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Other names: Narsimha, Narasimha, Narasinha

Lord Vishnu, in his Varah incarnation killed demon Hiranyaksha. To take revenge of this, his brother Hiranyakashyap started torturing saints and sages who were devotees of Vishnu. He destroyed the Yagyas and sacrifices of the Rishis and also burnt their ashrams. Hiranyakashyap killed all those who were seen worshipping lord Vishnu. Later, on demon guru Shukracharya’s advice, he went for penance of Brahmaji. Pleased with his worship, Brahmaji asked Hiranyakashyap to ask for a boon. Hiranyakashyap said, “O my lord, O best of the givers of benediction, if you will kindly grant me the benediction I desire, please let me not meet death from any of the living entities created by you. Grant me that I not die within any residence or outside any residence, during the daytime or at night, nor on the ground or in the sky. Grant me that my death not be brought about by any weapon, or by any human being or animal. Grant me that I not meet death from any entity, living or nonliving. Grant me, further, that I am not killed by any demigod or demon or by any great snake from the lower planets. Since no one can kill you in the battlefield, you have no competitor. Therefore, grant me the benediction that I too may have no rival. Give me sole lordship over all the living entities and presiding deities, and give me all the glories obtained by that position. Furthermore, give me all the mystic powers attained by long austerities and the practice of yoga, for these cannot be lost at any time.” Brahmaji granted him the boon. After getting the boon, Hiranyakashyap became very egoistic. He attacked devlok and took over the rule of devlok. He started torturing the saints and sages tremendously. Tired of his torture, devtas and saints went in to refuge of lord Vishnu. Vishnu asked them to have patience and promised them that he would kill Hiranyakashyap very soon.

Hiranyakashyap’s son Prahlad was a great devotee of Vishnu. Many a times Hiranyakashyap shouted at him for worshipping Vishnu but Prahlad continued worshipping Vishnu without getting scared of his father. Then Hiranyakashyap lost his patience and thought of killing Prahlad. He got Prahlad thrown down from the mountain, tried to burn him in fire and many more trials but every time by the grace of Vishnu, Prahlad was saved. In the end, Hiranyakashyap himself thought of killing Prahlad and went ahead with his sword to kill Prahlad.

Moment Hiranyakashyap picked up his sword, Lord Vishnu appeared in the form of Narsimha from a pillar tearing it. In this form of Narsimha, he was neither human nor animal. He did not even resemble any animal. That is why this form of Vishnu was called Narsinha Avtar which means the one whose form is half man and half lion. Both Narsimha and Hiranyakashyap fought fiercely. Lord Narsimha picked up Hiranyakashyap, sat in between the door, made him sleep on his lap and with his sharp nails, tore apart Hiranyakashyap’s stomach and killed him. That time it was neither day nor night, it was twilight. He was neither in the house nor out of the house, his body was neither on earth nor in sky. He was also not killed with a weapon. This way Brahmaji’s keeping the limit of Brahmaji’s boon was fulfilled and there was an end to oppressor Hiranyakashyap. All the devtas and Saints and sages were very happy and praised Narsimha.