“Shri Hari, who is the Lord of the demigods, who is worshiped by the people of the world, for benefiting the moving and nonmoving beings of the world took that dreadful form through His own energy and tore apart Hiranyakashipu, who caused suffering to so many, with His nails.” (Narasimha Purana, 44.43)

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हरिः सुरेशो नरलोकपूजितो हिताय लोकस्य चराचरस्य
कृत्वा विरूपं च पुरात्ममायया हिरण्यकं दुःखकरं नखैश् छिनत्

hariḥ sureśo naralokapūjito hitāya lokasya carācarasya
kṛtvā virūpaṃ ca purātmamāyayā hiraṇyakaṃ duḥkhakaraṃ nakhaiś chinat

It is a fixture on altars in temples across the world. It might not be the principal object of worship, depending on the origins of the specific place, but there is acknowledgment, all the same. Either a statue or picture depicts an event from ancient history. That depiction corresponds directly with a verse from Narasimha Purana. In the following review, we cover different angles of vision pertaining to the depiction. Just what do people think about this image? What is their opinion on what went down? Do they feel there is any lasting message to take away? Is there a lesson that we can apply to our own lives?

1. I guess that protection wasn’t perfect

“All that stuff he worked on. That whole plan for world domination. That idea he would find a loophole to reach the top. All those nice things he said about Lord Brahma, the creator. Those protections he thought of asking for. It is like he attempted to create immortality through component pieces. Looks like this half-man/half-lion figure put an end to that folly. The end was rather quick, and gruesome, at that.”

2. I cannot believe the kindness of the son

“I know this image is of Narasimha, but do you see that person off to the side? The one holding up a garland. That is Prahlada Maharaja. No, he is not an inmate recently freed from a prison. He is not someone who accompanied Vishnu from the spiritual world. You heard it correctly, that boy is the son of the victim. That boy was so kind, from the very beginning. He never meant harm. He intended no disrespect. He simply stated his preference for worship. He knew something the father didn’t. He thought the father should know it, too. In fact, we should all know it. The source of strength in men is the Supreme Lord.”

श्री-प्रह्राद उवाच
न केवलं मे भवतश् च राजन्
स वै बलं बलिनां चापरेषाम्
परे ’वरे ’मी स्थिर-जङ्गमा ये
ब्रह्मादयो येन वशं प्रणीताः

śrī-prahrāda uvāca
na kevalaṁ me bhavataś ca rājan
sa vai balaṁ balināṁ cāpareṣām
pare ’vare ’mī sthira-jaṅgamā ye
brahmādayo yena vaśaṁ praṇītāḥ

“Prahlada Maharaja said: My dear King, the source of my strength, of which you are asking, is also the source of yours. Indeed, the original source of all kinds of strength is one. He is not only your strength or mine, but the only strength for everyone. Without Him, no one can get any strength. Whether moving or not moving, superior or inferior, everyone, including Lord Brahma, is controlled by the strength of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.” (Shrimad Bhagavatam, 7.8.7)

3. That scumbag got what he deserved

“Okay, I am only telling you this. I cannot reveal these sentiments to others, since they will think I am mean, vindictive, or petty. I think that Hiranyakashipu got exactly what he deserved. This is how horrible people behave. They mistake kindness for weakness. Hiranyakashipu thought that Prahlada had no strength, just because Prahlada was gentle and polite. Prahlada withstood so many attacks. Prahlada did not retaliate. Prahlada underwent the worst kind of torture. In that picture you see Narasimha getting the revenge. Narasimha stood up for the weak. He gave a voice to the voiceless. Hiranyakashipu is not alone. Practically the entire world is like him. They take advantage of the peaceful. God is within His rights to assert His dominance every now and then. I welcome such appearances. The bad guys deserve to be punished. They need a dose of reality every now and then.”

4. I cannot believe the forgiveness of the son

“You see that boy standing off to the side? That is Prahlada Maharaja. This image depicts the return on investment, so to speak. It is a visual to the principle once described by Shri Rama. The ghastly deeds of wicked characters eventually come back to them. You just have to wait for the appropriate time.”

अवश्यं लभते जन्तुः फलं पापस्य कर्मणः
घोरं पर्यागते काले द्रुमाः पुष्पमिवार्तवम्

avaśyaṃ labhate jantuḥ phalaṃ pāpasya karmaṇaḥ
ghoraṃ paryāgate kāle drumāḥ puṣpamivārtavam

“Just as a tree starts to blossom during the proper season, so the doer of sinful deeds inevitably reaps the horrible fruit of their actions at the appropriate time.” (Lord Rama speaking to Khara, Valmiki Ramayana, Aranya Kand, 29.8)

“There is an aftermath to this image. After Hiranyakashipu was slain, Narasimha asked Prahlada to take a benediction. Do you know what the son was thinking about? Not revenge. Not retribution. Not elevation to a higher status. Nope. Prahlada was worried about his father. He knew that there was a great offense committed. Otherwise, Vishnu would not have seen it necessary to appear out of the pillar, and spontaneously, at that. I cannot imagine ever being so kind. For the people who have wronged me, I hold no sympathy. That train left the station a long time ago. If you interfere with my efforts, which are conducted peacefully, I want nothing good to happen to you. Prahlada is different. Prahlada is amazing. His glories cannot be sung enough.”

5. Hari really does support the devas

“You may not like it. You may not agree. You may consider it unfair. The reality is that Vishnu does support the devas. Even if they get into trouble. Actually, especially when they get into trouble. He appeared for their benefit. Vishnu wishes well to the moving and nonmoving beings of the world. This means that both the exploiters and those being exploited have a friend in Vishnu. Prahlada tried to teach this to his father. His father would not listen.”

In Closing:

Fixed on the altar to be,
Most stunning image to see.

Appreciation from many a side,
In and out of bhakti to reside.

Memory of kindness aware,
With Prahlada standing there.

Narasimha with the devas aligned,
Their steadiest support to find.

Categories: the five

Tags: dailyprompt, god, hare krishna, narasimha, poem, poems, poetry, religion