Nine Powerful Avatars of Lord Narasimha

The story of Lord Narasimha is very famous in mythology. A fierce avatar of Lord Vishnu, this half-man, half-lion form, appeared to kill the demon Hiranyakashipu, who was the father of Prahlada. Prahlada, despite his demonic parentage, was a great Vishnu devotee. This did not sit well with his father, and he subjected Prahlada to various torments to make him stop worshipping Vishnu. But Vishnu took the form of Narasimha and killed Hiranyakashipu. Narasimha is the fourth avatar of Vishnu and his mission, as with all the other avatars of the deity, was to end the rule of evil and restore Dharma on earth. Narasimha is the most ferocious avatar of Vishnu. His sharp claws and bared teeth can strike terror in the hearts of the wicked. Narasimha saves his devotees from danger. Once, he saved Shankaracharya from being sacrificed to Goddess Kali. There are nine forms of Narasimha. They are Nava Narasimha, and each form has its significance. Ugra Narasimha The first of the 9 forms is Ugra Narasimha. ‘Ugra’ means ‘fierce.’ In this form, he appeared from within a pillar in Hiranyakashipu’s palace and disemboweled the asura king. He then wore the slain demon’s intestines around his neck like an ornament. He embodies wrath, aggression, and ferocity. But Ugra Narasimha also signifies the power and will to destroy evil and protect the innocent. Supposedly, he gave darshan to Garuda and Adi Shankaracharya in this form. Yoga Narasimha Unlike Ugra Narasimha, Yoga Narasimha is a calm form. He is depicted in a meditative pose with his eyes closed and legs crossed. His hands are on his lap, displaying the Mudra of peace. Ugra Narasimha bestows peace, harmony, and calm on his devotees. He embodies the fact that true power lies in control and that inner power can be channeled through meditation. There are many temples in South India for Yoga Narasimha. One can find his idols in yoga and meditation halls. He symbolizes the taming of inner rage. Jwala Narasimha Jwala Narasimha is also a fierce form. His fiery eyes radiate wrath. In this form, Jwala Narasimha embodies intense energy and the power of fire. It represents the moment he appeared to slay the demons, Holika and Hiranyakashipu. He holds the weapons, Chakra and Gada, that he uses to destroy evil. Jwala Narasimha has a fiery nature. He can remove obstacles, destroy evil, and remove impurities. One of the famous temples for Jwala Narasimha is the Ahobilam Narasimha Swamy Temple in the state of Andhra Pradesh. Lakshmi Narasimha In this form, Narasimha graces devotees with Goddess Lakshmi as Senju Laksmi on his lap. He radiates tranquillity and love. After killing Hiranyakashipu, Narasimha couldn’t control his anger, so he drank the demon’s blood. Though the gods tried to pacify him, he remains angry. So, Goddess Lakshmi appeared before Narasimha and calmed him down, saying that Prahlada and the entire world had been saved from the demon. Narasimha became calm on hearing this and exuded gentleness. Ornaments and garlands adorn him, and he holds the Sudarshana Chakra and the conch shell, Panchajanya. Bhargava Narasimha This form relates to Parashurama, another avatar of Vishnu. Bhargava Narasimha is calm and peaceful, unlike Ugra and Jwala Narasimha. Representing strength and serenity, Bhargava Narasimha is a warrior. He is worshipped to gain protection from evil. He has strength and rigor. In this form, he carries the Sudarshana Chakra, conch shell, bow, and arrow. Krodha Narasimha This form of the deity is very different from his other forms. He represents the union of Narasimha and Varaha, the 3rd avatar of Vishnu. He has protruding teeth like Varaha’s and a lion's head. He holds Mother Earth (Bhudevi) between his teeth. This form of Narasimha combines fierceness, protectiveness, and the earth-sustaining and rescuing traits of Varaha. Krodha Narasimha is known to protect his devotees in the same way he protects Mother Earth from cosmic upheaval, reprising Vishnu’s role as the Preserver who maintains balance and harmony. Malola Narasimha This form of Narasimha is one of the calmest forms. ‘Ma’ means ‘Goddess Lakshmi,’ and ‘Lola’ means ‘loved.’ In this form, he graces with Goddess Lakshmi. The name also means ‘the beloved of Lakshmi.’ Narasimha is depicted with Lakshmi on his lap. The form highlights his affectionate and protective nature. He holds the chakra and conch and embraces Lakshmi. Divine power can be soft, warm, loving, compassionate, and fierce. Malola Narasimha bestows peace, harmony, and prosperity. Chatravata Narasimha Chatravata Narasimha is portrayed sitting under a banyan tree, revealing his connection with nature. His manner is calm, composed, and serene. He holds the chakra, conch shell, and musical instruments, showing his association with the arts and music. Devotees worship this form to gain blessings of peace, harmony, and prosperity. Pavana Narasimha ‘Pavana’ means “purifier." In this form, he is the one who purifies. He is depicted in a standing pose and wears a warm, serene, and calm expression. Worshipping Pavama Narasimha can cleanse souls and bring spiritual well-being. He can also bring relief from illness and bestows good health.