On May 22nd was Narsimha Jayanti so here goes a little story on Narasimha.

Narasimha avatar, one of the ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu, is unique in many ways. In the other avatars Vishnu was born at a particular time, grew up in this world and helped His devotees at some other time, but as Narasimha, both his appearance on earth and His coming to the aid of His devotee were simultaneous and instantaneous.

Maitreya, Parasara's disciple and author of Vishnu Purana asks why the Lord always seems to be partial, why he helps the Devas and kills asuras. In reply, Parasara narrates to him the story of Narasimha, who comes to the rescue of the little boy Prahlad, the son of asura king Hiranyakashipu.

As Narasimha the Lord shows great qualities of leadership and presence of mind. A good leader stands by the decisions of those around him, never exposing them. He stands by them and upholds their decisions in troubled times.

Hiranyakashipu wanted to take revenge on Lord Vishnu, who had killed his younger brother. He did severe penance and received many boons from Brahma, including one that specified that he will not be killed by man, animal, deva, astra, shastra, dry or wet weapon. He would not be killed on land, in heaven, at day or night. Pleased to the core, Hiranyakashipu declared himself to be supreme.

Lord Vishnu, the only one to survive the pralay, who created this entire universe including Brahma, the one the Vedas refer to as moksha adhikari, the Supreme, could have easily overruled the boons given by Brahma and killed Hiranyakashipu. But he didn't do that.

He protected Brahma's words; at the same time He found a way out — He took the form of Narasimha, half-lion, half-man. He sat on a raised platform, put Hiranyakashipu on his lap and killed him by tearing his stomach with his nails. This is described evocatively in the Shrimad Bhagavatham .

When Hiranyakashipu threatened to kill Prahlad for insisting that Lord Vishnu was Supreme, Vishnu came to Prahlad's rescue in the form of Narasimha. This way, both Brahma and Sage Narada's words were honoured, that Prahlad would not be killed. Kayatu, the wife of Hiranyakashipu, was with child when the king proceeded to perform penance.

Indra tried to kill the child in her womb, when Narada stopped him and informed him that a great Vishnu bhakt was to be born to her.

The Alwars have sung beautiful songs on Narasimha avatar. Prahlad insists that the Lord is Omnipresent. An exasperated Hiranyakashipu strikes at the pillar, asking if the Lord resided in the pillar, too. That very moment the pillar split open and Vishnu appeared in the form of Narasimha.

Vedanta Desika, the renowned Vaishnavite scholar says: “Not knowing where Hiranyakashipu would look for him, the Lord put Himself everywhere — so He still resides in all matter in the form of Narasimha''.

Narasimhatapaneeya Upanishad refers to Vishnu as Narasimha Triyambaka — one who has three eyes, Tapana, indu, agni nayanaha — the sun, the moon and agni are his three eyes. Lord Shiva in Mantraraja Pada Stotram tells Parvati that the most ugra rudra is the Lord as Narasimha.

In this manner, Vishnu did what he had to do without overruling the boons given by Brahma and Narada. In order to honour the word of His disciples and followers and to protect them, He innovates and finds a way out. Vishnu devotees believe that in this way, Narasimha comes to the rescue of all those who believe in Him and pray to him, just as He came to the rescue of child Prahlad.