This is the 4th Avatara of Lord Vishnu as per Dasavatara list. Narasimha Avatar is Half Man and Half Lion Form of Lord Vishnu. He descended on this Earth in the form of Nara Simha to protect his devotee – Prahaladha from his demon father Hiranyakashipu, brother of Hiranyaksha. Hiranyakashipu, another demon who took severe penance to achieve immortality. He prayed for years together to Lord Brahma. The lord appeared before him. He asked for immortality. But God denied as its against nature. He thought for a while and made a wish list. He made a list of things through which death shouldn’t approach him.
He did not want to die at any cost. So he gave a complex list of Neither-Nor. Neither in the morning nor in the evening. Neither by a human, nor by an animal. Neither by weapon, nor by hand. Neither on the earth, nor in the midair. And the list continues like the sequels of final destination, the movie which shows death by various weird reasons. The God stated “Thathasthu”. Hiranyakashipu thought he had won. He tormented all worlds. Entire world was under his control and he gave himself the god status and asked all to worship only him. He went over board because he thought his boon would save him at any cost.
The Universe started to align itself for his wish to come true. Not knowing Universe’s plans he felt he has won everything. He was left free to his will, just to make him realize that his own son is against his core values. He took a mission to kill his own son, as his only son started worshipping Lord Vishnu, whom Hiranyakashipu considers as his enemy. The Unshakable faith of Prahaladha on Lord Vishnu saved him from all the dangerous encounters.
One fine day, the repeated failures in all the attempts of the mission, ‘Abolishment of Prahaladha’ paved his way to what he wished for. The lord of the universe took the form which didn’t vary even an ounce from what he wished for. The wish list was in tact. All neither – nor conditions was followed precisely. The boon became reality. Narasiṃha came down to kill Hiranyakashipu as neither a man nor an animal, he didn’t use any weapon just used his dead cells, nails to kill the demon. It was neither day nor night but evening, not on the ground not in mid air but on the lap. To restore peace and to uphold the universal law one more time the Lord descended on this Earth just how Hiranyakashipu wished for!
This Purana gives the most beautiful message of all time! It is all about Wishing the right thing and having a positive, collective mind set. In other words, whatever one wishes for should stem from a state of affirmation, selflessness and from the point of love. But in the trail of Hiranyakashipu his wishes stemmed from the point of Fear, selfishness and gave him a false sense of pride. He toiled himself to get a boon from Lord Brahma just out of fear. Rather making good out of what is given to him he went for something that is against nature. Even when denied he wished for immortality out of selfishness. His boon neither spread love nor helped fellow beings. He simply wanted to dominate all and proclaim himself as God.
He could have been selfless in uplifting the fellow beings, subsequently the society with his boon. But he wasted his power by being selfish and proclaiming himself as the Emperor of Universe. The message from this great Purana is, this Universe is always ready to give what one wishes for. What ever one sows is reflected back to in it’s multiples.
As we sow good thoughts it comes back to us as good and good only in many folds. The Universe is the mere reflection of our thoughts, believes. The choice of these thoughts and believes stemming out of fear or love is in individual thought process. And after receiving the blessings from the Universe using it wisely and with a selfless attitude rests with the individual.
On this auspicious Day 4 of Navarathri wishing all good health, prosperity. Any good done today, let it grow many folds!
Happy Navarathri!
References:
- Thiruppavai
- Wikipedia
Paintings in order:
- Narasimha Avatar – Dolls of India – Orissa Pattachithra painting on Patti
- Narasimha with Hiranyakashipu on lap – Dolls of India – Orissa Pattachithra painting on Patti
- Yoga Narasimhar – Dolls of India – Orissa Pattachithra painting on Patti
- Narasimha with Hiranyakashipu on lap – Krishna For Today – Artist Keshav
- Narasimha Avatar – Krishna For Today – Artist Keshav
- Yoga Narasimhar – Mural Painting – Screenshot taken from the below link https://vedic-art.weebly.com/kerala-mural-paintings.html
The Quest 
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