NARASIMHA – 4Th AVATAR
NARASIMHA – 4th AVATAR In the last avatar, Lord Vishnu as Varaha the wild boar, killed the asura Hiranyaksha and rescued the earth from him. Soon after that, Hiranyakashipu, a brother of Hiranyaksha, was very angry with the death of his sibling and wanted to take revenge. He ordered the Asuras, “Go destroy all good people on earth, put out their sacrificial fires & kill their cows. I will practice meditation and become the master of all the three worlds -Heaven, earth & the nether regions”. He went to Mount Mandara chala and began austere penance. He stood still for a long time and focused his thoughts on Lord Brahma. A big ant hill and grass grew on him but he did not move. While he was away in penance, Gods attacked the asuras. They found Hiranyakashipu’s pregnant queen Kayadhu in the palace bur sage Narada took her to his ashram to protect her. There she learned about the glory of Vishnu, and the child within also absorbed all the knowledge. Meanwhile, Hirayakashipu was still in meditation. Finally, Lord Brahma appeared before him and said, "I am very pleased with your prayers, so ask for a boon." Hirayakashipu asked Lord Brahma that he should live forever. Brahma refused, saying, "All living beings must face death. You can, however, choose your death wish." Hiranyakashipu then asked for the following conditions, as his death wish, "'O Brahma, let not death come to me either by man or beast, by day or by night, with a weapon or without a weapon, or indoors or outdoors, Brahma said, "May it be so!" After getting such a boon Hiranyakashipu lost no time in conquering and bringing both earth and heaven under his rule.
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