Hiranyakashyapu was in meditation, Indra, King of God's attacked
Hirankashyapu’s kingdom and was massacring subjects. Indra almost killed Kayadhu, Hiranyakashyapu’s wife but Narada intervened and took Kayadhu to
his Ashram. At the time, Kayadhu was pregnant with a child. Hiranyakashyapu
prayed and prayed until Brahma appeared before the Asura. When Hiranyakashyapu
asked for immortality, he was refused for every being had to die. So,
Hiranyakashyapu chose the following conditions for his death:
1.
He cannot be killed in the sky, on earth or in water.
2.
He cannot be killed inside a house or outside of a house.
3.
He cannot be killed by man, Deva, animal or Asura.
4.
Hiranyakashyapu cannot be killed during daytime or nighttime.
5.
Hiranyakashyapu could not be killed by any sort of celestial or divine weapons.
Brahma
granted these requests and then left. Pleased with himself, Hiranyakashyapu
returned to his kingdom and began expanding his empire. Because of his boons,
the Devas were powerless against him. Hiranyakashyapu conquered the 3 worlds,
but his aim was to defeat Vishnu.
Hiranyakashyapu
ordered to stop prayers of Devas and had people worship him. By this time, the
child was born and he was named Prahlada. Hiranyakashyapu loved Prahlada very
much and loved to be with the child.
When
it came to the boy's education, the King sent the child to the Ashram of the
Royal Sage to learn scriptures etc. and also learn his father's greatness. But
the child had eyes for Narayana alone. While at the Ashram, Prahlada converted
all the Asura students to worship Vishnu rather than Hiranyakashyapu.
The
teachers got afraid and told this to the King. Hiranyakashyapu laughed it off
like a joke and called Prahlada to him. When Hiranyakashyapu asked Prahlada to
praise him, Prahlada praised Vishnu. The angry King turned to the preceptors
and reprimanded them for such filthy thoughts.
But
layer, Hiranyakashyapu understood that the boy was a staunch devotee of his
enemy. Hiranyakashyapu was enraged at the child and subjected him to many kinds
of torture and punishments. Some of them are:
1. Had Prahlada
stuck neck deep in mud and had elephants trample his head,
2. Threw the
boy off a cliff,
3. Threw the
child in a cell with snakes and scorpions,
4. Tried to
burn the child using his sister, Holika.
In
the burning incident, Holika, despite having a boon of not being hurt by fire,
was burned to death while the child escaped each torture unharmed for Vishnu
kept protecting the child.
One
day, Hiranyakashyapu called Prahlada and asked him where Vishnu was. When
Prahlada replied everywhere, Hiranyakashyapu pointed to a pillar and asked “in there too?” Prahlada nodded yes. Hirankashyapu
took his mace and struck the pillar. From the pillar came a terrifying roar. A
man with the face of a lion came out, angry and bloodlusted, with the aim of
killing the Asura. All of Creation stopped to witness this truly spectacular
event.
The
anger of Narsimha did not subside even after killing Hiranyakashipu. He was
still roaring repeatedly. God Brahma, God Shankar and even Goddess Lakshmi
prayed to God Narsimha from a distance but no one had the courage to go near
him. Finally, Brahma sent Prahlad near Narsimha to calm him down. Fearlessly,
Prahlad went near Narsimha and laid himself flat at his feet. Affectionately,
the God in Narsimha form raised Prahlad and embraced him and said: “O son
Prahlad, you had to bear the sufferings for so long. Please forgive me.” Prahlad
felt overwhelmed. The God of the universe was standing before him and was
stroking his head in assuring way. Prahlad bowed his head faithfully. God
Narsimha then asked Prahlad to seek some boon. Prahlad said: “You are my true
God. If you wish to grant me a boon, kindly bless me that no desire may arise
in my mind for anything.”
Prahlad
also prayed to God Narsimha for his father, asking him, “O God, my father had
always criticized you. Please free him from the sins he has committed.” God
Narsimha replied saying, “Prahlad, your father has now become holy.” God
Narsimha promised Prahlad that he would never kill any of his descendents. God
Narsimha then escorted Prahlad to the throne of his father and made him sit on
it, instructing him to follow good conduct and do his duties. Saying those
words God Narsimha disappeared.
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