Chapter 55 - The Greatness of Narasiṃha

Brahmā said:

1. By thus visiting and bowing to Bala, Kṛṣṇa and Subhadrā, the devotee obtains virtue, wealth, love and liberation.

2. Just as he comes out of the temple of the deity, the man becomes blessed. After bowing to the deity the man returns to his abode with great concentration.

3. He returns to his abode where lord Viṣṇu’s idol, made of lapis lazuli, is covered up by sands. By bowing to the lord who vanished there he enters the city of Viṣṇu.

4. O brahmins, that lord who is identical with Devas and who slew the most excellent one among Asuras stays there with half of his body made like that of a lion.

5. By devoutly visiting Narasiṃha lord, and by bowing to him one is liberated from all sins. There is no doubt in this.

6. Those men on the earth who are the devotees of Narasiṃha, incur no sin at all. They will have all desired benefits.

7. Hence, by all means one shall resort to Narasiṃha since he bestows the benefit of virtue, wealth, love and salvation.

The sages said:

8. O lord, since you say that the glory of Narasiṃha is the bestower of happiness and is very difficult of access it has kindled great wonder in us.

9. O lord of the universe, we wish to hear the power of that lord in detail. Our eagerness is very great.

10. O lord, obeisance be to you. For rendering help to devotees, tell us how Narasiṃha, the lord of great strength becomes pleased.

11. Tell us all about those (achievements) which originate by the favour of Narasiṃha. O great grandfather, be pleased with us.

Brahmā said:

12. O brahmins even as I recount listen to the power of that lord who is unconquered and incomprehensible and who bestows worldly pleasures and salvation.

13. O brahmins, who is competent to recount the good qualities of that lord half of whose body is that of a lion? I shall mention a few succinctly.

14. We hear many human and divine accomplishments which are undoubtedly realized by the favour of that lord.

15. Due to the favour of that lord, one’s movement becomes unimpeded in the mortal world, heaven, netherworlds, quarters, water, city as well as mountain.

16. In this world including the mobile and immobile beings O brahmins, there is nothing impossible to achieve for lord Narasiṃha who is always sympathetic to his devotees.

17. I shall mention the mode of procedure for the worship of the lord. This is helpful to his devotees. I shall mention what it is whereby the deity with half the body of a lion is propitiated.

18. O leading sages, listen to the eternal Kalparāja (Royal ritual), the real principle of Narasiṃha which has not been understood by Devas and Asuras.

19. O brahmins, the leading aspirant devotee should subsist on a diet of milk accompanied by greens, roots, barley food, fruits, fried grain powder and oil cake.

20-22. A pure loin cloth alone should constitute his garment. He should conquer his sense-organs and establish himself for meditation in the forest, an isolated place, mountain, confluence of rivers, a barren land, a holy centre of Siddhas or in the hermitage of Narasiṃha. Then he should worship the lord in accordance with the injunctions. O leading sages, on the twelfth day in the bright half of the lunar month he shall observe fast. With his mind and sense organs in perfect restraint he should repeat the mantra for two million times.

23. O brahmins, there is no doubt that the aspirant would be liberated from all sins whether they be subsidiary or major.

24-25. He should circumambulate and worship Narasiṃha with flowers, scents, incenses, etc. After bending the head before the lord the devotee should apply Jāti flowers smeared with camphor and sandal paste on the head of lord Narasiṃha. Thereby Siddhi results.

26-28. The lord is not hindered anywhere in any of his activities. Even Brahmā, Rudra and other Devas are incompetent to bear the refulgence of the lord. What then in regard to Dānavas, Siddhas, Gandharvas, human beings, Vidyādharas, Yakṣas, Kinnaras and Nāgas. There are those who wish for other Mantras, (than those of Narasiṃha). All these perish (on seeing Narasiṃha), like darkness when the refulgence of the sun or fire is revealed.

29. The (Talisman) that is inspired once by the repetition of Mantras bestows steady pleasures. The talisman that is inspired thus twice, becomes a divine amulet. It protects the devotee from Devas as well as Dānavas.

30. It should also protect from all those enemies such as Gandharvas, Kinnaras, Yakṣas, Vidyādharas, Nāgas, goblins, demons as well as similar antagonists.

31-34. The amulet that is inspired (with Mantras) thrice, cannot be broken by Devas and Asuras.

O excellent Brahmins, lord Narasiṃha of great strengths protects the aspirant devotee within a radius of twelve Yojanas.

The devotee should then go near a Crevasse and observe fast for three nights. He should then kindle the holy fire with Palāśa twigs and logs.

O leading brahmins, the aspirant should make two hundred sacrifices with (as many) Palāśa twigs soaked in honey, sugar and ghee repeating Vaṣaṭkāras.

The opening of Crevasse should be visible instantaneously.

35. The learned aspirant shall unhesitatingly enter the Crevasse with the coat of mail on, as he goes ahead, his difficulty, darkness and delusion perish.

36. A wide royal road beautified by humming bees becomes visible. O brahmins, remembering Narasiṃha he enters the nether worlds.

37-40. After going there, the aspirant should repeat the mantra of Narasiṃha the undiminishing mantra.

Thereafter, thousands of women playing on the lute come out to welcome him. O brahmins, after greeting him they take the leading aspirant, holding him by the hand.

O excellent brahmins, they make him drink the divine elixir. Immediately after drinking it he becomes very powerful. His body becomes divine.

He dallies with those girls till the ultimate dissolution of all living beings. When his body is split he becomes merged in Vāsudeva.

41-46. When the residence there, no longer appeals to him he starts therefrom. The leading aspirant takes the following things with him:—A tablet, a trident, a sword, a yellow orpiment, a jewel, a mercury, a pair of elixir sandals, collyrium, the skin of a black antelope, the pleasing pill, waterpot, rosary, staff, Siddhavidyā named Sañjīvanī and the scriptural texts. If the trident, that is enveloped by the wavelike formation of sparks of blazing fire is placed in the heart even for once it burns sins accumulated in crores of births. If it is placed in poison it destroys poison. If it is placed over the body it dispels leprosy. Even after committing the sin of foetus slaughter he becomes purified by this divine remedy. When patients are afflicted by powerful planets, the devotee shall think about the blazing deity. Thereby the terrible planets will perish quickly in the heart.

47. The amulet (inspired with Narasiṃha Mantra) tied round the neck of children affords a permanent protection: It destroys tumour, pustule, boils, as well as spider poison.

48. If afflicted by ailments, the devotee should perform a sacrifice with sacrificial twigs, ghee and milk, thrice a day during the junctions (i.e. dawn, midday and dusk). If this is continued for a month it will dispel all ailments.

49. I do not see anything that cannot be achieved in the three worlds consisting of mobile and immobile beings. Whatever accomplishment he desires, he certainly achieves it.

50-57. Another method: the devotee worships the lion one hundred and eight times. He takes seven lumps of clay from the anthill, cremation ground, four cross-roads. Mixing them with red sandal he pours cow’s milk and rolls it into a lump. With this lump he makes the image of a lion six fingers (in length and height). Taking a bark leaf he applies yellow orpiment over it. This he ties round the neck of Narasiṃha. The aspirant then worships the deity with water. He repeats the Mantra innumerable times. With the sense-organs perfectly under restraint he continues the repetition of Mantra for seven days. Within a Muhūrta the entire earth is flooded with water.

Or the devotee shall worship Narasiṃha on the top of a tree. By performing the Japa of the Mantra one hundred and eight times the devotee can prevent a great downpour.

The noble aspirant puts the image of Narasiṃha in a cage and closes it. He should then whirl it. Within a short while a great gust of wind will undoubtedly blow. He can restrain it quickly by means of water inspired with the repetition of Narasiṃha Mantra seven times.

If the aspirant digs the earth and keeps the image concealed at the threshold of anyone, the entire family of that person will be annihilated. If it is taken out, it accords peace.

58. Hence, O leading sages, the devotee should always worship the lord of beasts, of great power, the bestower of all desires.

59-60. Liberated from all sins he goes to the world of Viṣṇu.

By devoutly worshipping the most excellent one among Devas, who has assumed the form of a lion, the Brahmins, Kṣatriyas, Vaiśyas, womenfolk, Śūdras and the low-caste people are liberated from inauspicious miseries accumulated in the course of crores of births.

61-67. O Brahmins, by worshipping that excellent Deva they attain all desired things such as Deva-hood, lordship of the immortal beings and Gandharva-hood. They attain the status of Yakṣa or Vidyādhara or other types of desired things.

By visiting, eulogising, bowing to and worshipping Narasiṃha, men obtain a kingdom, heavenly pleasure and salvation which is very difficult to attain.

By visiting Narasiṃha a man obtains the desired benefit. Liberated from sins he goes to the world of Viṣṇu.

By devoutly visiting once that lord who has assumed the form of a lion, one is liberated from inauspicious miseries accumulated in crores of births.

On the following occasions the lord should be remembered. At the time of war, or a calamity very difficult to surmount, or at the time when one is afflicted by thieves, tigers etc., or when there is danger to life in a dense forest or when one is likely to be afflicted by poison, fire and water or when one is afflicted by kings and others, oceans, planets, sickness etc. By remembering the lord on these occasions a man is liberated from hosts of calamities.

Just as the desert of darkness is dispelled at sunrise so also all calamities perish by visiting the lord.

68-77. When lord Narasiṃha is pleased, a man obtains the miraculous pill, collyrium, sandals of the nether worlds, elixir as well as other desired things.

There is no doubt that one obtains all those desires for which one worships Narasiṃha with his desires kept in mind.

By visiting the lord of the chiefs of Devas, by devoutly worshipping him and bowing to him, the devotee derives ten times the benefit of ten horse sacrifices. He is liberated from all sins. He is embellished with all good qualities. He is richly blessed with the fulfilment of all desires. He is devoid of old age and death. Seated in an aerial chariot the devotee goes to the world of Viṣṇu.

The aerial chariot is golden. It is embellished with clusters of twinkling bells. It has good refulgence. It is richly furnished with all desirable things. It can go to any place one wishes. It has the colour and lustre of the midday sun. Pearl necklaces are suspended from it. Hundreds of celestial damsels are present in it. It is resonant with the divine sound of singing the Gandharvas. He is eulogised by Apsaras. He is as happy and gay as Devas. He redeems twenty-one generations of his family. Thus he goes to the world of Viṣṇu. O excellent brahmins, there in the world of Viṣṇu he enjoys excellent pleasures in the company of Gandharvas and Apsaras. He assumes the form with four arms. He enjoys pleasures and happiness till the final dissolution of the world. When his merit dwindles he returns to this world and is born as a brahmin in an excellent family of Yogins. He masters the four Vedas and their ancillaries. He attains Yoga pertaining to Viṣṇu and obtains liberation.