नरसिंह अवतार

The Tyrannical Hiranyakashipu

Hiranyakashipu, the brother of Hiranyaksha (slain by Varaha), obtained a powerful boon from Lord Brahma after severe penance. The boon protected him from death by man or beast, during day or night, inside or outside, on earth or sky, and by any weapon. Drunk with power, he declared himself God and demanded worship from all beings.

The Devotion of Prahlada

Hiranyakashipu's own son, Prahlada, was a pure devotee of Lord Vishnu from birth. Despite his father's threats, tortures, and attempts to kill him, young Prahlada never wavered in his devotion. He constantly chanted "Narayana" and saw Vishnu everywhere, enraging his demon father further.

The Divine Challenge

In a fit of rage, Hiranyakashipu kicked a pillar in his palace, mocking Prahlada's claim that Vishnu exists everywhere. "Is your Vishnu in this pillar too?" he roared. As the pillar cracked, the supreme moment had arrived for divine intervention to protect the innocent devotee.

The Terrifying Manifestation

From the shattered pillar emerged Narasimha - half man, half lion - a form that transcended Brahma's boon. Neither fully man nor beast, with eyes like molten gold and a mane like blazing fire, Narasimha was the embodiment of divine fury against injustice and protector of pure devotion.

The Perfect Justice

At twilight (neither day nor night), on the threshold (neither inside nor outside), Narasimha placed Hiranyakashipu on his lap (neither earth nor sky) and tore him apart with his claws (not a weapon), perfectly circumventing every condition of the boon. Justice was served while protecting the innocent.