Narashimha
Jayanti is celebrated on the fourteenth day of the shukla paksh (dark side) of
Vaishaka month. He is the fourth reincarnation of Lord Vishnu, born to free the
world from the tyranny of the Asura Hiranyakashipu. Hiranyakashipu was the arch
rival of Lord Vishu, as one of his avatars Varaha slained the asura’s younger
brother Hiranyaksha. To avenge his brother’s death, Hiranyakashipu offered
penance to Lord Brahma for a boon. Pleased Lord Brahma offered his blessings,
enquiring what he wished for. Hiranyakashipu smartly replied that he wants to
be invincible and asked for a boon whereby – “He can’t be killed by either a
man or an animal, he can’t be killed at home or outside, that he can’t be
killed on earth or in air, and no weapons – whether arrow or sword can perforate
his body”. Once Hiranyakashipu received the boon, he went on a rampage, killing
every devotee of Lord Vishnu. He banned his kingdom from worshipping Lord
Vishnu. With the boon of invincibility, Hiranyakashipu established his rule in
all of heaven and earth and endorsed himself to be the prime god of all.
However
his own son Prahlad was an ardent devotee of Lord Vishnu, as he learnt about
the Lord’s greatness from Devarishi Narada while he was still in his mother –
Queen Kayaadu’s womb. Hiranyakashipu could not bear his own son - Prahlad pray
to Lord Vishnu with his innocent devotion. Irate with his own son’s rebel,
Hiranyakashipu tried to kill Prahlad many a times. Whether it was by throwing
him in the boiling pot of oil or making him sit with his aunt Holika in the pit
of fire, each time Prahlad was saved by his unwavering faith in Lord Vishnu.
Dreading the ridicule and rebel of his kingdom that may arise out of his son’s
mysterious life-saving stories, Hiranyakashipu decided to kill his son himself.
Prahlad
was called in the court and asked to finally give up his faith in Lord else he
would be executed. Undeterred by the threat, Prahlad defied his father again.
Aggravated Hiranyakashipu asked – “Who will come to save you when I kill you?
Your God isn’t here”. Prahlad calmly replied that –“God is everywhere”. Hiranyakashipu
picked up his Mace (Gada) and raced to the pillar asking Prahlad if his God for
in there. Prahlad smiled and replied yes. Hiranyakashipu raised his mace
thrashing down the pillar and from within appeared Lord Narashima with a lion
head and man-trunk. Stunned Hiranyakashipu tried to fight Lord Narashimha yet
could match up against him and started to run. Lord Narashimha caught him just
at the edge of the palace’s door, placed him on his lap and dug his sharp claws
in Hiranyakashipu’s chest ripping it apart, killing him instantly and saving
the world from his oppression.
People
pray to Lord Narashimha in the evening (sayankal) on his Jayanti, since that is
the time when he appeared out of the pillar to slay the Asura. Observing fast
during the day is a normal ritual with people eating only one meal and
abstaining from any cereals or grains and followed by the night vigil observed
by most people. The fast is broken on the second day after the sunrise next
morning.
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