Sri Narasimha Jayanthi
Narasimha Jayanti is a Hindu festival celebrated on the fourteenth day of the Hindu month of Visakha (April-May). Hindus consider this the day Vishnu took his fourth incarnation as a "man-lion" as Narasimha, to overthrow the oppressive demon king Hiranyakasipu and protect his devotee Prahlada. The Narasimha Purana refers to the victory of knowledge over ignorance and the protection God has given to His devotees.
In Hindu mythology, Hiranyakashipu was the first incarnation of Jaya, one of the two gatekeepers of Vaikunda, the abode of Vishnu. After being cursed by the four Kumaras, he along with his brother Vijaya, instead of being a devotee of the deity seven times, was born as an enemy of Vishnu three times. After the death of his brother Hiranyakshan, he was born into the arms. Vishnu's third incarnation Varaha, Hiranyakasipu vowed revenge. The king performed severe penance until he was granted a boon by the creator god Brahma. The asura desired that neither men nor beasts nor gods nor demons nor any creature created by Brahma should be killed by any weapon, whether in his house or outside, by day or by night. And he asked to rule over all beings and the three worlds. Pursuant to his wish, Hiranyakashipu conquered the three worlds by his invincibility and his armies, usurped Indra's throne in the heavens, and subjugated all living beings except the Trimurtis under his rule.
Asuramanna's son Prahlada spent his childhood in Narada's ashram and became devoted to Vishnu. Enraged that his son prayed to his true enemy, Hiranyakasipu tried to educate him under various teachers, including Sukra, but to no avail. The king decided that such a son should die. He killed Prahlada using poison, snakes, elephants, fire and warriors, but in every attempt the boy was saved by praying to Vishnu. When the royal priests tried to teach the prince once more, he converted other students to Vaishnavism. The priests made a trident (trident) to kill the boy, but it killed them, after which Prahlada revived them. Shamparasura and Vayu were tasked to kill him but failed. Finally, the demon tied his son to a rope of snakes and threw him into the sea, where mountains were thrown up to crush him. Prahlada remained unharmed. A frustrated Hiranyakashipu asked Vishnu where he resided, and Prahlada replied that he was omnipresent. He asked his son if Vishnu resided on the pillar of his room and the reply affirmed. The enraged king smashed the pillar with his hand, and there Narasimha, a Pagan, appeared before him. The avatar dragged Hiranyakasipu to the palace gate and tore him apart with his claws, which were placed in his lap in the twilight. Thus, by returning the boon given to the demon king, Narasimha was able to rescue his devotee and restore the order of the universe.
History of Narasimha Jayanti
Narasimha Jayanti is mentioned as Narasimha Chaturthasi in Padma Purana and Skanda Purana. Narasimha worship has existed in South India for thousands of years, with the Pallava dynasty popularizing the sect and its practices. Inscriptions from the period of the Vijayanagara Empire have also been found.
Practices and Traditions
Narasimha Jayanti is primarily observed by Vaishnavas, followers of Lord Vishnu, with Narasimha worship popular in the southern Indian states of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and North Tamil Nadu. Narasimha and Lakshmi Narasimha temples in the above areas conduct special pujas to the deity at various times. At home, men perform Shodasopasara Puja in the morning and Panchopasara Puja in the evening.
Members of the Srivaishnava tradition traditionally observe a fast until the evening and eat after prayers. Panakam is a drink made from jaggery and water and distributed to Brahmins during festivals.
In Karnataka, community feasts are organized in temples to celebrate the festival.
Bhagavatamela
Every year on Narasimha Jayanti, a traditional folk dance known as Bhagavata Mela is performed in public in Melatoor, a village in Tamil Nadu. "Bhagavata" refers to the Bhagavata Purana, an important Hindu text in the Solvaishnava tradition, while "Mela" refers to traditional dancers or singers. Thus, this folk dance enacts stories from the Bhagavata Purana using specific dance techniques and Carnatic music style. A particular episode "notable for its dramatic impact and ritual significance" is the story of Prahladhana and Narasimha.
Sri Narasimha Jayanti