Narasimha

Narasimha (Sanskrit: नरसिंह, lit. 'man-lion', IAST: Narasiṃha, or Sanskrit: नृसिंह, IAST: Nṛsiṃha), is a deity in Hinduism, revered as the fourth of the ten principal avatars (Dashavatara) of the god Vishnu. Depicted with a human torso and a lion's head and claws, Narasimha is venerated as a fierce protector who destroys evil and safeguards his devotees. He is most widely known for protecting his devotee Prahlada and for slaying the tyrannical demon king Hiranyakashipu.

According to Hindu texts, Hiranyakashipu, the elder brother of Hiranyaksha—who was killed earlier by Vishnu's Varaha avatar—received a boon from the creator god Brahma that made him nearly invulnerable. The conditions of the boon prevented his death by man or beast, indoors or outdoors, during day or night, on earth or in the sky, and not by any weapon. Empowered by this, Hiranyakashipu persecuted Vishnu’s devotees, including his own son Prahlada. To circumvent the boon, Vishnu incarnated as Narasimha—neither man nor animal—and killed Hiranyakashipu at twilight, on a palace threshold, placing him on his lap and tearing him apart with his claws.

Narasimha holds a central place in the Vishnu-centric Vaishnava theology, iconography, and devotional traditions, particularly within the Vaikhanasa, Sri Vaishnava and Sadha sects. He is portrayed in a range of forms, from fierce (ugra) to serene (saumya), and in certain Vaishnava interpretations, he is also worshipped as Yoga-Narasimha, the god of yoga, and as the god of destruction, who destroys the entire universe through Pralaya. Early representations have been found at archaeological sites in Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh, such as Mathura, and are dated between the 2nd and 4th centuries CE. Important pilgrimage sites dedicated to Narasimha include Ahobilam in Andhra Pradesh, where Nava Narasimha–nine forms of the deity–are venerated.

He is honored in various temples, scriptures, performance traditions, and festivals, including Holi. The annual festival Narasimha Jayanti, observed on the 14th day of the Hindu month of Vaisakha (April–May), commemorates the deity’s appearance to protect Prahlada and defeat Hiranyakashipu.

In Sanskrit, the word Narasimha consists of two words "nara" which means man, and "simha" which means lion, referring to the man-lion avatara of Vishnu.

His other names are Agnilochana (अग्निलोचन) – the one who has fiery eyes, Bhairavadambara (भैरवडम्बर) – the one who causes terror by roaring, Karala (कराल) – the one who has a wide mouth and projecting teeth, Hiranyakashipumardana (हिरण्यकषिपुमर्दान) – the one who killed Hiranyakashipu, Nakhastra (नखास्त्र) – the one for whom nails are his weapons, Simhavadana (सिंहवदन) – the one who has a lion face and Simha (सिंह) – the one who is a lion.

The Vishnu hymn 1.154 of the Rigveda (1700-1200 BCE) contains a verse which shows Vishnu as Narasimha as a "wild lion, powerful, prowling, mountain-roaming", which is Vishnu as Narasimha. Another hymn 8.14 says the story of Indra killing Namuci, that with "water foam you tore off, Indra, the head of Namuci and killed him, killing all demons".

The full story of Indra killing Namuci is found in Shatapatha Brahmana (7th - 6th century BCE) of the Yajurveda in chapter 12.7.3.v Other references to Narasimha are found in the Vedic texts Vajaseneyi Samhita 10.34, Pancavimsa Brahmana 12.6.8 and Taittiriya Brahmana 1.7.1.6.