उग्रं वीरं महाविष्णुं ज्वलन्तं सर्वतोमुखम्।
नृसिंहं भीषणं भद्रं मृत्युमृत्युं नमाम्यहम् ॥
Ugram Veeram Maha Vishnum Jwalantam Sarvato Mukham
Narasimhan Bheeshanam Bhadram Mryutyor Mrytyam Namamyaham

Narasimha Jayanti (birthday) is celebrated on Shukla Chaturdashi (fourteenth day of the waxing phase of the moon) in the month of Vaishakha (2nd month of Hindu Calendar) and on Swati Nakshatra (Star). It is the day when Bhagwan Narasimha, the 4th Avatara of Lord Vishnu took birth. Narasimha took birth as half-human and half-lion form, symbolising the balance of power and wisdom. He is believed to have appeared on Earth to protect his devotees and destroy evil forces. The festival is celebrated to mark the day of Bhagwan Narasimha’s birth that symbolises the victory of good over evil and the triumph of faith over adversity.

Background

Hiranyakashyipu, was a daitya king of the asuras. Daitya is a race of asuras in Hindu mythology, descending from Kashyapa and his wife, Diti. As per Manusmriti, though Daityas are considered good, they are placed below Devas:

तापसा यतयो विप्रा ये च वैमानिका गणाः ।
नक्षत्राणि च दैत्याश्च प्रथमा सात्त्विकी गतिः
tapasa yatayo vipra ye ch vaimanika ganah ।
nakshatrani ch daityasch prathama saattviki gatih
[Ascetics & hermits, Brahmanas, celestial beings, & Daityas represent the first state partaking of Sattva.]

Hiranyakashipu’s younger brother, Hiranyaksha, was killed by Vishnu in his avatar as Varaha (Boar) to save Mother Earth. Enraged and vengeful Hiranyakashipu decided to take revenge and begins a severe Tapas (penance) to propitiate Brahma.

While he was away for his Tapas, devas took the opporturnity of absence and attacked his abode. As pre-ordained Maharshi (Sage) Narada stops Devas led by Indra from causing any harm to Hiranyakashipu’s wife Kayadhu, since it was not her fault that her husband was ill-intentioned. Narada then too a pregnant Kayadhu to his ashram.

The unborn child in Kayadhu’s womb was heavily influenced by the Satvik (Sentient and virtuous) atmosphere and got subjected to Ateendriya Shikshana (Transcendental instruction) of Maharshi Narada.

When due, Kayadhu delivered a baby boy and he was named Prahlada and like Maharshi Narada’s ordainment while in his womb, Prahlada turned out to be an ardent devotee of Bhagwan Vishnu.

Meanwhile, pleased with the penance, Brahma appears before Hiranyakashipu and offers a boon. Hiranyakashipu seeks boon of immortality, which Brahma refuses saying that is not the law of creation. Hiranyakashipu then accepts and seeks a boon that he could not be killed by any Human, demi-god, God or animals or by any snake from Patala loka; no weapons should be able slay him, neither during the day nor at night, neither indoors nor outdoors, neither on the earth nor on the sky. Armed with sense of power, Hiranyakashipu begins tormenting the world, conquering all the Lokas (abodes). He usurps the throne of Indra, King of Devas.

Despite all the powers at his disposal, his son Prahlada’s devotion to Bhagwan Vishnu (his mortal enemy and killer of his brother) was tormenting Hiranyakashipu. Hiranyakashipu became very livid at his son’s devotion to Vishnu and decides to kill him. Every attempt made by him to kill Prahlada was foiled by Bhagwan Vishnu who is known to be protective of His devotees. Hiranyakashipu was enraged even more when Prahlada refused to acknowledge him as the Supremo and on the contrary counters him saying Bhagwan Vishnu was Supreme and he will not bow to anyone other than Vishnu.

Devas who were chased away from the devaloka approached Bhagwan Vishnu for a solution. Vishnu promises that at the appropriate time he would reincarnate and save the world from evil Hiranyakashipu reestablish Dharma. Meanwhile battle of establishing supremacy between father and son continued in the palace of Hiranyakashipu. Incensed by this defiance, once during the twilight prayer time, Hiranyakashipu asks Prahlada pointing to a pillar on the threshold of the courtyard, if Vishnu is omnipresent, is Vishnu present here. With utmost calm, Prahlada replies, He is in the pillar as He is in the smallest Twig. This reply enraged Hiranyakashipu. He took his mace out and smashes the pillar with it. With a tumultous noise the pillar breaks open and to protect his Devotee Prahlada, Bhagwan Vishnu appears in the form of half Human-half lion, Narasimha (Nara = Human; Simha = Lion). All the situation for anhiliating the Evil Hiranyakashipu, in compliance with the boon he had, the time has arrived.

Narasimha was neither a human nor animal, it was neither day or night (at the twilight hour) it was in the threshold (neither indoor nor outdoor), Narasimha then lifts Hiranyakashipu and puts him on his thighs (neither on earth nor skies) and rips his stomach apart with his nails (no weapon) and kills Hiranyakashipu bringing the evil regime and torment to an end.

Om Ugra Narasimhaye Vidmahe,
Vajra Nakhaye Dheemahi,
Tanno Narasimha Prachodayat

Vrata and Puja Vidhana

• Wake up in the morning and have a water-only bath (no use of any shampoo or soap or any other such cosmetic products).
• Instal Murti or Photograph of Bhagwan Naraimha in a clean central location on a Peeth(pedestal) or table covered with Red
• Generally Ugra Narasimha form is not worshipped in homes; Use Lakshmi Narasimha or Yoga Narasimha (What we worship shown above)
• Perform Abhisheka (Panchamrita) and thereafter Shudhoka Snanam
• Decorate the Murti/Photograph with flowers – Narsimha’s favourite flowers are white champak (Sampige), white lotus, white marigold, red rose
• Perform Shodashopachara Puja which also comprises of Five upachara within that correlates to the five senses: touch, hearing, smell, sight, and taste. The pancha upachara are Gandham, Pushpam, Dhoopam, Deepam, and Naivedyam.
• Pay your respects to Parents and other Elders, especially Guru
• Chant Narasimha mantras (Ugram Veeram, at the beginning of this article, atleast 108 times)
• Visit Bhagwan Narasimha temple (if none available, any temple dedicated to any forms of Vishnu)
• Listen to Narasimha Katha and donate to the poor and feed them to one’s ability.
• Those fasting or observing Upavas should not consume any staple food (Upavas food is allowed)
• Continue the fasting until next day and do the Parana (breaking of fast at sunrise)

Note: This was an Old Article edited and republished with better pictures and added some more information.