Narasimha Jayanthi is ascribed to the birth anniversary of Sri Narasimha Swamy, the fourth incarnation of Sri Maha Vishnu.
Narasimha Jayanthi occurs on the Shukla Paksha Chathurthasi of Vaisakha month as per Amanta and Purnimanta Calendars. It occurs on Tuesday, 21st May 2024. It is also believed that Phalguna Shukla Paksha Dwadashi is Narasimha Jayanthi day. However, this day is observed as Narasimha Dwadashi.
Narasimha Jayanthi is believed to be the day of incarnation of Sri Narasimha Swamy on the Swathi Star of Vaishaka month. The exact duration of the Chathuthasi Tithi and the Swathi Star has to be ascertained from the respective regional calendars.
Sri Narasimha Avathar
Sri Narasimha Avathar is the fourth incarnation of Bhagwan Sri Maha Vishnu. Unlike the other incarnations, Sri Narasimha avatar had happened for a singular objective only, i.e the killing of Hiranyakasipu, the demon. The Avathar of Sri Narasimha happened at Sri Ahobilam, Andhra Pradesh.
As per Agni Puran, the emergence of Sri Narasimha is explained as mentioned hereunder.
Hiranyakasipu
Hiranyaksha and Hiranyakasipu, the asuras were brothers. They had indulged in lots of misdeeds. Based on the pleas made by the Devas, Sri Maha Vishnu had killed Hiranyaksha.
His brother Hiranyakasipu vowed to kill Vishnu. He had chucked out the Devas from the Devaloka and imprisoned them.
Hiranyakasipu did not recognize the fact that Sri Maha Vishnu was the God and that He was omnipresent. He had very high opinions on his prowess. Based on this assumption, he was torturing others.
He expected that only he should be worshipped and not Sri Maha Vishnu. He was tormenting all the Vishnu bhakts.
His boons
Hiranyakasipu was head strong because he had been granted boons by Sri Brahma that he could not be killed
-either by human or by animal;
-either on land or on water or in the sky;
-either in the day or in the night; and
-he could not be killed by any weapon either.
Prahalada
Hiranyakasipu’s son Prahlada was an ardent devotee of Sri Maha Vishnu even when he was in the womb of his mother. His father tried various ways to change his son’s stand. He could not succeed.
He tortured his son in various ways. Yet, Prahlada came out unscathed. He never deviated from his devotion to Sri Maha Vishnu.
Prahalada’s belief
Prahlada sincerely believed that Sri Maha Vishnu was omnipresent. One day, Hirnayakasipu was furious with his son. He asked him whether Prahalada can prove the presence of Sri Maha Vishnu anywhere. Prahalada accepted his father’s challenge.
Emergence of Sri Narasimha
Hiranyakasipu pointed at a pillar and asked whether Sri Maha Vishnu existed there. Prahalada accented.
Hiranyakasipu took a gada and knocked on the pillar. From the pillar, Sri Narasimha Swamy emerged.
It was an evening time which was neither day nor night. He had the appearance of mix of human and animal, i.e lion head and human body. He killed Hiranyakasipu using only his nails. Hiranyakasipu died on the laps of Sri Narasimha.
Ahobilam
The pillar of emergence of Sri Narasimha Avatar is called Ugra Stamba. It is situated at Sri Ahobilam at Cuddapah district of Andhra Pradesh.
Sri Narasimha Swamy
Though Sri Narasimha Swamy appears ferocious, He had made an appearance just because a child had believed in Him. He wanted to make the belief of the child come true.
Narasimha Jayanthi – rituals
Sri Narasimha had ordained that for worship, His Malola form, i.e Sri Lakshmi Narasimha form is preferable.
The devotees wake up before sunrise and prepare themselves for Puja by wearing clean clothes. The idol / picture of Sri Lakshmi Narasimha is kept at the Puja place. Lamps and incense sticks are lit. Chandan, Kumkum and turmeric are applied on the idol / picture.
The Slokams / mantras pertaining to Sri Narasimha Swamy are recited. At some places, one hundred and eight namas of Sri Narasimha Swamy are recited and Ashtothara Puja is done.
The Jaggery water “Panakam” is offered as Neivedyam.
There is also a practice of observing Vrat on this day for the removal of the debts and for the fulfillment of the wishes. It is considered auspicious to make donations to the poor and the needy on this day.
Sri Narasimha Slokas
Sri Narasimha Prapatti
Sri Mantra Rajapada Stotram
Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Ashtothram
Sri Narasimha Kavacham
Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Karavalambam
Sri Narasimha Ashtakam
Runa Vimochana Sri Narasimha Stotram
Sri Prahlada Narasimha Stotram (Sri Narasimha Sthuthi)
Sri Narasimha Pancharathnam
Apart from the above, there are innumerable Slokam / Stotram on Sri Narasimha Swamy in almost all Indian languages.
Sri Narasimha Temples
Apart from Sri Ahobilam, the details of a few of the Sri Narasimha temples are narrated in this website.
Sri Vedagiri Narasimha Temple
Sri Parikkal Narasimha Temple
Sri Kattazhagiya Singar Koil
Sri Penchalakona Narasimha Swamy Temple
Sri Pataladhri Narasimhar Temple
Sri Thuravur Maha Kshetram
Sri Narasimha Gayathri
ॐ नृसिंहाय विद्महे वज्रनखाय धीमहि तन्नो सिंहः प्रचोदयात्
Om Nrusimhaaya vidhmahe vajra nakhaaya Dheemahi thanno simhah prachodhayaath
ॐ उग्रनृसिंहाय विद्महे वज्रनखाय धीमहि तन्नो नृसिंहः प्रचोदयात्
Om ugra nrusimhaaya vidhmahe vijra nakhaaya Dheemahi thanno nrusimhah prachodhayaath
ॐ वज्रनखाय विद्महे तीक्ष्ण दंष्ट्राय धीमहि तन्नो नृसिंहः प्रचोदयात्
Om vajrana khaaya vidhmahe theekShNa dhaMShtraaya Dheemahi thanno nrusimhah prachodhayaath
Sri Narasimha Mahamantra
उग्रं वीरं महा विष्णुं ज्वलन्तं सर्वतो मुखम्
नृसिंहं भीषणं भद्रं मृत्युमृत्युं नमाम्यहम्
ugram veeram mahaa viShNum jvalanthaM sarvatho mukham
nrusiMhaM bheeShaNaM bhadhraM mruhtyur-mruthyuM namaam-yaham
