Appearance of Lord Nrisimhadeva (SB 7.8.2-40)

When Sanda and Amarka, the sons of Sukracarya, observed that all the students, were becoming advanced in Krishna consciousness because of the association of Prahlada, they were afraid. They approached the King and described the situation as it was.

When Hiranyakasipu heard what happened, he was extremely angry, so much so that his body trembled. Thus he finally decided to kill his son Prahlada.

He was very cruel natured, and feeling insulted, he began hissing like a snake trampled upon by someone's foot.

His son Prahlada was peaceful, mild and gentle, his senses were under control, and he stood before Hiranyakashipu with folded hands.

According to Prahlada's age and behavior, he was not to be chastised. Yet with staring, crooked eyes, Hiranyakashpu rebuked him with the

“O most impudent, most unintelligent disruptor of the family, O lowest of mankind, you have violated my power to rule you, and therefore you are an obstinate fool. Today I shall send you to the place of Yamaraja. But you rascal son, you know that when I am angry all the planets of the three worlds tremble, along with their chief rulers. By whose power has a rascal like you become so impudent that you appear fearless and overstep my power to rule you?”

Prahlada said: “My dear King, the source of my strength, of which you are asking, is also the source of yours. Indeed, the original source of all kinds of strength is one. He is not only your strength or mine, but the only strength for everyone. Without Him, no one can get any strength. Whether moving or not moving, superior or inferior, everyone, including Lord Brahma, is controlled by the strength of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He, the supreme controller and time factor, is the power of the senses, the power of the mind, the power of the body, and the vital force of the senses. His influence is unlimited. He is the best of all living entities, the controller of the three modes of material nature. By His own power, He creates this cosmic manifestation, maintains it and annihilates it also. Therefore my dear father, please give up your demoniac mentality. Do not discriminate in your heart between enemies and friends; make your mind equipoise toward everyone. Except for the uncontrolled and misguided mind, there is no enemy within this world. When one sees everyone on the platform of equality, one then comes to the position of worshiping the Lord perfectly. In former times there were many fools like you who did not conquer the six enemies that steal away the wealth of the body. These fools were very proud, thinking, ‘I have conquered all enemies in all the ten directions.’ But if a person is victorious over the six enemies and is equipoise toward all living entities, for him there are no enemies. Enemies are merely imagined by one in ignorance.”

 

Hiranyakashipu replied: “You rascal, you are trying to minimize my value, as if you were better than me at controlling the senses. This is over-intelligent. I can therefore understand that you desire to die at my hands, for this kind of nonsensical talk is indulged in by those about to die. O most unfortunate Prahlada, you have always described a supreme being other than me, a supreme being who is above everything, who is the controller of everyone, and who is all-pervading. But where is He actually? If He is everywhere, then why is He not present before me in this pillar? Because you are speaking so much nonsense, I shall now sever your head from your body. Now let me see you’re most worshipable God come to protect you. I want to see it.”

Being obsessed with anger, Hiranyakashipu, who was very great in bodily strength, thus chastised his exalted devotee-son Prahlada with harsh words. Cursing him again and again, Hiranyakashipu took up his sword, got up from his royal throne, and with great anger struck his fist against the column. From that pillar came a fearful sound, which appeared to crack the covering of the universe. While showing his extraordinary prowess, Hiranyakashipu, who desired to kill his own son, heard that wonderful, tumultuous sound, which had never before been heard. Upon hearing the sound, the other leaders of the demons were afraid. None of them could find the origin of that sound in the assembly. To prove that the statement of His servant Prahlada Maharaja was substantial - in other words, to prove that the Supreme Lord is present everywhere, even within the pillar of an assembly hall -- the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari, exhibited a wonderful form never before seen. The form was neither that of a man nor that of a lion. Thus the Lord appeared in His wonderful form in the assembly hall.

While Hiranyakashipu looked all around to find the source of the sound – the wonderful form of the Lord, which could not be ascertained to be either a man or a lion - emerged from the pillar. In amazement, Hiranyakashipu wondered, "What creature is this that is half man and half lion?"

Hiranyakashipu studied the form of the Lord, trying to decide who the form of Nrisimhadeva standing before him was. The Lord's form was extremely ferocious because of His angry eyes, which resembled molten gold; His shining mane, which expanded the dimensions of His fearful face; His deadly teeth; and His razor-sharp tongue, which moved about like a duelling sword. His ears were erect and motionless, and His nostrils and gaping mouth appeared like caves of a mountain. His jaws parted fearfully, and His entire body touched the sky. His neck was very short and thick, His chest broad, His waist thin, and the hairs on His body as white as the rays of the moon. His arms, which resembled flanks of soldiers, spread in all directions as He killed the demons, rogues and atheists with His conchshell, disc, club, lotus and other natural weapons.

Hiranyakasipu murmured to himself, "Lord Vishnu, who possesses great mystic power, has made this plan to kill me, but what is the use of such an attempt? Who can fight with me?"

Thinking like this and taking up his club, he attacked the Lord like an wild elephant.

Just as a small insect falls forcefully into a fire and the insignificant creature becomes invisible, when Hiranyakashipu attacked the Lord, who was full of effulgence, Hiranyakashipu became invisible. This is not at all astonishing, for the Lord is always situated in pure goodness. Formerly, during creation, He entered the dark universe and illuminated it by His spiritual effulgence.

Thereafter, the great demon Hiranyakashipu, who was extremely angry, swiftly attacked Nrisimhadeva with his club and began to beat Him. Lord Nrisimhadeva, however, captured the great demon, along with his club, just as Garuda might capture a great snake.

When Lord Nrsimhadeva gave Hiranyakashipu a chance to slip from His hand, just as Garuda sometimes plays with a snake and lets it slip from his mouth, the demigods, who had lost their abodes and who were hiding behind the clouds for fear of the demon, did not consider that incident very good. Indeed, they were perturbed.

When Hiranyakashipu was freed from the hands of Nrsimhadeva, he falsely thought that the Lord was afraid of his prowess. Therefore, after taking a little rest from the fight, he took up his sword and shield and again attacked the Lord with great force.

Making a loud, shrill sound of laughter, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Narayana, who is extremely strong and powerful, captured Hiranyakashipu, who was protecting himself with his sword and shield, leaving no gaps open. With the speed of a hawk, Hiranyakashipu moved sometimes in the sky and sometimes on the earth, his eyes closed because of fear of Nrsimhadeva's laughter.

As a snake captures a mouse or Garuda captures a very venomous snake, Lord Nrsimhadeva captured Hiranyakashipu again, who could not be pierced even by the thunderbolt of King Indra. As Hiranyakashipu moved his limbs here, there and all around, very much afflicted at being captured, Lord Nrsimhadeva placed the demon on His lap, supporting him with His thighs and in the doorway of the assembly hall the Lord very easily tore the demon to pieces with the nails of His hand.

Lord Nrsimhadeva's mouth and mane were sprinkled with drops of blood, and His fierce eyes, full of anger, were impossible to look at. Licking the edge of His mouth with His tongue, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Nrsimhadeva, decorated with a garland of intestines taken from Hiranyakashipu's abdomen, resembled a lion that has just killed an elephant.

The hair on Lord Nrsimhadeva's face, being sprinkled with drops of blood, was reddish and looked very beautiful. Lord Nrsimhadeva pierced Hiranyakashipu's abdomen with His nails, pulled out the demon's intestines and wore them as a garland, which enhanced His beauty. Thus the Lord became very fearsome, like a lion engaged in fighting an elephant.

The Supreme Personality of Godhead, who had many, many arms, first uprooted Hiranyakashipu's heart and then threw him aside and turned toward the demon's soldiers. These soldiers had come in thousands to fight with Him with raised weapons and were very faithful followers of Hiranyakashipu, but Lord Nrsimhadeva killed all of them merely with His claws.

The hair on Nrsimhadeva's head shook the clouds and scattered them here and there, His glaring eyes stole the effulgence of the luminaries in the sky, and His breathing agitated the seas and oceans. Because of His roaring, all the elephants in the world began to cry in fear.

Airplanes were thrown into outer space and the upper planetary system by the hair on Nrsimhadeva's head. Because of the pressure of the Lord's lotus feet, the earth appeared to slip from its position, and all the hills and mountains sprang up due to His intolerable force. Because of the Lord's bodily effulgence, both the sky and all directions diminished in their natural illumination.

Manifesting a full effulgence and fearsome countenance, Lord Nrsimha, being very angry and finding no contestant to face His power and opulence, then sat down in the assembly hall on the excellent throne of the king. Because of fear and obedience, no one could come forward to serve the Lord directly.

When the Lord sat on the throne of Hiranyakashipu, there was no one to protest; no enemy came forward on behalf of Hiranyakashipu to fight with the Lord. This means that His supremacy was immediately accepted by the demons. Another point is that although Hiranyakashipu treated the Lord as his bitterest enemy, he was the Lord's faithful servant in Vaikuntha, and therefore the Lord had no hesitation in sitting on the throne that Hiranyakashipu had so laboriously created.

Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura remarks in this connection that sometimes, with great care and attention, great saintly persons and rsis offer the Lord valuable seats dedicated with Vedic mantras and tantras, but still the Lord does not sit upon those thrones. Hiranyakasipu, however, had formerly been Jaya, the doorkeeper at the Vaikuntha gate, and although he had fallen because of the curse of the brahmanas and had gotten the nature of a demon, and although he had never offered anything to the Lord as Hiranyakasipu, the Lord is so affectionate to His devotee and servant that He nonetheless took pleasure in sitting on the throne that Hiranyakasipu had created. In this regard it is to be understood that a devotee is fortunate in any condition of his life. (SB 7.8.34)

Hiranyakashipu had been exactly like a fever of meningitis in the head of the three worlds. Thus when the wives of the demigods in the heavenly planets saw that the great demon had been killed by the personal hands of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, their faces blossomed in great joy. The wives of the demigods again and again showered flowers from heaven upon Lord Nrsimhadeva like rain.

At that time, the airplanes of the devas, who desired to see the activities of the Supreme Lord, Narayana, crowded the sky. The demigods began beating drums and kettledrums, and upon hearing them the angelic women began to dance, while the chiefs of the Gandharvas sang sweetly.

My dear King Yudhisthira, the devas then approached the Lord. They were headed by Lord Brahma, King Indra and Lord Siva and included great saintly persons and the residents of Pitrloka, Siddhaloka, Vidyadhara-loka and the planet of the snakes. The Manus approached, and so did the chiefs of various other planets. The angelic dancers approached, as did the Gandharvas, the Caranas, the Yaksas, the inhabitants of Kinnaraloka, the Vetalas, the inhabitants of Kimpurusha-loka, and the personal servants of Vishnu like Sunanda and Kumuda. All of them came near the Lord, who glowed with intense light. They individually offered their obeisances and prayers, their hands folded at their heads.


Sri Nrisimhadeva Appearance Day – Caturdasi

“For My pleasure, every year, one should observe the caturdasi-vrata. Those who are very fearful of material existence should certainly observe this most confidential and excellent vow. Everyone is eligible to observe this caturdasi-vrata, especially My devotees.” (Nrisimha Purana)

Nrisimha-palli

Southeast from here is Nrisimha Puri. When will I see its beauty, and when will I become choked in ecstasy on receiving pure Krishna-prema? Since in my heart resides lust and the six enemies, duplicity, longing for fame and insincerity, I will pray to Shri Nrisimhadeva to purify my heart and to give me the desire to serve Krishna. Oh, when will I, weeping, beg at the lotus feet of Shri Nrisimhadeva for the ability to worship Radha and Krishna in Navadvipa, free from all difficulties? When will the Lord in this fearful form, who is fearful to the demons but exceedingly merciful to Shri Prahlada and the devotees, become pleased to give me some mercy? When will He be pleased to speak to me, a worthless fool, and remove all my fears?

"Dear child, stay here happily in Gaura Dhama, worship Radha and Krishna and develop attraction for the holy Name. By the mercy of My devotees, all the obstacles are transcended. Just worship with a purified heart the pastimes of Radha and Krisna, which are a flow of sweet nectar."

Saying this, when will the Lord gleefuly place His feet on my head, at which moment I shall fall on the ground, showing symptoms of ecstasy, experiencing love for Radha and Krisna, by the mercy of Sri Nrisimha?



Gebete von Prahlada zu Sri Nrisimhadeva (SB 5.18.8-14)

Gepriesen sei der Höchste Herr Narasimhadeva! Er ist die Macht der Mächtigen. Bitte offenbare Dich mir in Deiner Löwengleichen Form und zerstöre gütigerweise meine Eigennützigen Neigungen mit Deinen Donner und Blitzgleichen Krallen und Reisszähnen. Bitte erscheine in meinem Herzen und beseitige diese Ohnmacht, so das ich Furchtlos werde kann in dieser Welt.

Möge die gesamte Welt von Glück und Zufriedenheit durchfluted werden, so dass die Menschen Neidlos und Friedlich werden können. Alle Lebewesen sollten über ihr Gegenseitiges Wohl nachsinnen und so zu ihrer inneren Ruhe und Glück finden. Lasst uns deshalb alle zusammen den Höchsten Herrn (Adhokshaja) - der frei von allen unzulänglichkeiten ist und nicht von unseren unvollkommenen Sinnen wahrgenommen werden kann – in einer selbstlosen Geisteshaltung lobpreisen, und auf diese Weise immer in Gedanken an Ihn – den Hlchsten Wohltäter – in Gedanken versunken sein.

Löst euch alle von der falschen und zeitweiligen Anhaftung an Haus, Land, Frau, Kinder, Reichtümer, Verwandten, Freunden und der Gemeinschaft mit niedriggesinnten Leuten, und lasst uns anstelle an die Gemeinschaft von Gottgeweihten anhaften. Solche Persönlichkeiten denen Gott das liebste ist, haben ihre Sinne besänftigt und leben sehr bescheiden. Spiritueller Fortschritt und Schlussendliche Vollkommenheit ist in ihrer Gemeinschaft sehr leicht zu erreichen, doch dem Materialisten fällt es sehr schwer.

Indem man einfach Gemeinschaft mit denjenigen Gottgeweihten pflegt, für die die Höchste Persönlichkeit Gottes Mukunda als das ein und alles betrachten, kann man über Seine glorreichen Aktivitäten hören und sie bald verstehen lernen. Das aufmerksame Hören über diese Taten ist so Einflussreich, dass man auf diese Weise unmittelbare Gemeinschaft mit dem Höchsten Herrn hat. Wenn man stetig und mit starker Begierde diese Erzählungen hört, geht der Herr in Form von Klang in das Herz ein und reinigt es von allen Arten von Verschmutzung. Durch das Baden im Ganges und dem aufsuchen heiliger Pilgerorte, wird das Herz und Bewusstsein hedoch erst allmählich gereinigt.

Alle göttlichen Eigenschaften werden sich im Charakter desjenigen offenbaren, der motivlose uneigennützige Liebe und Hingabe zur Höchsten Persönlichkeit Gottes entwickelt hat. Anderseits, kann derjenige der keine solche Liebe und Hingabe besitzt, keine göttlichen Qualitäten besitzen. Getrieben von seinen wilden Gedanken, rennt er nur dessen zeitweiligen Vorstellungen nach.

Genauso wie ein Fisch stets im Wasser bleiben möchte, fühlt sich eine verkörperte Seele von Natur her nur bei Gott Zuhause. Deshalb ist derjenige der nach materiellen Massstäben als Grossartig und Wunderbar betrachted wird, der aber anstelle sich dem Höchsten Herrn zu unterwerfen, nur in dem Zeitweiligen Haushälterleben betätigt, genauso so Grossartig wie ein Ehepaar, dass nur Sinnesgenuss als Ziel und Zweck ihres Daseins betrachten.

Die Ursache von materieller Anhaftung und unersättlichen Begehren, die nur zu Verdriesslichkeit, Ärger, Verzweiflung, Furcht und Geltungsdrang führt, ist die Verstrickung in das Eigennützige Haushälterleben. All dies führt euch nur im Riesenrad der sich wiederholenden Geburt und Tod herum. Deshalb gibt euer sogenanntes Glück im materialistischen Haushälterleben auf und sucht einfach Zuflucht bei den Füssen von Sri Nrisimhadeva. So werdet ihr von all euren Ängsten und Nöten befreit.

"O my rising dark moon, my child, You are not asleep?"
"No. Sleep has not yet come to Me."
"Listen, my son. I will tell You a bedtime story that will make You fall asleep."
"What is this story I have never heard?  Please tell it."
Mother Yashoda then told the story. When she came to the sentences, "Then Lord Nrisimha appeared from the pillar. Lord Nrisimha was very eager to rip the demon to shreds." a smile suddenly arose on child Krishna’s lips.

Aus dem Padyavali:
Mutter sprach zu ihrem Sohn, „O Shyamacandra, mein Sohn; schläfst Du noch nicht?“
„Nein Mutter, der Schlaf ist bis jetzt noch nicht gekommen.“
Dann erzähle ich Dir eine Geschichte, mein Sohn, so dass Du besser einschlafen kannst.“
„Was ist das für eine Geschichte? Bitte erzähle sie mir.“
Dann erzählte Yashoda die Geschichte von Nrisimhadeva, wie der Herr Seinen Geweihten Prahlada beschützte... Als sie beschrieb wie Narahari, um Seinen Geweihten zu beschützen, aus einer Säule erschien und den Asura auf Seinem Schoss auseinanderriss, kam plötzlich ein Lächeln über Krishnas Lippen.

Nrisimha Palli (Deva-palli)

Wann wird es mir vergönnt sein, diesen exzellenten göttlichen Ort zu sehen, der auch als Deva-palli oder Nrisimha-palli und Narahari-kshetra bekannt ist? Ich werde dann von ekstatischer Prema überwältigt, mich auf dem Boden wälzen und ernsthaft, ohne irgendwelche Hintergedanken, werde ich Ihn bitten, mit Seiner Gunst Krishna-prema zu erlangen. In meinem sündvollen Herzen hausen ständig die sechs Feinde – Lust, Ärger, Gier, Illusion, Eifersucht, Unbesonnenheit und auch Unaufrichtigkeit, Verschlagenheit und den Drang nach Ansehen. Bei den Lotosfüssen Nrisimhadevas Zuflucht suchend, hoffe ich, das Er mir gegenüber Barmherzig ist und mein Herz reinigt von diesen Feinden, so dass ich den Wunsch haben kann Krishna zu dienen. Weinend werde ich an Seinen Lotosfüssen um die Gunst bitten, ohne Hindernisse, Radha und Krishna in Navadvipa zu verehren. Wann wird mir Nara-hari, der Selbst die Furcht der Furcht ist, mit mir Zufrieden sein und Seine Barmherzigkeit erweisen? Selbst wenn Er für die sündvollen Wesen furchterregend aussehen mag, gewährt Er grosses Glück zu den Krishna-bhaktas, wie Prahlada. Wann wird es Ihm gefallen, zu dieser armen Seele, einige zuneigungsvollen Worte zu sprechen und ihr Furchtlosigkeit gewähren? Er wird dann sagen, „Liebes Kind! Setzt dich ruhig hin und lebe Glücklich hier im Shri Gauranga-dham. Verehre das göttliche Paar Radha und Krishna und entwickle starke Anhaftung (rati) an Ihre Heilige Namen. Durch die barmherzige Gemeinschaft von Vaishnavas, werden jegliche Hindernisse auf dem Weg von Bhakti, verschwinden. Verehre Radha und Krishna mit reinem Herzen und überwältigenden liebevollen Geschmäckern (rasa).“ Indem Er so zu mir sprechen wird, wann wird Er Seine Lotosfüsse auf meinen Kopf setzen? Dann werde ich die höchste Form der Prema zum göttlichen Paar und ekstatische Gefühlswandlungen die als Sattvika-bhava bekannt sind erfahren. Dann werde ich mich vor dem Tor des Nrisimha Tempels auf dem Boden rollen. (Bhaktivinoda Thakurs Navadvipa-bhava-taranga)

Dies ist ein Selbstmanifestiertes Deitie von Shri Nrisimhadeva. Nachdem Nrisimhadeva den fürchterlichen Dämon Hiranyakashipu getötet hatte kam Er hier vorbei um Sich auszuruhen. Brahma und andere Devas zogen hierher und bauten ihre Häuser und auf diese Weise entstand ein Dorf. Der Tempel wurde auf einer kleinen Erhebung am Ufer der Mandakini gebaut und die gesamte Gemeinde diente dem Herrn. Dieser Ort ist sehr mächtig und reinigend. Obwohl im laufe der Zeit all diese Residenzen die als Nrisimha-tila, Surya-tila, Brahma-tila und Ganesh-tila bekannt waren verloren gehen und die Madakini austrocknet, wird eines Tages ein Einflussreicher Geweihter mit Shri Nrishimhadevas Barmherzigkeit einen Tempel bauen und den dienst zu dem Herrn wieder aufnehmen. (NDP)

Ich erweise Sri Narasimhadeva meinen tiefsten Respekt; Er ist der Freudenquell und Inspiration Seines Geweihten Prahlada. Um Seinen Geweihten von den Bösen zu beschützen, erschien der Herr, als  Mensch-Löwe (Nara-simha).

Sri Narasimha ist überall. Wohin auch immer ich gehe, kann ich Ihn wahrnehmen und sehen – im Herzen und auch um mich herum. Deshalb ergebe ich mich Ihm, dem Ursprung und Zuflucht aller.

O Keshava! Herr des Universums - alle Ehre sei Dir. O Befreier, der Du in der fürchterlichen Form eines Halb-Mensch-halb-Löwens erschienst, aller Ruhm sei Dir! Mit Leichtigkeit hast Du die Personifizierte Habgier (Hiranya-kaschipu) - dem Hindernis hingebungsvollen Dienstes - zerstört.

Alle Ehre sei Nasiahadeva! Alle Ehre sei Nrisimhadeva, dem Herrn und Meister von Prahlada, Der wie eine Biene stets begierig ist das Lotosgleiche Gesicht Lakshmis zu betrachten. (CC Madhya 8.5)