How does Narasimha Kavacha protect us from evil and falling sick?
“Udayji, our family priest told me to recite Narasimha kavacha ( man + lion armour) mantra (sacred hymn) to get protection from virus attack. You have written that there is a science behind each concept of God created by Sages in Hinduism. The priest and whomever I asked do not know the logic and science behind the Narasimha avatar. Could you please help us?,” a reader from Bangalore asked via WhatsApp.
“The concept of Narasimha is created by our sages to provide you an instant moksha (realization or enlightenment). Tell me, who is Narasimha?” I asked.
“Narasimha was 4th in ten avatar (Dasavatar) of Vishnu…”
“No. Narasimha is the 15th avatar of Vishnu, according to Bhagavatam. I don’t take the Dasavatar as authentic. 16 Puranas mention Narasimha. There is a minor exclusive Purana -Narasimha Purana. Tell me, what was the purpose of the avatar?”
“Narasimha Avatar was to protect Vishnu’s devotee Prahlad from his father Hiranyakashipu, who was an Asura (demon). Narasimha was the most fierce, terrible and fearsome avatar of Mahavishnu.”
“What do you know about Mahavishnu?”
“Udayji, I have read about the science behind many Gods through your articles only. You wrote that the eternal and infinite (Anantha) energy which is lying (sayana) in the form of five elements (Panchabootha – represented by five faces of Anantha) and its manifestation of our galaxy, milky way (ksheera sagara), that, according to scientists, has the coiled spiral shape (serpent form). To the naked human eye, the universe is shown as the sky in blue color as Vishnu’s skin…I remember reading Vishnu’s every aspect related to cosmic consciousness and its manifestation as energy, scientifically (See http://udaypai.in/the-secret-of-krishnas-birth/ ).”
“Narasimha is just another form of the same energy that exists inside the sub-atomic particle. Now, Who is the villain of the story?”
“Hiranyakashipu” he said.
“Hiranya = gold. What does gold represent?”
“Wealth, ego and material possession. Hiranyakashipu represents ego.”
“Okay. But there is a problem here. kashipu = cushion-like cloth. Gold is a heavy metal and it is not soft like a cushion. Isn’t it a contradiction?”
“Yes, Udayji, yes”
“Gold is known a heavy metal because of its high density because each of its atoms is individually very heavy. But those atoms slide past each other relatively easily, which makes the metal soft and malleable. Gold becomes so soft that one gram of it can be beaten into a sheet covering nearly a square meter. Ego, though appears as a heavy and huge shield for the self, is a result of a malleable mind. Hiranyakasipu thought that he is un-beatable (EGO). Narasimha’s killing Hiranyakashipu represents the killing of the ego. In colloquial, it is just flattening out…”
“Way to go…!” he said.
“Hiranyakashipu, who doesn’t realize the truth of the existence of energy everywhere, asked Prahlad: Why is Vishnu hiding? – the same question pops in every rational human mind. We cannot see the energy inside the sub-atomic particle. Prahalad answered him saying that Vishnu is everywhere. The ignorance and arrogance of ego in Hiranyakashipu asks: ‘Is he in this pillar?” to which Prahlad answered: ‘He is in an iron pillar and also in its rusts.’ Angered at it, he draws his sword and cuts the pillar – Narasimha appears out of the broken pillar and kills him”
“Oh, so it was the outcome of a harnessed atomic energy, probably the reactions inside its nucleus? Did atomic energy killed the Asura?”
“Oh, come on…That’s too much to say. It’s just killing his ego – enlightenment. Hiranyakashipu just realized that Vishnu is a lively presence in every particle in the universe.”
“But there is no such mention of energy or cosmos in the story. I have read Narasimha Kavacha. it also didn’t explain that way”
“Read carefully. The last paragraph of Narasimha Kavacham sums up saying that the planets and stars are scattered in the universe and with HIS unlimited hands HE sustains, protects and nourishes the cosmic manifestation – it is stated clearly and in detail, leaving no room for confusion or doubt.”
“Oh, is it?”
“If you don’t understand that, it is reiterated in the Narasimha mantra: ‘ito nrisimhah parato nrisimho, yato yato yami tato nrisimhah, bahir nrisimho hrdaye nrisimho, nrisimham adim sharanam prapadye’ – it means Narasimha is here and also there. Wherever I go Narasimha is there. he is within the heart and is outside as well. I surrender to Narasimha, the origin of all things and the supreme refuge.”
“So, it is a realization of there is nothing other than GOD himself…”
“Hiranyakashipu dead. Narasimha disappeared. Who remains?”
“Prahlad.”
“Yes. Prahlad means extremely Joyful. Krishna declares in Bhagavad Gita (10.30) that he is the devoted Prahlada. Krishna is pure bliss. So, if you recite Narasimha Kavacha or mantra, you would kill your ego and you would experience extreme happiness!”
“Wow. You made it so simple!”
“Wow really goes to the unique beauty of Sanskrit language: Hiranyakasipu asks: ‘sthambe na drishyati’ (Na drishyati- not seen, sthambe –in the pillar). Prahlad repeat the same as reply: ‘sthambena drishyati’ (sthambena- in the pillar itself, drishyati- is seen). Without changing a single alphabet it represents two opposite meanings! What a beauty!!!”
“One more doubt. Why did Vishnu manifest as Lion-Man?”
“Narasimha is known by the epithet “Mriga-Sharira” in Sanskrit which translates to Animal-Man. This rare form is neither man nor animal. What’s that? Think! It was an instant Avatar, called AavesaAvatar (no prior preparations were made). Soon after this incident, Narasimha went back to Vaikuntha.”
“Why a lion? Why can’t it be any other animal?”
“Lion, the king of animals hunts its target and kills it only when it is hungry and non-else. Similarly in his Narasimha Avatar, the purpose was only to kill the asura Hiranyakashipu to save his devotee and nothing else and there was no need to kill anybody else. The Avatar also ended with the killing of Hiranyakashipu. Lions have no natural predators. He is not afraid of other animals…”
“Oh, okay. I remember reading somewhere that you worship Narasimha.”
“Yes, as an ordinary human being I need images. My ancestors have provided me many images. Narasimha is a strong image for me.”
“Why Narasimha? Isn’t it the most fearsome and fierce image for all?”
“On the contrary, the image of Narasimha makes me very calm, happy and relaxed,” I said.
“It is very strange, Udayji. many people are scared and worship Narasimha with fear”
“Narasimha is my traditional Grama Devatha (village deity). My great grandparents participated in building the temple. We were traditionally worshipping them. I continue my ancestry.”
“Don’t you feel Narasimha is fearsome?”
“I didn’t have direct grandparents on both sides when I was born. As a child when I started talking, my parents told me that the deity in the temple is my great grandfather. They said he is your Narasimha-Aabu (Aabu means grandfather in Konkani language). I still address him like that. So, when I think about Narasimha, I feel like a child. I can feel my grandpa caressing me. So when I face fear or stress, just a flash thought about Narasimha instantly makes me relaxed and happy…”
“Oh, that’s nice!”
“When the most powerful force in the universe loves you as a grandchild, why would I be worried at all?” (http://udaypai.in/)
This message comes from Udaylal Pai’s WhatsApp Broadcast List – articles/blogs/answers. If anyone wants to join the list: (1) Save/add the number “+91-94475-33409” in your phone by creating a new contact (2) Then just send ONLY your name through your WhatsApp to: +91-94475-33409. The broadcast will happen ONLY IF the sender’s number is saved in the contact list of the receiver.
