Foreword to Narasimha book.

[Paramananda das]

 

Sri Sri Laxmi Narasimha  installed at the Yoga pitha in Mayapure for the protection of the Yoga Pitha 

Foreword to my Narasimha book :

Foreword:
In 1979 while I first visited the temple in Sweden , Korsnas Gard, also known as New Radha Kunda.: One day we went on a blissful harinama in Stockholm ,and being allowed to distribute prasadam to onlookers was really blissful.On the way back the devotees had a long Narasimha Kirtan, and I really felt the presence of Lord Narasimha by the mercy of the devotees.

When I joined the temple I was allowed to make sandalwood every day for one Lord Narasimha Deity worshipped by Krsna Ksetra Prabhu (now Swami ) for the protection of Harikesa and the devotees that was preaching ,distributing   Srila Prabhupadas books in Russia ,and for the devotees in Russia. I felt a very close connection too Lord Narasimha through this little service, and in May of 1979 ,there was a very ecstatic celebration for Lord Narasimhadevs apperanceday at Korsnas gaard with Harikesa leading the chanting of the Narasimha Mantra.

Very soon while helping start a preaching center in Copenhagen, the worship of Lord Narasimha seemed so much important being only 3 devotees in a country that seemed full of atheists. Later that year we saw many powerful german sankirtana devotees lead a long Narasimha kirtan in Schloss Rettershof

-- and you could feel Lord Narasimhadev fully present in that Kirtan. I was there for the installation of Lord Narasimha in 1982 in Germany while distributing Srila Prabhupadas books in Germany. Devotees had been really harassed and suffered , but after the installation of Lord Narasimha, it appeared that this harassment stopped by Lord Narasimhadevas grace. We sankirtana devotees came back from a bookdistribution marathon and when we came to the temple near Passau (close to the German- Austrian border) the devotee headed by the sankirtana leaders started to lead Kirtanas and we all chanted all night long until mangal artik.The installation of Prahlada Narasimha was amazing.

Later Lord Narasimha was installed in New Vrindavan around 1986 ,in 1991 I had darshan of this wonderful Prahlada Narasimha deity, and in Mayapure , Ugra Narasimha--

In 1986 I started to worship Ugra Narasimha Salagram Sila that I continued to worship until 1998 when I got married . Prahlada Maharaja worshipped an Ugra Narasimha Salagrama though in the grhastha asrama ,so there is no fixed rule on this.Though some claim grhasthas can not worship Ugra Narasimha Salagrama Silas. The idea is that Lord Narasimha may finish ones family affairs prematurely , but that is a material calculation and should this occur it is the blessings of Lord Narasimha as it will  be favorable for renounciation.

I have been to Ahovalam 3 times Mangala Giri 3 times, and Simhacalam 4 times these places are very dear to me as I am an aspiring Narasimha Bhakta . However my realization is that Lord Narasimha is more happy when He comes to Navadvipa and Vrindavan and is given a role in Krsnas pastimes, and Lord Caitanyas pastimes. Besides this Lord Narasimha has protected even a fallen soul like myself many times--He is really my eternal guide and protector-- I bow to :Lord Narasimhadevas lotusfeet and pray He will lead me to the lotusfeet of Lord Caitanya and Radha Krsna in Vrindavan. May Lord Narasimha and Prahlada Maharaja bless all who read this book, may Srila Prabhupadas lotusfeet be present eternally in your hearts..those who read this book will find many truths about Lord Narasimha that is not easy to find for a devotee, thus this book has simply been written for the pleasure of those who are sincere devotees of Lord Narasimha-- it is only by the mercy of the devotees of Lord Narasimha this book has been written--and without the mercy of Srila Prabhupada I could not even have dared lift a pen to write this .Srila Prabhupada on board Jaladutta also had darshan of Lord Narasimha--while he had heart attacks , Lord Narasimha protected Srila Prabhupada personally-- this happened again in 1967--and Srila Prabhupada took the opportunity to introduce the western world to the worship of Lord Narasimha, also at his passing in Vrindavan in 1977 we see there was a beautiful picture of Lord Narasimha at Srila Prabhupadas bed in Vrindavana by his head , thus Srila Prabhupada was always protected by Lord Narasimha. He was always praying to Lord Narasimha for the protection of ISKCON and the purity of ISKCON.Thus we are all eternally blessed with the parental guidance of Srila Prabhupada and Lord Narasimha to help us enter the eternal pastimes of Lord Caitanya and Radha -Krsna. There is many other subjectsissues about Lord Narasimha but His glories are unlimited , I have simply tried to taste one drop of the nectar from Lord Narasimhadevas lotus feet, to purify my soul and share it with those, that do not take offence to me having tried to glorify Lord Narasimha. Those who are envious of glorification of Lord Narasimha are most unfortunate.Lord Narasimha has asked us all to follow in the footsteps of Sri Prahlada Maharaja..if this book even for a split second gets the blessings of Prahlada Maharaja this author considers it perfect.By worship of Laxmi Narasimha in dasya rasa we will one day become purified to be abel to worship Radha and Krsna ,this gift has been given by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and though raga marg is far away from the mind of many , Sri Narasimha removes the anarthas to one day allow the sweet names of Krsna , His pastimes , qualities ,form to enter the depth of the devotees heart..if this book helps even one soul attain the lotusfeet of Gaura Nitai and Krsna Balarama, then perhaps even we can in one life be saved from this material world .
This book is obviously not like the books of Srila Prabhupada and I pray to Srila Prabhupada it will inspire devotees to read the 7 canto of Srimad Bhagavatam and dive into the wonderful purports of His divine Grace.

May the blessing of Lord Narasimha as spoken by Sri Prahlada Maharaja in Treta Yuga become fully manifest:

SB 5.18.9

svasty astu viśvasya khalaḥ prasīdatāṁ
dhyāyantu bhūtāni śivaṁ mitho dhiyā
manaś ca bhadraṁ bhajatād adhokṣaje
āveśyatāṁ no matir apy ahaitukī

May there be good fortune throughout the universe, and may all envious persons be pacified. May all living entities become calm by practicing bhakti-yoga, for by accepting devotional service they will think of each other’s welfare. Therefore let us all engage in the service of the supreme transcendence, Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, and always remain absorbed in thought of Him

 Srila AC Bhaktivedanta Prabhupada brought this worship of Lord Narasimha to the west .On board Jaladutta in 1965 Srila Prabhupada had a dream of Krsna and his various incarnations protecting him.Lord Narasimha is one of Krsna main incarnations according to Laghu bhagavatamrta of Srila Rupa Goswami .Later when Srila Prabhupada had a heart attack again in around 1968 he introduced the worship of Lord Narasimha and asked the devotees to pray to Lord Narasimha for him that if Lord Narasimha desired that he would kindly allow Srila Prabhupada to finish his preaching mission. In 1970 in Los Angeles the Narasimha mantra became formerly instituted as part of all kirtanas in ISKCON .In Gaudiya math Lord Narasimhas kirtanas are not always sung after kirtanas often not as the focus is on worship of Radha Krsna. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Prabhupada maintained the worship of Laxmi Narasimha in the Yoga pitha in Mayapure ,this Deity was installed by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura himself .Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Prabhupada also established the lotusfoot prints in Ahovalam where Lord Narasimha appeared, in Mangala Giri and Sri Simhacalam these 3 places are most important in Narasimha worship and mentioned in Caitanya Caritamrta , Madhya lila .I was present in ISKCON Germany for the installation of Sri Sri Prahlada Narasimha when Lord Narasimha was established in 1982 in Germany . Later Ugra Narasimha was established in ISKCON Mayapure that made a big impact in my own spiritual life. in 1986 I visited several Narasimha temples in South India and I decided that one day I wanted to glorify Lord Narasimha in a book . Later many devotees requested me to write a book about Lord Narasimha .I did some research and with the help of a friend found the glories of Bidal Narasimha worshipped in Orissa A mystery of Lord Narasimhas apperance place is that Lord Narasimha appeared at Ahovalam in Satya yuga as confirmed in Narasimha Purana ,Sri Prahlada Maharaja was born in a place called Prahlada Pur that is now in Pakistan ,this has been mentioned by Srila Prabhupada in his purport to Caitanya Caritamrta An important factor is that Lord Narasimha went to take bath and rest in Godruma Dvipa in Navadvipa in Satya yuga after killing Hiranyakasipu ,this is mentioned in Navadvipa Dharma Mahatmya by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura .Lord Narasimha was also worshipped in Vrindavana during the time of Lord Krsna in order to protect Krsna.Krsna is the source of Lord Narasimha but that is Krsnas sweet lila that Nanda Maharaja would daily worship a Narasimha Murti that is still present in Nandagrama and mother Yasoda would  place protective Narasimha mantas on Krsnas body .This books also contains the glories to Lord Narasimha from some of the Puranas .This book will surely please true Narasimha bhaktas . Jaya Narasimhadeva