Narasimha Jayanti Celebrated in Nepal, Commemorating Lord Vishnu's Fourth Avatar

Kathmandu. According to Vedic Sanatan Hindu Dharma, Narasimha Jayanti is being celebrated today. Experts say that this day is celebrated as Narasimha Jayanti because Lord Vishnu took the form of Narasimha to protect his devotees on Vaishakh Shukla Chaturdashi.

According to religious belief, the Narasimha avatar is the fourth avatar of Lord Vishnu. Various Puranas mention that Lord Vishnu had to take the form of Narasimha to slay the demon king Hiranyakashipu and rescue the devotee Prahlad.

According to Hindu scriptures, two sons, Hiranyaksha and Hiranyakashipu, were born to Diti, the wife of sage Kashyapa. As they grew up, both began to cause destruction everywhere. Hiranyaksha was killed by Lord Vishnu's third avatar, Varaha. When Hiranyakashipu performed severe penance to Lord Brahma, flames of fire emanated from his body. Seeing this, Lord Brahma went to Hiranyakashipu's location and ordered him to ask for any boon he desired. Upon hearing this, Hiranyakashipu asked for a boon of immortality. Lord Brahma, stating the rule of creation that all born must die, ordered him to ask for another boon.

Hearing this, Hiranyakashipu asked for a boon that he would not die inside or outside a house, in darkness or daylight, in the sky or underground, on the earth, by any man (human), yaksha, gandharva, or god, nor by any hand or weapon, as mentioned in various texts, informed Pandit Balmukunda Devkota. According to him, Lord Brahma granted the boon Hiranyakashipu asked for due to his severe penance. Having received the boon from Lord Brahma, Hiranyakashipu became immortal.

Here is the legend

According to religious scriptures, Hiranyakashipu conquered all three worlds. He brought the universe under his control. He made every effort to make everyone believe that he was the master of the entire creation and no one was greater than him. The devotee Prahlad was born in Hiranyakashipu's house. Although Prahlad was the son of the demon king Hiranyakashipu, he became devoted to Hari from a young age.

Seeing this, the demon king Hiranyakashipu tried to explain to Prahlad that he was the ruler of the world and no Hari was greater than him, but Prahlad called him a frog in a well and gave a contrary reply. Hearing this, Hiranyakashipu, enraged, could not kill Prahlad as he was his son, and sent him to a guru to be educated, thinking he lacked demonic education.

Prahlad, even there, left his studies and turned to Hari devotion. The guru tried to explain a lot, but Prahlad did not give up Hari devotion. He even influenced other demon sons there towards Hari devotion. Seeing this, the guru also gave up and sent him back to the demon king Hiranyakashipu. Hiranyakashipu again tried to explain to Prahlad, but Prahlad stated that nothing was greater than Hari devotion.

Enraged, Hiranyakashipu ordered Prahlad's hands and feet to be tied and left in the path of an elephant, but the elephant could not trample Prahlad upon seeing him. Hiranyakashipu ordered Prahlad to be tied and thrown into the sea; Prahlad was thrown into the ocean, but by Hari's grace, Lord Vishnu himself came and saved Prahlad.

After imparting knowledge to Prahlad, the Lord disappeared. A few days later, Prahlad returned home with Hari's knowledge. Seeing Prahlad, Hiranyakashipu tried to explain again. Prahlad reiterated that no one was greater than Hari and that Hari was everywhere. Hiranyakashipu, filled with rage, said, 'If your Hari is everywhere, then show Hari in front of me.' Prahlad meditated on Hari and invoked Vishnu. In a short while, Lord Vishnu appeared from a pillar in the form of Narasimha. Seeing this, Hiranyakashipu struck the pillar with his sword. Lord Narasimha also became angry and moved to kill Hiranyakashipu. Lord Narasimha had half the body of a lion and half the body of a human.

Narasimha was neither an animal nor a human. The time when Hiranyakashipu was killed was twilight. At that time, there was neither sunlight nor the darkness of night. Then, fulfilling all the conditions, Lord Narasimha killed Hiranyakashipu by piercing him with his claws on his lap at the doorway of the house. After killing him in a way that fulfilled all of Brahmaji's boons, Narasimha's anger began to burn the entire world. To pacify Narasimha's wrath, Brahma, Shiva, Lakshmi, and other deities came and prayed, but his anger only increased. Finally, when Prahlad prayed, Narasimha's anger subsided. After imparting knowledge to Prahlad, Narasimha disappeared. Prahlad also took care of the kingdom by focusing on Hari devotion. Lord Vishnu had taken the Dattatreya avatar to teach Prahlad knowledge. Dattatreya also taught Prahlad much knowledge.