Avatars of Lord Vishnu - Varaha and Narasimha…

Hi!!! Here's a fun fact: Did you know that today is Narasimha Jayanti?! It is the day that we honour the 4th avatar of Lord Vishnu, Lord Narasimha. He came as a creature that was half man and half lion to destroy Hiranyakashipu, the asura king and grandson of Brahma. Prahlada was Hiranyakashipu's son. He was devoted to the Lord. Hiranyakashipu was arrogant and hated Lord Vishnu. Continue reading to find out what happens next. Let's get on with the story, then…

Disclaimer: This story seems long, but it will be worth your while. It's around a ten-minute read!!!!

A long, long time ago, even before the birth of Rama, lived two brothers. Their names were Hiranyaksha and Hiranyakashipu. They were the sons of sage Kashyapa, one of the saptarishi. They were both asuras (aka Demons!!!) of the daitya clan. Since they were born, Hiranyaksha and Hiranyakashipu excelled in the art of warfare. They were trained by the son of Maharishi Brighu, Shukracharya. They rose to be amazing students, who outshone all of the other students. With pride coursing through their veins, they fought everyone and won with ease and after finishing their studies, Hiranyakashipu and Hiranyaksha went to rule the city Kashyapuri, which was made by their father. Hiranyakashipu ruled the kingdom and Hiranyaksha was the general of their army. They ruled their kingdom with confidence and pride. What strength they had!! They conquered several kingdoms and cities with ease. They pillaged all of the nearby kingdoms and slaughtered the residents. Men, women and children alike fell under the gleaming sword of Hiranyakashipu. They captured kingdom after kingdom. But, their hunger for land soon grew into an obsession. They destroyed so many kingdoms, and while their strength grew, their arrogance too. They believed that no one could challenge their kingdom. They thought that they were the best in the whole universe. This arrogance made Hiranyakashipu and Hiranyaksha vain. They randomly marched over to any kingdom they wished, and beat it into chutney!! Until the king surrendered his kingdom, they would just slaughter the people. This blood-thirsty attitude that Hiranyakashipu and Hiranyaksha had, earned them a horrible reputation. They were believed to be the scariest things to roam the universe.

One evening, Hiranyaksha strolled through the palace, deep in thought. Suddenly, he bolted to his brother's chambers. "Brother!!! Brother!! I want to ask you something!!! Brother!! Brother!!" Hiranyakashipu ran out of his chambers, startled. He widened his eyes and stared at his brother, "What do you want?! I am trying to write a story!!!!" Hiranyaksha lowered his head, "I am sorry for disturbing you, brother. I would like to talk to you about a conquest that I would like to do." Hiranyakashipu smiled. He longed for war. He desired bloodshed. "I shall have the army start preparing for an onslaught. Where shall we conquer?" Hiranyaksha stopped his brother, " No, brother. I don't want the army to come on this conquest." Hiranyakashipu was shocked!!! "What?! First of all, tell me where you want to go," Hiranyaksha explained that he wanted to attack Bhoodevi, Mother Earth. "HaHaHa!! Really, you want to attack Bhoomi?!" Hiranyakashipu was rolling on the floor with laughter. He didn't understand why he wanted to attack Earth. "Brother!! Trust me, I have an idea!!" Hiranyaksha whispered the plan to his brother. "Nice… I like it…You may go to Bhoodevi!!" Hiranyakashipu blessed his brother and prayed that he survived. 

Hiranyaksha set off to Bhoodevi the next morning. It was a long and treacherous journey from Kashyapuri to Bhoodevi. Though the heavens were open and free, walking from Kashyapuri to Bhoodevi wasn't an easy task. Hiranyaksha wheezed and coughed through the journey. Hiranyaksha met a few Gandharvas along the way, and slaughtered them. After mashing the Gandharvas, Hiranyaksha felt rejuvenated. He roared with all his might. He walked on, getting closer to Bhoodevi every second. Trudging through heaven, with his mace on his back and his sword at his side, Hiranyaksha finally reached Bhoodevi. "OY BHOODEVI!!!!! Look who's here!!! HaHaHa!!!" Hiranyaksha stared at Bhoodevi like she was a pig, ready to go to the butchers'. Bhoodevi was shocked!! She gritted her teeth and bit her nails. Hiranyaksha started lumbering towards her. Bhoodevi screamed in agony and made a run for it. Confused, Hirayaksha mocked Bhoodevi, "What is this?! You are strong enough to hold billions of mortals, but you aren't strong enough to stop me?! HAHAHA!!!" Hiranyaksha followed her, just by walking. Bhoodevi tried bolting down the heavens, but she was no match for Hiranyaksha. Lifting Bhoodevi into the air, Hiranyaksha let out a monstrous laugh. "MWAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!! I AM THE GREATEST ALIVE!!!!!" With that, Hiranyaksha hurled the whole Earth into the Ksheera Sagara, the Milky Ocean.  Bhoodevi gradually sunk into the ocean, being left there forever.

Meanwhile, in Vaikunta, Lord Vishnu was watching this whole incident unravel. He smiled to himself and saw that Hiranyaksha had started to walk away from the Ksheera Sagara and back to Kashyapuri. Vishnu saw Bhoodevi's plight. She was praying to Vishnu. She wanted him to save her. Vishnu, being the all-knowing, understood what had happened and acknowledged Bhoodevi's condition. He dived from Vainkunta in the form of a boar and into the Ksheera Sagara. He swivelled his furry head and looked for Bhoodevi. Suddenly, he heard someone praying, "Om Namo Narayana, Om Namo Narayana!" He immediately noticed that it was Bhoodevi!!! He swam with all his might and reached Bhoodevi. She had closed her eyes and continued praying. Varaha (The name of the boar) lifted Bhoodevi onto his snout and held her in place with his snout. He paddled up with Bhoomi on his nose and got her to the shore of the Ksheera Sagara. Bhoomi didn't even get to know that she was on the shore, she was still meditating for Lord Vishnu.
Meanwhile, Hiranyaksha was strolling back to Kashyapuri, when he met sage Narada, "Narayana!! Narayana!! Hello, Hiranyksha. What brings you to Vaikunta?" Hiranyaksha laughed, "Hello Narada!! I have just come back from a conquest against Bhoodevi!" Narada was shocked!! "Oh My Narayana!! What is this?! You know, you shouldn't have done that, Hiranyaksha," Hiranyaksha replied, "O Narada, who cares?! As of now, I want someone stronger than Bhoodevi to fight. Would you recommend someone?" Narada pretended to think. He was more of the Joker kind of a person. If he told someone to Hiranyaksha, that person should benefit. He would also tell Hiranyaksha the weaknesses of the other guy. He would later see them fight to the death. But, the person that he would tell Hiranyaksha couldn't die!!! "O Hiranyaksha! I have a man. But, he is no ordinary man. He is the Lord!!" Hiranyaksha laughed, "HAHAHA!!! Who is this lord?! I shall vanquish him!!!!" Narada quickly uttered the place where he was, "He's on the shore of the Ksheera Sagara" Hiranyaksha ran to the Ksheera Sagara and saw his foe. It was Varaha.

 Lord Vishnu in the form of a swine?! Hahaha!!!!" Hiranyaksha started roaring with laughter. Varaha just stared back at Hiranyaksha. He had no facial expression. Suddenly, Varaha grew double in his size. He caught Hiranyaksha's attention. He stopped laughing and drew his sword. Varaha grew even more!!! He was now the size of a few double-decker buses!!! Hiranyaksha trembled in fear. He couldn't defeat anything that huge !!! But still, Varaha grew even taller!!! He was now the size of a skyscraper!!! Hiranyaksha nibbled his nails. He quivered with fear. Suddenly, Varaha let out a huge roar, "RRRROOOOAAAARRRR!!!!" Hearing this, Hiranyaksha zoomed from there like a bullet. Varaha leapt in front of Hiranyaksha. Wielding his mace, Hiranyaksha tried to run, but he was stopped by Varaha's foot. Jumping into outer space, Varaha looked down at Hiranyaksha. Hiranyaksha screamed in terror. Varaha plummeted down from the skies and landed on Hiranyaksha. "KABOOM!!!!!" The floor shook with Varaha's landing. It was enough to wake Bhoodevi from her penance. "O thank you, Lord. How can I ever repay you?!" Varaha didn't say a word. He just nudged Bhoodevi on her cheek. Hiranyaksha lay next to them, dead as a doorknob. Varaha hoisted his body in his teeth and tossed it into the Ksheera Sagara. It sank deep into the ocean and was never seen again.

When this news reached Hiranyakashipu, he roared in anger, " NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That Vishnu!!!!!!!!!! Let him be thrown to the dogs as my brother was to that swine. O Hiranyaksha!!! I am not sad at your departure, I am happy!! I know that my brother has gone to heaven!!! He shall live an eternity of happiness!!! He has died a warrior!!! I am happy!!!!!" Hiranyakashipu wasn't actually happy. He wanted to show that he was happy on the outside. Actually, he was desolate. When he was alone, he would cry over the death over his brother. He would mourn for him nearly everyday!!!
Soon, he realised that mourning for his brother wouldn't do him any good. He would need to vanquish Vishnu!!! But, one thing was for certain. If his brother couldn't kill Vishnu, then he couldn't too. So, he decided to perform a penance to his grandfather, Brahma. He went to a distant hill, far in the distance to perform tapas.
Meanwhile, back at Kashyapuri, Kayadhu (Hiranyakashipu's wife) that she had a baby in her stomach!!! She was elated!!! But, with the baby, her health also deteriorated. She fell ill several times. Everyone was concerned about her well-being. Soon, sage Narada came to visit Kayadhu at Kashyapuri. He blessed her with good health and told her to continuously rest, or else she wouldn't survive the stress. When she had gone to sleep, Narada sat next to her and started praising Lord Vishnu. He would sing bhajans and shlokas in praise of the Lord. Suddenly, Narada heard a voice from Kayadhu's womb. He stopped singing. "Who's there?" Then, he heard the voice of a baby in the womb!!! He said, "Continue, Narada!! I would like to learn about the lord!" Narada was astonished!!! He continued [raising Lord Vishnu and the baby was contently listening.

On the hill, Hiranyakashipu continued his meditation. He sat there for a year without disturbance!!! The gods were shocked!!! They pleaded Lord Vishnu, but he said that he couldn't do anything. So, the gods took the lead and went to stop Hiranyakashipu's penance.
They sent dancers, snakes, even elephants!!!!! But, nothing stopped Hirayakashipu's tapas!!!! He went on, just uttering mantras in praise of Brahma. He meditated for soooo long!!!!!!! His hair grew from his head all the way to the end of the hill!!! He had a beard that stretched from his ears and all the way around his body, thrice!!!! You could make a billion paintbrushes out of that much hair!!!!
 Finally, at long last, Brahma descended from the heavens and came to Hiranyakashipu. "Hello, Hiranyakashipu. What do you desire?!" Hiranyakashipu got up from his cross-legged position and bowed to his grandfather, "Namaskara, O Bramha!!! I feel overjoyed in your presence. I would like to ask you for the boon of immortality!" Brahma denied being able to give immortality, "All that is born must die," So, Hiranyakashipu thought for some time and came up with a genius plan. 
"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 do 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 by any being other than those created by you, nor by any weapon, nor by any human being or animal." Brahma was taken aback by this unknown request. But, as the laws of boons stated, he had to give him the boon he desired. Brahma exclaimed, " Thatha Astu!!!!" With that, Brahma departed for the heavens and Hiranyakashipu left for his capital, Kashyapuri.

When Hiranyakashipu met his son, who was around seven years old by then and had the name of Prahlada, he was overjoyed!!!!! They had a splendid celebration, full of pomp and fun!! They played and laughed together and partied for a long time. Then, when Prahlada was of age, they sent him to a gurukul, where he learnt that his father made it a law that you are not allowed to pray to Vishnu!!! He was shocked!!! Prahlada knew what to do. He called all of his friends from school and made them sing bhajans of the Lord. This act made the teachers mad. They decided to take Prahlada to his father. But, Vishnu didn't let them!!! He put many obstacles in front of them and eventually, they gave up. 

When he came back from his school for the holidays, Hiranyakashipu asked him, "Prahlada, show me what you have learnt in your school, " with that, Prahlada started chants and songs in praise of Vishnu. Hiranyakashipu was enraged!!!! Despite several warnings, Prahlada continued to worship Vishnu. Hiranyakashipu had no choice!!! His own son had been violating the law!!!! He tried strangling Prahlada, but he kept chorusing Vishnu's songs. Hiranyakashipu sentenced his son to death, without considering Kayadhu's pleads and protests.
They first tried getting him trampled by elephants, but Prahlada chanted the shlokas of Vishnu. He magically made all of the elephants garland him and trample the guards who were to supervise him!!!
Next, they tried throwing him down from a cliff!!! But, again he was seen reciting mantras of Vishnu. When he was thrown down, Prahlada was caught by none other than Lord Vishnu!!!! He was thrust back up by the Lord and continued living!!!!
Then, Hiranyakashipu tried feeding Prahlada poison, but he drank it like it was sugar syrup!!! It had no effect on him!!!!
Hiranyakashipu was livid with rage!!! He tried all possible ways, but to no avail - he just wouldn't die!!!! Finally, he asked his sister, Holika to kill him. Holika had been blessed to be safe from fire. So, she tried to immolate Prahlada!!! When she pulled Prahlada into the flame, he kept on chanting Vishnu's name. Suddenly, Holika turned into ashes and somehow, Prahlada survived the extreme heat!!!!!!
This maddened Hiranyakashipu. He decided to take matters into his own hands. He was going to kill his own son.

The next day, Hiranyakashipu called his son into the throne room, and asked him, "Son, do you think that Vishnu is everywhere?!" Prahlada innocently replied, "Yes, Papa!! He was, He is and He always will be!!" Hiranyakashipu asked him again, "Is he in this pillar?" "Yes, papa!" said Prahlada. Hiranyakashipu questioned him again, "Is he in this pillar, too?" Prahlada blandly replied, "Yes, papa!!" (ಈ ಕಂಭದಲ್ಲಿ ಇದ್ದಾನಾ? ಈ ಕಂಭದಲ್ಲಿ ಇದ್ದಾನಾ? #Bhakta Prahlada!!) Hiranyakashipu lividly started 
banging on the pillar with his mace, "If he's everywhere, then why can't he come and fight me?!" The pillar started to snap. "Booom!!" A larger crack appeared in the pillar. "CRACK!!!! RRRROOOOAAAARRRR!!!!" Suddenly, the pillar burst!!!! Out came a half-man, half-lion beast, wearing a shining golden crown and a large necklace (Not man nor animal). He roared with anger and stared at Hiranyakashipu. Hiranyakashipu weld his mace in anger, "You are the swine who killed my brother!! Prepare to be killed!!!!!" He rushed at Narasimha (Or so he was called) and Narasimha rushed at him. The battle of the ages was going to begin.

The battle that followed was the most gory of the lot. Hiranyakashipu smacked Narasimha on the leg, and got him down on one knee. He leapt into the air and tried to smack Narasimha's head off. But, Narasimha punched Hiranyakashipu back. He fell unconscious. Narasimha lifted the senseless Hiranyakashipu onto his knee (Not in the air nor ground) and dragged him to the porch of the house (Not in the residence nor out). Roaring in Hiranyakashipu's face, Narasimha dug his claws into Hiranyakashipu's stomach. He ripped out his flesh, then his intestines, then his liver, until his whole stomach was gone!!!! Narasimha roared with pride as the evil Asura king, Hiranyakashipu had finally been killed. Prahlada bowed down to the Lord. Flowers from the heavens fell on Prahlada's head. The universe lived happily thereafter and as for Prahlada, well, He became a just and right king and ruled the kingdom for a long time.

Moral: Good will prevail over evil, no matter the situation.

Fun Fact Nº 1: There are many different forms of Narasimha. For instance:

Ugra Narasimha: Angry Narasimha

Yoga Narasimha: Calm Narasimha teaching Yoga

Lakshmi Narasimha: Narasimha with his wife, Lakshmi

and there are many more!!!

Fun Fact Nº 2: There is a famous Yoga Narasimha temple which was built by King Krishnadevaraya of the Vijaynagar empire in Hampi, Karnataka

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