Narasimhavatara, Narasimha-avatara, Narasiṃhāvatāra: 6 definitions
Introduction:
Narasimhavatara means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Marathi. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.
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In Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: archive.org: Nilamata Purana: a cultural and literary studyNarasiṃhāvatāra (नरसिंहावतार) refers to the “man-lion incarnation” of Viṣṇu and was once depicted and worshipped in ancient Kashmir (Kaśmīra) as mentioned in the Nīlamatapurāṇa.—The Nīlamata refers to the man-lion incarnation of Viṣṇu tearing Hiraṇyakaśipu to pieces, with his claws. Frequent references to Narasiṃha and the places dedicated to Narasiṃha prove the popularity of this incarnation in Kaśmīra. A Viṣṇu image from Kaśmīra shows two lion faces.
The Purana (पुराण, purāṇas) refers to Sanskrit literature preserving ancient India’s vast cultural history, including historical legends, religious ceremonies, various arts and sciences. The eighteen mahapuranas total over 400,000 shlokas (metrical couplets) and date to at least several centuries BCE.
Shilpashastra (iconography)
Source: Shodhganga: The significance of the mūla-beras (śilpa)Narasiṃhāvatāra (नरसिंहावतार) or Narasiṃha is one of the daśāvatāra (ten incarnations) of Viṣṇu, is found depicted at the Kallazhagar Temple in Madurai, which represents a sacred place for the worship of Viṣṇu.—[in Narasiṃhāvatāra, ] Viṣṇu in the shape of a terrible giant with a lion’s head is found in the sanctum of the daśāvatāra.
Shilpashastra (शिल्पशास्त्र, śilpaśāstra) represents the ancient Indian science (shastra) of creative arts (shilpa) such as sculpture, iconography and painting. Closely related to Vastushastra (architecture), they often share the same literature.
Natyashastra (theatrics and dramaturgy)
Source: Shodhganga: Elements of Art and Architecture in the Trtiyakhanda of the Visnudharmottarapurana (natya)Narasiṃhāvatāra (नरसिंहावतार) refers to one of the Daśāvatāra (“ten incarnations”) (of Lord Viṣṇu) to which are assign various hand gestures (in Indian Dramas), according to the Viṣṇudharmottarapurāṇa, an ancient Sanskrit text which (being encyclopedic in nature) deals with a variety of cultural topics such as arts, architecture, music, grammar and astronomy.—The term Narasiṃha is the union of two Sanskrit words viz., nara and siṃha. Nara means man and Siṃha means lion. So, this incarnation of lord Viṣṇu shows his form of half man and half lion. It is the most furious incarnation of lord Viṣṇu. According to the Viṣṇudharmottarapurāṇa, to denote Narasiṃhāvatāra, both of the hands are separately joined in aḥkāra-mudrā. Aḥkāramudrā is nothing but a particular kind of mukula-hasta. But in the Abhinayadarpaṇa, it is suggested that—to show the [narasiṃhāvatāra] incarnation of Narasiṃha, the dancer should make the tripatāka-hasata with right hand and with left hand the dancer should make the siṃhamukha-hasta.
Natyashastra (नाट्यशास्त्र, nāṭyaśāstra) refers to both the ancient Indian tradition (shastra) of performing arts, (natya—theatrics, drama, dance, music), as well as the name of a Sanskrit work dealing with these subjects. It also teaches the rules for composing Dramatic plays (nataka), construction and performance of Theater, and Poetic works (kavya).
Languages of India and abroad
Marathi-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionarynarasiṃhāvatāra (नरसिंहावतार).—m (S) The avatar of viṣṇu as the man-lion to destroy hiraṇyakaśipu an infidel prince. na0 ghēṇēṃ To be furiously angry.
Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-Englishnarasiṃhāvatāra (नरसिंहावतार).—m The avatar of viṣṇu as the man-lion to destroy hiraṇyakaśipu an infidel prince. narasiṃhāvatāra ghēṃṇēṃ To be furiously angry.
Marathi is an Indo-European language having over 70 million native speakers people in (predominantly) Maharashtra India. Marathi, like many other Indo-Aryan languages, evolved from early forms of Prakrit, which itself is a subset of Sanskrit, one of the most ancient languages of the world.
Kannada-English dictionary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusNarasiṃhāvatāra (ನರಸಿಂಹಾವತಾರ):—
1) [noun] the fourth of the ten major incarnation of Viṣṇu, with the lion-head and human body.
2) [noun] (fig.) the most furious mood of a person.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches: Avatara, Narasimha.
Full-text: Narasimha, Narasimhajayanti, Simhavatara, Dashavatara, Man, Lion.
Relevant text
Search found 4 books and stories containing Narasimhavatara, Narasimha-avatara, Narasiṃhāvatāra, Narasiṃha-avatāra, Narasimhāvatāra; (plurals include: Narasimhavataras, avataras, Narasiṃhāvatāras, avatāras, Narasimhāvatāras). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Vishnudharmottara Purana (Art and Architecture) (by Bhagyashree Sarma)
2.2. (d): Hand Gestures for Daśāvatāra < [Chapter 3 - Drama and Dance]
The Religion and Philosophy of Tevaram (Thevaram) (by M. A. Dorai Rangaswamy)
Chapter 3.8 - Brahma-shirascheda-murti (cutting off Brahma’s head) < [Volume 2 - Nampi Arurar and Mythology]
Laghu-yoga-vasistha (by K. Narayanasvami Aiyar)
Part 4 - The Story of Prahlāda < [Chapter V - Upaṣānti-prakaraṇa]
Puranic encyclopaedia (by Vettam Mani)