In India, it is believed that when injustice creates mayhem and threatens the balance of the universe, God takes incarnation and destroys evil forces. Lord Vishnu took ten avatars to destroy evil forces and restore righteousness. Narasimha Avatar is one of the most famous and widely discussed incarnations. He killed Hiranyakashipu to protect his devotees and restore dharma. Let's consider why the Narsimha Avatar of Lord Vishnu is special. We will also discuss the meaning of this incarnation, lessons, etc, in detail.
Narasimha Avatar Story
During the Satya Yuga ( the age of truth), a powerful demon king, Hiranyakashipu, terrorized the universe. Remember, he was Hiranyaksha's elder brother, a demon killed by Lord Vishnu’s boar incarnation. Therefore, he wanted to take revenge on Lord Vishnu, destroy all the traces of his worship, and establish himself as the supreme force of the universe. To make his dream come true, he performed intense penance to make Lord Brahma happy.
At last, the deity appeared and granted him a boon that made him unconquerable. As per the boon, he could not be killed by any creature inside or outside any building, during day or night, not on Earth or in the sky, not by any man or animal, or not by any weapon.
In the arrogance of this boon & power, he captured three words and declared himself as the god of the universe. He also instructed individuals to stop worshipping lord Vishnu. If anyone dared to disobey his orders, he used to punish them severely.
In this atmosphere of terror, a pure soul named Prahlada took birth in Hiranyakashipu's house. Right from his childhood, he was a true devotee of lord Vishnu. He used to meditate and praise the deity. It is shocking to know that even his teachers tried to teach him politics and warfare, but he was committed to Lord Vishnu. When this news reached Hiranyakashipu, he became very furious. He could not tolerate the fact that his son was worshiping the same God he hates most.
To change his mind and take him away from lord Vishnu's worship, Hiranyakashipu used various methods. But his son's faith in the deity remained unchanged. So, he ordered the killing of Prahlada. Multiple attempts were made to take his life, such as throwing him into the fire, giving him poison, etc. But the invisible power of Lord Vishnu saved him every time.
You will be surprised to know that the fire became cool, the poison didn't work, and Prahlada always remained unharmed. Unable to kill his son, he summoned him and mocked that if Lord Vishnu is everywhere, he is also in the pillar before me. Prahlada replied that God is everywhere. In great anger, Hiranyakashipu struck the pillar with his mace. Suddenly, a loud sound erupted with bright light. God Narasimha appeared, took Hiranyakashipu on his lap, and tore open the demon's chest, resulting in his instant death.
Even after his death, lord Narasimha’s rage did not decrease. His fierce form shocked the three worlds. No god could stop him. Eventually, Prahlada approached him with folded hands, sang devotional songs, and requested mercy. He blessed him and calmed down.
Why Is The Narsimha Avatar Special?
Half Man, Half Lion Form
In the Narsimha incarnation, Lord Vishnu appeared as half man, half lion. This appearance was suitable to kill him, while preserving Brahma’s boon to the demon king. Remember-
- He was neither a man nor an animal.
- It was neither day nor night when the demon king was killed.
- The God appeared on the palace threshold- neither inside nor outside.
- While being killed, Hiranyakashipu was on God's lap- neither Earth nor Sky.
- Lord Narasimha used his sharp claws to kill the demon. He did not use any weapon for this.
No Violation Of Brahma's Boon
Boons awarded by the Gods are considered powerful. Brahma is the creator God. While killing the demon, Lord Narasimha ensured that there was no violation of Brahma’s boon.
A Symbol of Anger & Protection
Unlike other incarnations of Lord Vishnu, the Narsimha Avatar is a symbol of protection and anger. But it is not a manifestation of the ego. It displays the fact that God uses righteous anger to protect his followers, destroy evil forces, and maintain the balance of the Universe.
Lessons From Narasimha Avatar of Lord Vishnu
Faith Is Powerful
Despite repeated warnings from his father, instructions from teachers, and punishments, little boy Prahlada never gave up his devotion to lord Vishnu. Pleased with his devotion and continuous worship, God protected him multiple times. It displays the fact that with faith, we can come closer to God and seek his blessings.
Divine Justice Happens
When evil forces try to threaten the balance of the universe and terrorize innocent people, God takes incarnations and delivers divine justice. Lord Vishnu is always known to protect his followers, eliminate evil forces, and establish the rule of Dharma.
Right Anger Is Scary
Although Lord Vishnu is calm and composed. But his Narsimha Avatar is quite scary. If anger is guided by the right amount of compassion and devotion, it can destroy evil forces and maintain the balance of the universe.
Ego is The Biggest Evil
Narsimha Avatar proves the fact that ego is the biggest evil within ourselves. After Brahma’s boon, Hiranyakashipu became very arrogant. He was of the view that the three worlds could not stop him. But always keep in mind that the almighty god can find a way out to destroy evil in all possible manners. Therefore, we must worship God, follow the right path of life, and eliminate the ego within ourselves. It is the secret to leading a peaceful and happy life and getting God's blessings.
God Is Everywhere
The Narsimha incarnation of Lord Vishnu proves that god is everywhere. It can appear in any form at any time if there is a need to kill evil forces that threaten the balance of the universe.
Conclusion
Narasimha Avatar is the symbol of Lord Vishnu's fierce form. It doesn't matter how powerful evil forces are; God can take incarnation in any form and from anywhere to destroy demons, protect devotees, and restore the balance of the universe. Worship Lord Vishnu Narasimha Avatar, visit the nearby temple in your area, get rid of your ego, and follow a Vedic life. The deity will protect you from all evil forces. You will have his blessings also.
