Shri Narsinh Chaturdashi or Shri Narasimha Jayanthi is a festival that celebrates the victory of good over the evil. According to Puranas, on this auspicious day, Lord Vishnu incarnated as Narasimha, which is his fourth incarnation. This is Rudra avatar of Lord Vishnu.
In his Narasimha avatar, Lord Vishnu possessed the face and claws of a lion, while having the body of a human being. He thus, is visualized as half-man and half-lion. The main objective of this avatar was to end the tyranny of the evil Hiranyakashipu, thereby restore the path of Dharma (righteousness) and to withhold the sincere Bhakti (devotion) demonstrated by Bhakta Prahlada who was the son of Hiranyakashipu.
As per the Hindu scriptures, sage Kashyap and his wife, Diti had two sons Harinyaksha and Hiranyakashipu. Both Harinyaksha and Hiranyakashipu were the incarnation of Jay and Vijay who used to be Dwarapalaks (Gate Keepers) of Vaikunth of Lord Vishnu. They were cursed to be born three times as demons/evil asuras on this earth by four powerful Sanakadi Munis for stopping them from entering Vaikunth. Lord Vishnu felt bad about their curses and promised them that in their every birth he will come to bless them with Moksha.
In their first birth, they were born as Harinyaksha and Hiranyakashipu in Satya Yuga and killed by Lord Vishnu in his Varah and Narsingh avatar respectively. In their second birth, they were born as Ravan and Kumbakarna in Treta Yuga and obtained Moksha from Lord Ram. In their third birth, they were born as Shishupal and Dantavakrain Dwapara Yuga and liberated by Lord Krishna.
In his Varah avatar, Lord Vishnu killed Harinyaksha to protect Mother Earth from his atrocities. Hiranyakashipu wanted to take the revenge of his brother’s death against Lord Vishnu. So, he obtained Lord Brahma’s blessings and a special boon through his austerities that neither animal nor man can kill him either in the day or in the night or with any Astra or Shastra/weapons, either inside or outside of the residence, neither on the earth or in the sky. He then started to force people to accept and worship him as their God through torture and exploitation in all Lokas. He even started misbehaving with many Gods in heaven.
In the meantime, Hiranyakashipu’s wife Kayadhu gave birth to Prahlada, who did not resemble any demons and was totally devoted to Lord Vishnu/Narayana. Narad Ji gave Guru mantra to Prahlada as “Om Namo Bhagawate Vasu Devaya.” Hiranyakashipu tried to distract Prahlada from his staunch devotion towards Lord Vishnu through his many rigorous attempts but Prahalad’s sincere devotion kept on growing stronger. Hiranyakashipu even decided to burn Prahlada by making Prahlada sit in his sister Holika’s lap.
Holika was blessed with a boon that she could not get burnt in fire. With Prahlada sitting in her lap, Holika was burnt alive, but nothing happened to Prahlada. Finally, out of desperation, Hiranyakashipu challenged Prahlada to prove the existence of Lord Vishnu. Prahlada declared that Vishnu was present everywhere and comes to protect his devotees when they need Him. In rage, Hiranyakashipu said, “I am going to kill you; you better call your Lord Vishnu to protect you”. When he proceeded to attack Prahlada, and miraculously, Lord Vishnu appeared from the pillar as the fearsome ‘Narasimha.’ Lord Narasimha held him on his laps and killed him by cutting his chest with his nails of loin. The ferocious anger of Lord Narasimha cooled down only when Prahlada was made to sit in his lap per elder’s suggestion. Lord Narasimha blessed Prahlada for his unchanged devotion towards Him.
Lord Narasimha is regarded as a ‘Great Protector’ who comes to the rescue of his devotees at times of need. Whosoever observes rituals, Vratam, and Poojas with a sincere and devotional bent of mind would surely be blessed by the Lord. Hence, on behalf of the Hindu Mandir of Lake County, Grayslake, I cordially invite all of you to actively participate in Shri Narasimha Jayanti, which will be celebrated on Saturday, 28 April from 11:00am to 1:00pm.
Pt. Anil Joshi is priest Hindu Mandir of Lake County, Grayslake, IL
Pt. Anil Joshi
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