Narasimha is a unique Avatar of Vishnu. In this fourth incarnation, the Supreme God of Protection, Preservation, and Sustenance appeared as a ferocious, lion-headed man to slay the demon Hiranyakasipu and rescue his devotee, Prahlada.
'Nara' means the human being and 'Simha,' the lion; Nara-Simha is thus a combined Lion-Man form, which Vishnu took to outwit the demon, who had obtained tremendous boons, slay him, rid the world of his cruelties and establish Dharma, the righteous order.
Narasimha Pooja (Narasimha Puja), or Narasimha Swami Pooja, is the ceremonial worship performed to this mighty divinity. Here, let us learn more about Narasimha, his preeminence, and Narasimha Puja Benefits.
Bhagavata Purana speaks elaborately about Narasimha Avatar. Demon Hiranyakasipu, who nursed an antipathy towards Vishnu for slaying his brother, performed severe penance and obtained incredible boons from Brahma, which protected him from being killed by the celestials, demons, humans, or animals; any weapon; during Day or night; on the ground or in space; and inside or outside any structure. So well-armed, Hiranya looked invincible, assumed himself to be immortal, and let loose a reign of terror on heaven and earth. Unable to bear his oppression, the Devas pleaded with Vishnu, who decided to put an end to the demon's atrocities.
Hiranya's young son Prahlada turned out to be an ardent devotee of Vishnu, the sworn enemy of his father. When Hiranya failed to wean Prahlada away from his devotion, he tried repeatedly to kill him but was always saved by Vishnu's power. Exasperated and desperate to find Vishnu, Hiranya heard from his son that Vishnu was there everywhere and broke open a pillar in his palace with his mace to locate him. And from there emerged the incredible man-lion Narasimha, mighty and ferocious, who caught hold of the demon, carried him to the palace entrance, tore his chest with his sharp nails, and slew him, thus meeting all the conditions of the boons while protecting his devotee and the universe from Hiranya's terror.
Vishnu also thus asserted that whenever evil tried to raise its head, he would appear to check wickedness and establish the righteous order.
Narasimha can well be termed as the most fascinating and fierce incarnation of Vishnu, which, according to Puranas, happened during Satya Yuga, the Golden Age. Vishnu had to take this incredible human-animal form principally to get the better of the demons' many boons of protection and slay him without violating any of them. Narasimha Avatar also proves that he would come to the rescue of his devotees instantly, even in the unlikeliest of places and times, and keep up his promise that he would appear on earth whenever vice tried to destabilize virtue, to destroy evil, protect the good and establish Dharma and peace.
Narasimha is usually portrayed with the head of a lion and the torso of a human being, bulging eyes, and a fierce look on his face. He may also have four to sixteen hands, carrying weapons like the conch, discus, mace, axe, etc., with one of his hands in the protective Abhaya Mudra or the boon-bestowing Varada Mudra postures.
People also worship him as Lakshmi Narasimha, the one with his consort Lakshmi settled on his lap, usually seated with a calm disposition.
Expert priests with vast experience in such ritualistic worship perform Narasimha Pooja (Narasimha Puja), or Narasimha Swami Pooja, adhering to the guidelines prescribed in the scriptures, chanting Mantras in praise of Narasimha, seeking his Divine protection and grace.
According to legends, Narasimha appeared at dusk on Shukla Chaturdashi, the fourteenth lunar Day of the Moon's bright fortnight, in the month of Vaishaka (April-May), on the Day of the star Swati Nakshatra. This Day of advent of Narasimha is celebrated as Narasimha Jayanthi. It is believed that performing Narasimha Pooja (Narasimha Puja), or Narasimha Swami Pooja on Narasimha Jayanthi or the Swati Nakshatra Day can be all the more efficacious in bestowing Narasimha's blessings.
Now, let us learn about some of the Narasimha Puja Benefits.
It is believed that Narasimha Pooja can earn Narasimha's immense grace for the devotees. Narasimha Puja benefits include, mitigating sins, warding off adverse planetary effects, protecting against evil forces, curing ailments, fulfilling earnest desires, bestowing wealth, success, and longevity, and leading ultimately to liberation.
