Sri Narasimha Chaturdashi

Sri Narasimha Chaturdashi

Lord Krishna says in the Bhagavad-gita:

pariträëäya sädhünäm
vinäçäya ca duñkåtäm
dharma-saàsthäpanärthäya
sambhavämi yuge yuge

“In order to deliver the pious and to annihilate the miscreants, as well as to reestablish the principles of religion, I advent Myself millennium after millennium”.

Ages ago, Lord Krishna advented in the form of half-lion half-man incarnation Lord Narasimha to protect His devotee Prahlad from his demoniac father Hiranyakashipu. Because of performing severe austerities, Hiranyakashipu had received a special benediction from Lord Brahma that he could not be killed by any human being, demigod or animal or any other entities; he could not be killed by any kind of weapons, neither during day nor night. So, the Lord appeared in half-man half-lion form and killed him with His nails at twilight, thus satisfying all the conditions. Narasimhadeva appeared at dusk on the Shukla Chaturdashi (fourteenth day of the bright fortnight) in the month of Vaishakha.

Celebrations at ISKCON, Mysore for Sri Narasimha Jayanthi begin in the evening at 6pm onwards. The programme starts with Narasimah Homa followed by an elaborate abhishekam to the Deities of Sri Sri Lakshmi Narasimha. During the abhisheka, panchagavya, panchamrita, sacred water, herbal water, sandal water, fruit juices, and water mixed with turmeric are poured on the Lord for His pleasure. A Video presentation based on the teachings of Srila Prabhupada, depicting the pastimes of Lord Narasimha and various holy temples of Lord Narasimha is played. The programme ends with singing of the special song on Lord Narasimha Çré Nåsimha Añöottara Çata Näma Stotram and arati with Sankirtan.