That sound of thunder clap felt like an explosion that shook the demonic court. It was no thunder of Hiranyakashipu who was himself taken by surprise. A chill went down his spine. Something terrible was in the offing. That sound had come from the red hot pillar. Struck with fear every eye got fixed on that pillar.
With a great roar the pillar split in two and out came a terrifying figure no one had ever seen before or imagined.
The figure had a head of a lion and the rest of its body was that of a man. It was the Narsimha (lion-man) incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Narsimha had materialised in answer to the prayer of child devotee Prahlada. Demons stared at it and trembled.
Gigantic was the form of Lord Narsimha. Like two miniature suns its eyes burnt. It was difficult to meet those eyes. Whoever tried felt blinded. On head, neck and around face Narsimha had great mane but its hair were erect like porcupine quills. The jaws of Narsimha were moving in a grinding style. Its red tongue hung out hungrily as if it were keen to do spadework for the mouth. The jaws of the lion were open bearing predatory molars.
Narsimha had many hands. They were visible one moment and invisible next moment. The body was covered with long hair that bristle like silver needles. The form of Narsimha could frighten any creature.
For once the demon lord Hiranyakashipu also lost his nerve when he saw Narsimha walking out of the split pillar but very soon he gathered himself and his wits. Hiranyakashipu indeed was a demon of great courage, might and patience. Instead of getting scared of Narsimha he decided to deal with his enemy in a courageous and challenging manner.
He had understood that the creature materialised of the pillar in answer to the prayer of Prahlada could be none else but manifestation of Vishnu. If he could get the better of Vishnu there would be no more any challenge to him in the entire universe. He could really become master of the universe.
With that idea in mind Hiranyakashipu moved at Narsimha brandishing his sword. The demon lord thundered, “Vishnu! You killed my brother Hiranyaksha in your boar incarnation and today I will kill you to settle the score and take revenge.”
Narsimha angrily roared which sent shock waves in the entire universe.
Hiranyakashipu roared in reply. He said, “You can’t slay me because I am booned by Brahma that makes me almost immortal. We are invincible and indestructible.”
“Arrogant demon! You are stupid. The boon of Brahma merely puts certain conditions to your death but does not make you immortal. Your end is near. Prepare to die.”
“No, creature of the universe can kill me, Vishnu,”
the demon arrogantly announced.” So is the boon of Brahma.”
“Stupid demon! Look at me carefully,” Vishnu spoke with a roar, “Do I appear any creature of this universe to you who has been created by Brahma. The boon only covers the creatures of his universe. A para creature I am. Do you understand?”
“Huh?” Hiranyakashipu exclaimed. He looked Narsimha carefully and felt a chill. It indeed was out of this world’s beast.
“Now look around,” thundered Narsimha, “It is neither day light nor darkness of the night.”
Hiranyakashipu considered the time factor. The sun had just set and night was yet to arrive. It was the time in between evening hour.
This fact frightened Hiranyakashipu. The conditions of the boon were showing holes. The demon lord was now losing confidence. His boon was appearing with too many holes in it. Narsimha was no creation of Brahma and did not belong to his universe, so he could kill the demon and the time was also right being neither day nor night. Narsimha would kill Hiranyakashipu without violating the boon.
Hiranyakashipu charged at Narsimha with his sword. The arrogant demon was attacking the Creator and the Destroyer of the universe. But something was not right with the demon. His sword charges were not hitting the targets. He looked like a tyro who had never before picked up a sword.
Narsimha forced him to back away towards the gate of the palace snarling and growling. There with a swipe of his paw Narsimha felled the demon.
The sword fell off the hands of Hiranyakashipu and he stared at the gate of his palace failing to understand what Narsimha was upto.
“You can see arrogant demon!” Narsimha roared again and revealed, “The place where you lie is neither inside the palace nor outside. It is just in between door frame. You can die there.” The demon tried to rise up and remove himself from that spot. He was looking like a cornered rat and was making desperate attempts.
But Narsimha would not let the demon get away. He grabbed the demon by his powerful paws.
Narsimha positioned himself at the threshold of the gate and sat down on one knee and the other up. On the raised thigh he loaded the demon across with his head outside and the feet inside with the face up.
Narsimha roared, “Look demon! Right now you are neither on the ground nor in the air. You are on my thigh that your boon does not cover.”
With yet another thunderous roar Narsimha announced, “Now watch how I will work your death without using any weapon of gods, demons or humans. Infact I won’t use any artificially made weapon.”
Narsimha let out a full throated roar and tore open the belly of Hiranyakashipu with his sharp cat claws. In horrifying act Narsimha dug out the intestines of the demon from the torn belly and wore them in his neck like macabre garlands roaring all the time. In sheer horror the demons closed their eyes as they could not see the terrifying end of the demon lord Hiranyakashipu.
Then suddenly anger overtook them all. All the demons rose up from their seats and began to attack Narsimha with their weapons. Lord Narsimha retaliated and in a short time he killed all the faithful demons of Hiranyakashipu.
Infact Narsimha had got into a very angry and volatile mood. He was repeatedly roaring that echoed through the entire demonic palace. His anger was upsetting the entire universe.
The gods rained down showers of flower to thank Narsimha for deliverance from the torments of Hiranyakashipu. It was necessary to calm down the incarnated Lord. Celestial beauties and the gandharwas performed divine dances. The sages and holy men sang prayers. But Narsimha was not calming down. He continued to roar sending out shock and fright waves.
After the death of the demon lord Hiranyakashipu world got blessed with peace and happiness. But continued ire of Lord Narsimha was destroying all the peace and happiness that the death of the evil demon had generated through the worlds.
All the gods were praying for Narsimha to calm down for the benefit of the worlds. Even Laxmi was very reluctant to intervene and go close to Narsimha to bring him back to normal state of divine peace and tranquility.
The initial happiness at materialisation of the incarnation Narsimha was gradually giving way to fears and distress. Some how Narsimha needed to be calmed down or there was the danger of Narsimha’s fury drowning the worlds in destructive fears.
As all were frightened and uneasy the little devotee Prahlada was calm and collected. He stood before Narsimha with folded hands and the eyes closed. He was mentally saying prayers. At last Prahlada bent down and touched the feet of Narasimha when he realised all had began to have forebodings.
Praying to Narasimha he said, “My lord! You are ocean of mercy and a sea of compassion. Merciful you are. You are the creator, provider and the protector of the entire universe. Even the gods fail to understand your powers. you have destroyed injustice and tyranny. You have saved the honour of your faithful. You are a devotee lover. That injustice, cruelty and tyranny are now dead. They no more exist. Then why are you still angry? So, please, O Lord Supreme, manifestation of Power Eternal, give up angst and protect the justice.”
The tender touch of Prahlada and his prayers at once calmed down Lord Narsimha. He stopped roaring. He just stood breathing heavy as if he were getting his breath back. The expressions of affection, mercy, love and compassion began to appear on his face. Narsimha no more looked frightening.
The incarnate Lord had gone to the throne that lay vacant as the demon lord was no more alive. He had sat on the throne and Prahlada lay at his feet praying.
Mellowing mood of Narsimha came as a great relief to all including Brahma, the gods, celestial races, sages, holymen and Laxmi. The universe no more trembled as angry roars had stopped coming from the incarnated creature called Narsimha.
Presently Lord Narsimha was benevolently looking at the boy figure of Prahlada lying at his feet in overwhelmed devotion.
Lord Narsimha gently picked up the boy and lovingly dumped him in his lap. His bows no more showed the deadly claws that had only a while ago torn the belly of the demon lord open. Now the paws had become gentle and soft pads that caused no discomfort to the boy.
The benign act of Lord Narsimha made the gods sing the prayers of the lord extolling his kindness, mercifulness and compassion.
Lord Narsimha caressed the body of Prahlada and said, “My dear devoted son Prahlada, your tender body of young age had suffered a lot at the hands of those cruel demonic executioners for a long time. I just kept watching without doing anything about it. I am very sorry for that, my boy. I seek your forgiveness for the delay in answering your prayer on my part.”
The Lord of the Universe was seeking the forgiveness of a small boy. That was the height of the divine humility and the loving sentiment! That showed how Almighty cared for his faithfuls.
The touch of Lord Narsimha filled the body of Prahlada with a divine comfort, joy and happiness. The boy trembled at feeling the wave of divine benevolence sweep his body. His eyes welled up with tears of joy. In one moment all his ignorance and woes got banished. A sublime spiritual knowledge charged him.
Lord patted the back of the boy and said, “Son, you must spell your wish. Don’t hesitate. Ask for anything.”
“Lord!” Prahlada spoke in choked voice, “I feel blessed at being able to behold you. In that blessed experience I have gained everything.”
“No son,” Lord Narsimha urged, “You may ask for something else. Ask just for our pleasure.”
Prahlada responded, “Then, my Lord! Bless my mind with undying faith in you and destroy the very seed of desires that dogs one’s life. I may not suffer from any mundane desires.”
Lord raised his head to say, “So be it!”
After granting boon to Prahlada Lord Narsimha returned to his Vishnu form.
