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Narasimha
Narasimha avatar of Lord Vishnu is the 4th incarnation among the 10 Dashavatars. Yoga Narasimha is the form of Narasimha in meditation. Narasimha is also spelt as Nrusimha, Narasingh and Narasingha. In Narasimha avatar, Lord Vishnu is portrayed as a half-man half-lion, with a human-like torso and lower body, and a lion-like face and claws. One of the most popular deities of Hindus, Lord Narasimha is depicted in early epics, Puranas, Upanishads and other ancient religious texts of Hinduism. The story of Narasimha Avatar is related to Lord Vishnu’s incarnation as the boar or Varaha. This image of Lord Vishnu is worshiped in deity form by various number of Vaishnava groups, all over India.
According to legends, Lord Vishnu incarnated as Nrusimha to slay the demon Hiranyakashipu (the brother of Hiranyaksha who was killed by the Varaha Avatar of Lord Vishnu). The twin brother of Hiranyaksha was Hiranyakashipu who wanted to take revenge on Mahavishnu. As he wanted to become the master of all the three worlds - Heaven, Earth and Pathala, he went to Mount Mandarachala and started doing penance which continued for years. His strength of penance made Lord Brahma to appear before Hiranyakashipu. The demon asked Lord Brahma for immortality as a reward for his years of penance. He asked his death would not be caused either by man or beast, nor devil, nor god, either by day or by night with steel or stone or wood, indoors or outdoors, or earth or in sky. Lord Brahma agreed and granted his wishes.
Meanwhile, Hiranyakashipu’s wife Kayadhu gave birth to Prahlad who grew up and became a keen devotee of Vishnu. But, the demon wanted his son to be a strong and cruel king like himself. He realized that Prahlad always prayed to Lord Vishnu and tried to train his son against the Lord Vishnu. However, all his efforts to influence Prahlad failed. His son remained devoted as ever to Lord Vishnu.
One day, Hiranyakashipu ordered his servants to kill Prahlad, if he refused to accept the primacy of his father. Prahlad was thrown down a mountain; he was even being drowned, poisoned, and burnt. But, all their attempts had failed because Lord Vishnu was protecting his devotee. King Hiranyakashipu who was very angry on hearing the failed attempts, challenged his son in the open court. He asked Prahlad whether Lord Vishnu is present everywhere. Prahlad replied yes which made Hiranyakashipu ferocious. After heating an iron pillar, the demon asked Prahlad to hug it, if Lord Vishnu is there. Without hesitating for a moment, Prahlad rushed towards the pillar and embraced it. But, the heated iron did not burn him and the king in fury, hit the pillar with his mace.
From the pillar which cracked with a thundering sound, appeared Vishnu in the form of Narasimha. Half of his body was of a lion and the other half of a man. He had large moustaches on the face and terrible teeth in the mouth and his paws had terrible nails. When the demon king hit Narasimha with his mace, Narasimha took it away. During the twilight hour, Narasimha caught hold of the demon Hiranyakashipu, sat on the entrance of the court room and placed the body of the demon on his thighs. He pierced his nails into the body of the demon and broke open his stomach. The demon was killed on the spot. Lord Narasimha was soothed by Prahlad who touched his feet and also by Goddess Lakshmi. Then Prahlad was made the King by Lord Narasimha.
Narasimha Kavacham
नृसिंहकवचं वक्ष्ये प्रह्लादेनोदितं पुरा |
सर्वरक्षकरं पुण्यं सर्वोपद्रवनाशनम् ||१||
Nrusimha kavachamVakshye prahlodhenodhitham puraa,
Sarva rakshakaram punyam , sarvopadrava nasanam
I shall now recite the Narasimha-kavacha, formerly spoken by Prahlada Maharaja.
It is most pious, vanquishes all kinds of impediments, and provides
one all protection.
सर्व सम्पत्करं चैव स्वर्गमोक्षप्रदायकम् |
ध्यात्वा नृसिंहं देवेशं हेमसिंहासनस्थितम् ||२||
Sarva sapath karam chaiva swarga moksha pradhayakam,
Dhyathwa Narasimham devesam hema simhasana sthitham.
It bestows upon one all opulences and can give one elevation to the heavenly planets or liberation.
One should meditate on Lord Narasimha, Lord of the universe, seated upon a golden throne.
विवृतास्यं त्रिनयनं शरदिन्दुसमप्रभम् |
लक्ष्म्यालिङ्गितवामाङ्गम् विभूतिभिरुपाश्रितम् ||३||
Vivrythaasyaam trinayanam, sharad Indu sama prabham,
Lakshmyaalingitha vamangam, Vibhoothirupasritham.
His mouth is wide open, He has three eyes, and He is as radiant as the autumn moon.
He is embraced by Lakshmi devi on his left side, and His form is the shelter of all opulences, both material and spiritual.
चतुर्भुजं कोमलाङ्गं स्वर्णकुण्डलशोभितम् |
सरोजशोभितोरस्कं रत्नकेयूरमुद्रितम् ||४||
Chathur bhujam Komalangam Swarna kundala shobhitham,
Sarojashobhithoraskam rathna keyura mudhritham.
He has four hands, he has pretty limbs and wears a golden ear stud,
His chest shines like a lotus flower and he wears gem studded bracelets.
तप्त काञ्चनसंकाशं पीतनिर्मलवाससम् |
इन्द्रादिसुरमौलिष्ठः स्फुरन्माणिक्यदीप्तिभिः ||५||
Thapatha kanchana sankasam Peetha nirmala vasasam,
Indradhi sura moulistha sphuran manikya deepthibhi.
He resembles the molten gold and wears yellow cloths,
He shines in the light of rubies on head of the saluting Indra and other devas.
विरजितपदद्वन्द्वम् च शङ्खचक्रादिहेतिभिः |
गरुत्मत्मा च विनयात् स्तूयमानम् मुदान्वितम् ||६||
Virajitha pada dwandwam shanka chakradhi hethibhi
Garuthmathaa savinayam sthuyamanam mudhanwitham.
He shines with two feet and holds the conch and wheel in his hand,
And Lord Garuda with humility offers him prayers with devotion.
स्व हृत्कमलसंवासं कृत्वा तु कवचं पठेत् |
नृसिंहो मे शिरः पातु लोकरक्षार्थसम्भवः ||७||
Swahruth kamala samvasam kruthwa thu kavacham padeth,
Nrusimho may drusou pathu loka rakshanathma sambhava.
If one reads this armour after making Lord Narasimha ,
Who protects the world , Occupy the lotus of his mind
The Lord who is born to take care of this world will protect one’s head.
सर्वगेपि स्तम्भवासः फलं मे रक्षतु ध्वनिम् |
नृसिंहो मे दृशौ पातु सोमसूर्याग्निलोचनः ||८||
Sarvago api sthambha vasa phalam may Rakshathu dwanim,
Nrusimho may drusou pathu soma suryagni lochana.
Let my forehead be protected by the all pervading one who is in the pillar,
Let my sound be protected by Narasimha and
My eyes be protected by the one who has sun, moon and fire as eyes.
स्मृतं मे पातु नृहरिः मुनिवार्यस्तुतिप्रियः |
नासं मे सिंहनाशस्तु मुखं लक्ष्मीमुखप्रियः ||९||
Smruthim may pathu nruharir muni varya sthuthipriya,
Naasaam may simhanasathu , mukham Lakshmi mukha Priya.
Let my memory be protected by Narasimha, who likes prayers from great sages,
Let my nose be protected by he who has a lion’s nose ,
And let my mouth be protected by he who loves the mouth of Lakshmi.
सर्व विद्याधिपः पातु नृसिंहो रसनं मम |
वक्त्रं पात्विन्दुवदनं सदा प्रह्लादवन्दितः ||१०||
Sarva Vidhyadhipa pathu Nrusimho rasanaam mama,
Vakthram pathu indhu vadana sada prahlada vandhitha.
Let my taste buds be protected by the Lord of all knowledge, Narasimha,
Let my face be protected by the moon faced one saluted by Prahladha.
नृसिंहः पातु मे कण्ठं स्कन्धौ भूभृदनन्तकृत् |
दिव्यास्त्रशोभितभुजः नृसिंहः पातु मे भुजौ ||११||
Nrusimha pathu may kandam , skandhou bhoo bharanantha kruth,
Divyasthra shobhitha bhujo Nrusimha pathu may bhujou.
Let my neck be protected by Narasimha ,
And shoulders by him who rules over the world till the end ,
And let that Narasimha whose arms shine,
With divine weapons protect my arms.
करौ मे देववरदो नृसिंहः पातु सर्वतः |
हृदयं योगि साध्यश्च निवासं पातु मे हरिः ||१२||
Karou may deva varadho, nrusimha pathu sarvadha,
Hrudayam yogi sadshyascha , nivasam pathu may Hari.
Let my hands be protected by the protector of devas,
Let me be protected from all sides by Lord Narasimha,
Let my heart be protected by him who can be approached by great sages,
And let my house be protected by Lord Hari.
मध्यं पातु हिरण्याक्ष वक्षःकुक्षिविदारणः |
नाभिं मे पातु नृहरिः स्वनाभिब्रह्मसंस्तुतः ||१३||
Madhyam pathu Hiranyaksha , Vaksha kukshi vidaranaa,
Nabhim may pathu nruhari, , sva nabhi brahma samsthuthaa.
Let my middle be protected by the God
Who tore apart chest and abdomen of Hiranyaksha,
Let my navel be protected by Lord Narasimha,
Who is praised by Brahma who sprang from his own navel.
ब्रह्माण्ड कोटयः कट्यां यस्यासौ पातु मे कटिम् |
गुह्यं मे पातु गुह्यानां मन्त्राणां गुह्यरूपदृक् ||१४||
Brahmanda kotaya katyaam yasyasou pathu may katim,
Guhyam may pathuu guhyanaam manthraanaam guhyaroopadruk.
Let my hip be protected by him ,
On whose hips all the universe rests,
Let my private parts be protected by the mysterious one,
Who can only be seen by use of very secret mantras.
ऊरू मनोभवः पातु जानुनी नररूपदृक् |
जङ्घे पातु धराभर हर्ता योऽसौ नृकेशरी ||१५||
Ooru manobhava pathu jahnuni nara roopa druk,
Jange pathu dharaa bhara harthaa yo as ou nrukesari.
Let my thighs be protected by one who happens in the mind,
Let my knees be protected by him who has a human form,
Let my calves be protected by him who lightens my load ,
And appears in the form of a combination of man and lion.
सुर राज्यप्रदः पातु पादौ मे नृहरीश्वरः |
सहस्रशीर्षापुरुषः पातु मे सर्वशस्तनुम् ||१६||
Sura rajya pradha pathu padhou may nruhareswara,
Sahasra seershaa Purusha pathu may sarva sas thanum.
Let my feet be protected by the God in man lion form,
Who looks after the kingdom of all devas,
And let my entire body be protected by the God,
Who has one thousand heads.
महोग्रः पूर्वतः पातु महावीराग्रजोऽग्नितः |
महाविष्णुर्दक्षिणे तु महाज्वलस्तु नैरृतः ||१७||
Mahogra poorvatha pathu maha veeragrajo agnitha,
Maha Vishnu dakshine thu maha jwalasthu nairyathi.
Let the ferocious one protect me from the east,
Let the very valorous one protect from south east,
Let the great Vishnu protect me from the south,
And let God who blazes like a flame protect me from the south west.
पश्चिमे पातु सर्वेशो दिशि मे सर्वतोमुखः |
नृसिंहः पातु वायव्यां सौम्यां भूषणविग्रहः ||१८||
Paschime pathu sarveso, Disi may sarvatho mukha,
Nrusimha pathu vayavyaam, soumyam bhooshana vigraha.
Let God of everything protect me from west,
As he has faces turned in all directions,
Let Narasimha protect me from north west,
And let the well ornamented one protect me from north.
ईशान्यां पातु भद्रो मे सर्वमङ्गलदायकः |
संसारभयतः पातु मृत्योर्मृत्युर्नृकेशई ||१९||
Eeshanyo pathu bhadro may , srava mangala dhayaka,
Samsra bhayadha pathu mruthyor mruthyus nrukesari.
Let the God who protects and gives all things auspicious,
Protect me from the north west and let me be protected ,
From fear of birth and death by the Lord Narasimha,
Who is indeed death to death itself.
इदं नृसिंहकवचं प्रह्लादमुखमण्डितम् |
भक्तिमान् यः पठेन्नित्यं सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते ||२०||
Idham nrusimha kavacham , prahladha mukha manditham,
Bhathiman ya paden nithyam sarva papam prumuchyathe.
This armour of Lord Narasimha which was narrated by Prahladha,
If read by a devotee daily , would save him from all his sins.
पुत्रवान् धनवान् लोके दीर्घायुरुपजायते |
कामयते यं यं कामं तं तं प्राप्नोत्यसंशयम् ||२१||
Puthravan , dhanavan loke deerga ayur upa jayathe,
Yam yam kamayathe kamam tham tham prapnonsthyasamsayam.
He would be blessed with sons , wealth and a very long life,
And all that he desires would be achieved by him without any doubt.
सर्वत्र जयमाप्नोति सर्वत्र विजयी भवेत् |
भूम्यन्तरीक्षदिव्यानां ग्रहाणां विनिवारणम् ||२२||
Sarvathra jayam aapnothi , sravathra vijayee bhaveth,
Bhhomyanthareeksha divyaanaam grahaanaam vini varanam.
He who desires for victory everywhere would get victory everywhere,
He would ward off all the evils caused by earth , environment and planets.
वृश्चिकोरगसम्भूत विषापहरणं परम् |
ब्रह्मराक्षसयक्षाणां दूरोत्सारणकारणम् ||२३||
Vruschiko raga sambhootha visha apa haranam param,
Brahma Rakshasa yakshaanaam dhoorothsaarana karanam.
This armour steals away the poison caused by serpents and scorpions,
And Brahma Rakshasas and Yakshas would be driven far- far away.
भुजेवा तलपात्रे वा कवचं लिखितं शुभम् |
करमूले धृतं येन सिध्येयुः कर्मसिद्धयः ||२४||
Bhurje vaa thala pathre vaa kavacham likhitham shubham,
Kara moole drutham yena sidhyeyu karma sidhaye.
If this auspicious armour is written on a palm leaf or bark of a tree,,
And this is worn in the hand all his actions would be come divine.
देवासुर मनुष्येषु स्वं स्वमेव जयं लभेत् |
एकसन्ध्यं त्रिसन्ध्यं वा यः पठेन्नियतो नरः ||२५||
Devasura manushyeshu swam swameva jayam labheth,
Yeka sandhyam trisandhyam vaa ya paden niyatho nara.
That man who reads it following all rules ,three times,
In the dawn, noon or dusk or one of these times,
Would get victory over humans, devas and Asuras.
सर्व मङ्गलमाङ्गल्यं भुक्तिं मुक्तिं च विन्दति |
द्वात्रिंशतिसहस्राणि पठेत् शुद्धात्मनां नृणाम् ||२६||
Sarva mangala mangalyam , bhuthim , muykthim cha vindathi,
Dwathrimsad sahasrani padeth shudhatmanaam nrunaam.
That holy and pure human being who reads it,
Thirty two thousand times would definitely get,
All auspicious things, wealth and salvation.
कवचस्यास्य मन्त्रस्य मन्त्रसिद्धिः प्रजायते |
अनेन मन्त्रराजेन कृत्वा भस्माभिर्मन्त्रानाम् ||२७||
Kavachayasya manthrasya manthra sidhi prajayathe,
Anena manthra rajena kruthwa bhas mabhi manthranam.
If this is chanted along with wearing of ashes, by the help of this,
Mantra of the Kavacha which is the king of mantras, he would get mastery over it.
तिलकं विन्यसेद्यस्तु तस्य ग्रहभयं हरेत् |
त्रिवारं जपमानस्तु दत्तं वार्याभिमन्त्र्य च ||२८||
Thilakam vinyased yasthu thasya graham bhayam hareth,
Trivare japamanasthu datham varibhya manthrya cha.
By wearing a Tilaka and after doing Aachamana with mantras,
If this is chanted for three weeks, the fear of planets would be removed for him.
प्रसयेद् यो नरो मन्त्रं नृसिंहध्यानमाचरेत् |
तस्य रोगः प्रणश्यन्ति ये च स्युः कुक्षिसम्भवाः ||२९||
Prasayedhyo naro mantram , nrusimha dhyanamacharedh,
Thasya roga pranasyanthi ye cha syu kukshi sambhavaa.
After meditating on Lord Narasimha , if a man,
Masters this mantra his diseases would be cured,
Including those diseases of the abdomen.
गर्जन्तं गार्जयन्तं निजभुजपतलं स्फोटयन्तं हतन्तं
रूप्यन्तं तापयन्तं दिवि भुवि दितिजं क्षेपयन्तं क्षिपन्तम् |
क्रन्दन्तं रोषयन्तं दिशि दिशि सततं संहरन्तं भरन्तं
वीक्षन्तं पूर्णयन्तं करनिकरशतैर्दिव्यसिंहं नमामि ||३०||
Garjantham garjayantham nija bhuja patalam sphotayantham hatantham,
Roopyantham thapayantham dhivi bhuvi dhithijam kshopayantham kshipantham,
Kranthantham roshayantham disi disi sathatham samharantham bharantham,
Vikshantham ghoornayantham sara nikara sathair divya simham namami.
He roars and makes us roar ,He with his many arms tears and throws them out,
He searches and troubles the sons of Dhithi in this and other worlds,
Throws them and scatters them and when angry he kills them from all directions,
And when he sees them he tears them apart with his hundreds of divine hands,
And I salute him who has manifested himself as a divine lion.
||इति श्रीब्रह्माण्डपुराणे प्रह्लादोक्तं श्रीनृसिंहकवचं सम्पूर्णम् ||
Ithi Sri Brahmanda purane prahalodhoktham nrusimha kavacham sampoornam
Thus ends the armour of Narasimha told by Prahlada found in Brahmanda Purana.
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