Nrsimhadeva - The Supreme Protector
Date: 2016-05-21 Author: Amogha-drk Krishna das
Dear Prabhujis and Matajis, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva.
Yesterday we celebrated Nrsimha Chaturdasi, which is the appearance day of Lord Krishna's avatar as Nrsimhadeva, who appeared to protect His devotee Prahlada from his demoniac father Hiranyakashipu. After Varahadeva killed the demon Hiranyaksha, the demon's brother Hiranyakashipu performed severe yogic austerities, by which the leader of the universe, Lord Brahma, felt obliged to award him whatever boons he wanted. When Hiranyakashipu requested that he should never die, Lord Brahma answered that this is not possible since he himself is not immortal. So, Hiranyakashipu to ensure his immortality asked for various boons like
1) he could not be killed by any man or animal, 2) he could not be killed by any kind of weapons, 3) neither during the day nor night, 4) neither inside nor outside his home, 5) neither by any of the five great elements (air, water, etc.,)
Hiranyakashipu had a son called Prahlada, who was a great devotee of Lord Krishna. When we was just five years old, he would preach the glories of Krishna consciousness to his school friends and to his father also. This infuriated Hiranyakashipu to such an extent that he tried to kill his son in various ways, like throwing him out from a cliff, boiling him in oil, poisoning his food or throwing him in a snake pit. But Prahlada miraculously survived all the attempts without being shaken the least from his faith in the Lord. There is a story that Hiranyakashipu tried to burn Prahlada to death by making his sister Holika enter fire with Prahlada on her lap; because she had a boon of not being burnt by fire. But by the power of Prahlada's pure devotion to Krishna, he was protected against the fire while Holika was burnt to ashes. Thus on the spring festival also known as Holi, the victory of good over evil, represented by the burning of Holika, is celebrated.
Being frustrated after so many failures, finally Hiranyakashipu demanded, "Where is your Lord? I cannot see Him." Prahlada explained that God is everywhere and that everything comes from God. Hiranyakashipu couldn't believe this and challenged, "Is God there in this pillar?" When Prahlada said, "Yes, my Lord is in that pillar," Hiranyakashipu said that he would kill Prahlada's Lord now by smashing the pillar. As he hit the pillar, Lord Nrsimha, the half man (nara), half lion (simha) incarnation of Krishna appeared breaking the pillar and started a wild fight with the demon, like a cat plays with a mouse. Finally, at twilight Lord Nrsimha dragged the demon to the doorway of his palace, and while keeping Hiranyakashipu on His lap supported by His thighs, killed him there by the use of His long sharp nails, thus satisfying all the boons given by Lord Brahma.
Why do we worship the Lion incarnation (Nrsimhadeva) of Krishna so much in comparison to His other avataras?
Nrsimhadeva is a form that Krishna manifests specifically for protecting us against all kinds of demons that serve to obstruct our performance of bhakti. In ISKCON Srila Prabhupada instituted that we worship Nrsimhadeva daily for our much needed protection from evil inside and outside as well. Srila Rupa Goswami quotes from Padma Purana in his Laghu-bhagavatamrta 1.5.16:
nṛsimha-rāma-kṛṣṇeṣu ṣaḍ -guṇyaṁ paripūritaṁ parāvasthas tu te tasya dīpād utpanna-dīpa-vat iti In Lord Nrsimha, Ramachandra, and Krishna the six transcendental opulences are perfect and complete. They are the parāvasthas (most important forms of the Lord). From Him (Krishna) they are manifested as lamps are lighted from an (original) lamp.
May we all take shelter of the merciful form of the Lord specifically meant for our protection against danger and evil, and thus worshipfully pray to Nrsimhadeva every day as the one who protects us inside and outside (bahir nṛsimha hṛdaye nṛsimha).
Thank you very much. Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva, Amogha-drk Krishna das Norway.