Deity

Narasimha

नरसिंहNarasiṃha

verses
942
books
23
chapters
364
Avatar of
Vishnu
Slew
Hiranyakashipu

What the texts say

In the Narasimha Purana, Narasimha is the Man-Lion form that Vishnu took for the welfare of the world. Narasimha Purana 1.53.20, 1.44.16 The Shiva Purana names Hiranyakashipu as the brother of Hiranyaksha. Shiva Purana 2.5.43.42 In the Bhagavata Purana, Hiranyakashipu begged a boon that he not die inside or outside a residence, by day or night. Bhagavatam 7.3.36 That Purana also tells of Hiranyakashipu's son Prahlada, a devotee of Narasimha, who was unaffected by the weapons the demons used against him. Bhagavatam 1.15.16, 5.24.25 In the Narasimha Purana, Narasimha emerges roaring from the middle of a pillar and, at twilight on the threshold of the door, lays Hiranyakashipu on his lap and tears him apart with his claws. Narasimha Purana 1.44.16, 1.44.29 Later, the Bhagavata Purana says, Narasimha wished to give Prahlada his father's kingdom, but Prahlada asked only for a life of service. Bhagavatam 5.24.25

Where to read

Every verse that names Narasimha, book by book.

  1. Skanda Purana

    205 verses · 81 chapters

    All 205 verses in the Skanda Purana
    • 7.2.16.8

      Seeing the place filled with many wonders, he remembered Hari within his mind; and knowing him to be as though afraid, Narasiṃha came there.

    • 2.2.37.44

      Constantly chanting the king of mantras—the wish-fulfilling tree for those who take refuge—at the end of a hundred years he beheld Narasiṃha, the remover of sin and sorrow.

    • 4.2.34.23

      There is also the purifying tīrtha called Vidāra-Nārasiṃha. By a single bath there, sin accumulated over a hundred births is destroyed.

  2. Narasimha Purana

    145 verses · 38 chapters

    All 145 verses in the Narasimha Purana
    • 1.28.3

      In ancient times, Shantanu was a devotee of Lord Narasimha. He worshipped Madhava according to the rules prescribed by Narada.

    • 1.14.6

      Holding on his head with devotion the great stream falling from the mountain, which destroys all sins, right behind the deity Narasimha, that brahmana then became completely purified in body.

    • 1.1.3

      May the tips of the claws and tail of Lord Narasimha protect you—those claws that are reddened by the mud-like blood from the chest of the demon Hiranyakashipu.

  3. Narada Purana

    126 verses · 26 chapters

    All 126 verses in the Narada Purana
    • 1.1.2.11

      O Śrī Rāma, O Viṣṇu—Narasimha, Vāmana; O Pradyumna, Saṃkarṣaṇa, Vāsudeva; O Aniruddha, the stainless One, O slayer of Mura—please protect us continually from every kind of fear.

    • 1.2.62.52

      Salutations to the Lord as Haṃsa; to Him who assumed the form of the Fish; to the Bearer of the Boar-body; to Narasiṃha; to the revered deity worshipped by Dhruva; and to the Supreme Lord of Sāṅkhya and Yoga as well.

    • 1.3.66.48

      Then one should touch (consecrate) the eyes while remembering Aniruddha and Puruṣottama; likewise, one should touch (consecrate) the ears while remembering Adhokṣaja and Nṛsiṃha.

  4. Padma Purana

    109 verses · 45 chapters

    All 109 verses in the Padma Purana
    • 6.174.4

      The Lord—who is the Self of the universe, whose form is the universe, and who is the sovereign master of all—he by whom the great-souled Narasiṃha bore the twelve suns, that very One has now manifested openly, desiring the peace and…

    • 6.238.94

      Assuming the form of Narasiṃha, Hari manifested right there; he was enveloped in a radiance like that of countless millions of suns and fires.

    • 1.45.1

      Bhīṣma said: Now I wish to hear of the slaying of Hiraṇyakaśipu—of the greatness of Narasiṁha, and likewise of the destruction of sin.

Also named in

Key chapters

The chapters where Narasimha matters most.

  1. Sharabha Manifestation: Pacification of Narasimha and Shiva’s Supreme Dissolution-Power

    Linga Purana 1.96 · 14 verses

  2. The Sin of Crossing Nirmalya and the Expiation of King Shantanu

    Narasimha Purana 1.28 · 8 verses

  3. The Brahmana's Pilgrimage and Attainment of Liberation

    Narasimha Purana 1.14 · 6 verses

  4. Adhyāya 16: Narasiṃha-Guardianship, Ujjayanta Ascent, and Śivarātri Vrata Protocols at Vastrāpatha

    Skanda Purana 7.2.16 · 6 verses

  5. The Manifestation of Narasiṃha (Narasimha Vrata and Maulistāna Tīrtha)

    Padma Purana 6.174 · 20 verses

    teacher

  6. The Glory of Narasiṃha: Darśana, Kavaca-Protection, and Siddhi-Rites

    Brahma Purana 58 · 17 verses

    Supreme protective manifestation and object of darśana, stuti…

  7. Dakṣiṇāyana Worship, Purifying Naivedya, and the Legend of King Śveta

    Skanda Purana 2.2.37 · 3 verses

  8. The Manifestation (Appearance) of Narasiṃha

    Padma Purana 6.238 · 13 verses

    divine_revealer

  9. Narasiṃha’s Greatness and the Slaying of Hiraṇyakaśipu (Boon, Portents, and Cosmic Restoration)

    Padma Purana 1.45 · 12 verses

    protagonist

  10. The Advent of Narasiṃha and Hiraṇyakaśipu’s Weapon-Assault

    Matsya Purana 162 · 8 verses

    Theophanic avatāra

Key episodes

  1. Prahlada, the Child Devotee

    Bhagavatam 7.4-7.10

  2. Narasimha Appears from the Pillar

    Bhagavatam 7.8-7.9

Also known to Wikipedia · Wikidata Q237543