Sri Narasimhadeva
BY: PAYONIDHI DASA
The demon Hiranyakasipu attacked Lord Nrsimhadeva with great force, but the Lord captured him and placed him on his lap, supporting him with His thighs. Then, in the doorway of the assembly hall, the Lord very easily tore the demon to pieces with the nails of His hands.
Bhaktivedanta Book Trust.
Oct 27, MARYLAND, USA (SUN) — The Sun is pleased to host a new series on Sri Nrsimha-avatara. The material is excerpted from the book, "Sri Narasimhadeva", a work-in-progress by Payonidhi dasa.
Table of Contents
Sri Narasimhadeva
Forward
Introduction
How Srila Prabhupada introduced Lord Narasimhadeva in the western world
and in ISKCON
Lord Narasimhadeva in Srila Prabhupada's books, lectures etc
The Narasimha avatar
Narasimhadeva in Goswami literatures
Narasimhadeva in the Puranas
Narasimhadeva in Krsna lila
Narasimhadeva in Gaura lila
Prahlada Maharaja
Narasimhadeva in various Gaudiya literatures
Lord Narasimhadeva does not approve of demigod worship
Narasimha temples
Narasimha Purana
Kusakrata Prabhu's little book
Prayers and 1000 names of Lord Narasimhadeva
Author's humble realization
Forward
This book is best understood after having carefully studied the 7th Canto of Srimad Bhagavatam. H.H.Bhakti Vikas Maharaja is an inspiration to this book and when I asked him for advice to write the book, he told me to simply depend on Lord Narasimhadeva. Taking this advice to heart I am writing this and praying for the mercy of the Vaisnavas. I am dedicating this book to the lotus feet of Srila Prabhupada and all his followers, may you all kindly engage me in the service of Lord Narasimhadeva and bless me with your determination to glorify Lord Narasimhadeva and His pure devotees, headed by Sri Prahlada Maharaja. Kindly bless us with your mercy.
Introduction
This is the age of Kali and it is a very dangerous age due to the increase of ignorance and of passion. Previously the demons lived in different planets, like in Satya yuga, mostly demons lived in the lower planets. But gradually as time passed the demons came here to this planet as well in Treta yuga, and incarnations such as Lord Rama killed such asuras. In Dvapara yuga even in the same families, and in Kali yuga the demon may even appear in one's own heart
Hiranyakasipu controlled the whole universe, but Hiranyaksa threw the earth into the Garbhodaka ocean, so demons have always harassed mother Earth. As we know, Lord Varaha killed Hiranyaksa, and there are many times this pastime repeats itself in different kalpas, and so does the killing of Hiranyakasipu. I have found as much material as I could from various Puranas to bring to life some of these accounts from different kalpas. Lord Narasimhadeva has many forms in this material world, and incarnates again and again to kill demons and protect the devotees. He is even considered the protector of Krsna, though obviously Krsna is the source of all incarnations and forms, including Lord Narasimhadeva. Nanda Maharaja used to worship Narasimhadeva in Nandagrama, and his Narasimhadeva deity is still there in Nandagrama in Vraja.
Mother Yasoda chanted Narasimha bija mantras to protect Krsna before He would go to the forest. This has been stated in Govinda Lilamrita. Lord Rama also went to Ahovalam and worshipped Lord Narasimhadeva.
In this age most persons become influenced by the demoniac mentality and the only savior from this demoniac mentality is this Krsna consciousness movement. Some persons may ask why give attention to Lord Narasimhadeva, and not just focus on Krsna as He is svayam Bhagavan .However we give respects to all the Lord's incarnations. But especially this form of Narasimhadeva is very scary for the demoniac. When we talk about demons we don't mean some ghostly creature with horns, etc., though there are such demoniac creatures in existence. The demons in modern age are persons that enviously teach that there is no God in existence and that religion "is Opium for the people". Often such demons try to kill devotees of Krsna. This has been seen, for example, in Russia during the communist area.
There are also the internal demons a devotee my struggle with in the form of lust, anger, greed, etc. For that, a devotee prays to Lord Narasimhadeva to destroy these anarthas. Bhaktivinoda Thakura prayed to Narasimhadeva at Narasimha palli in Navadvipa:
Five Prayers to Lord Narasimha
by Bhaktivinoda Thakura
Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura has written five beautiful prayers in "Sri Navadvipa Bhava Taranga" for receiving the mercy of Lord Narasimha. These prayers are certainly assurance to all sincere devotees that the worship of Lord Narasimha is purely in the line of aspiring love and devotion to Sri Sri Radha and Krsna. Those prayers are as follows.
e dusta hrdaye kama adi ripu chaya
kutinati pratisthasa sathya sada raya
hrdaya-sodhana ara krsnera vasana
nrsimha-carane mora ei to' kamana
Within my sinful heart the six enemies headed by lust perpetually reside, as well as duplicity, the desire for fame, plus sheer cunning. At the lotus feet of Lord Narasimha, I hope that He will mercifully purify my heart and give me the desire to serve Lord Krsna.
kandiya nrsimha-pade magibo kakhana
nirapade navadvipe jugala-bhajana
bhaya bhaya paya yan'ra darsane se hari
prasanna hoibo kabe more daya kari
Weeping, I will beg at the lotus-feet of Lord Narasimha for the benediction of worshipping Radha and Krsna in Navadvipa, perfectly safe and free from all difficulties. When will this Lord Hari, Whose terrible form strikes fear into fear itself, ever become pleased and show me His mercy?
yadyapi bhisana murti dusta-jiva-prati
prahladadi krsna-bhakta-jane bhadra ati
kabe va prasanna ho'ye sa krpa-vacane
nirbhaya karibe ei mudha akincane
Even though Lord Narasimha is terrifying toward the sinful souls, He offers great auspiciousness unto the devotees of Lord Krsna headed by Prahlada Maharaja. When will He be pleased to speak words of compassion unto me, a worthless fool, and thereby make me fearless?
svacchande baiso he vatsa sri-gauranga-dhame
jugala-bhajana hau rati hau name
mama bhakta-krpa-bale vighna jabe dura
suddha cite bhajo radha-krsna-rasa-pura
He will say, "Dear child! Sit sown freely and live happily here in Sri Gauranga-dhama. May you nicely worship the Divine Couple, and may you develop loving attachment for Their Holy Names. By the mercy of My devotees, all obstacles are cast far away. With a purified heart, just perform the worship of Radha and Krsna, for such worship overflows with sweet nectar."
ei boli' kabe mora mastaka-upara
sviya sri-carana harse dharibe isvara
amani jugala-preme sattvika vikare
dharaya lutibo ami sri-nrsimha-dvare
Saying this, will that Lord delightedly place His own divine lotus-feet upon my head? I will experience sublime love for the Divine Couple Radha-Krsna and undergo the ecstatic transformations called sattvika. Falling on the ground, I will roll about at the door of Sri Narasimha's temple.
(Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, - "Sri Navadvipa Bhava Taranga", 36-40)
Also Madhavacarya has written Nakha Stuti to pray to Narasimha for destroying the internal enemies lust, anger, greed, etc.
SRI NAKHA STUTI
paantvasmaam puruuhutavairi balavanmaatanga maadyadghataa
kumbhocchaadri vipaatanaadhi kapatu pratyekavajraayitaah
Shrimat kanthiravaasya pratatasunakharaa daaritaaraatiduura
pradhvasta dhvaatashaanta pravitata manasaa bhaavitaa nakivrnda
"May the wide-spread and auspicious nails of the lion-faced God, Narasimha, Who is in the company of His consort Laxmi, protect us. His nails are like thunderbolts and are highly skilled in tearing asunder the lofty mountain-like heads of the herds of strong and intoxicated elephants in the form of demons; the foes of Indradev. His nails are also meditated upon by the groups of devas with their broad minds which are concentrated upon Him and from which the darkness of ignorance is driven away to a great distance and the internal enemies of lust, anger, etc., are torn in twain."
lakshmikaanta samantato vikalayannai veshituste saman
pashyaamyuttama vastu duurataarato paastam rasoyo stumah
yadrosotkara daksanetra kutila prantotthitogni sphurat
khadyotopamavisphylinya bhasitaa brhmeshushakrot karaan
"Oh consort of Laxmi! Although I've made an all round study of the shastras, I don't find anything equal to You, Who are my master! The thing thought superior to You is therefore flung far and is similar to the 8th tuste (it does not exist). Brahma, Shiva, Indra and their hosts are reduced to ashes by the sparks of fire resembling sparking glowworms and issuing from the curved edge of Your right eye which is filled with masses of wrath."
And in the Srimad Bhagavatam we find a similar prayer offered by Prahlada Maharaja.
SB 5.18.8:
om namo bhagavate narasimhaya namas tejas-tejase avir-avirbhava vajra-nakha vajra-damstra karmasayan randhaya randhaya tamo grasa grasa om svaha; abhayam abhayam atmani bhuyistha om ksraum.
I offer my respectful obeisances unto Lord Nrsimhadeva, the source of all power. O my Lord who possesses nails and teeth just like thunderbolts, kindly vanquish our demonlike desires for fruitive activity in this material world. Please appear in our hearts and drive away our ignorance so that by Your mercy we may become fearless in the struggle for existence in this material world.
