question about Lord Narasimha and my answer

[Paramananda das]

Hare Krishna,
Please accept my humble obeisances . All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

What is the description of Nrsimha's body? This painting on Sampradaya (link below) shows that Nrsimha's body is very muscular yet in Bhagavatam it says it is very tender. Which one is true? And does Nrsimha have a muscular body that perhaps might be tender?

http://www.harekrsna.com/sun/gallery/nrsimhax12a.jpg

Your Humble Servant,

Bhakta .........


dear Bhakta ........
Please accept my humble obaisences
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
Jaya Sri Prahlada Narasimhadeva
I am sorry I could not answer your question right away.

ugro 'py anugra evayam

sva-bhaktanam nri-keshari

kesarivo sva-potanam

anyesham ugra-vikramaha




"Although very ferocious, the lioness is very kind to her cubs. Similarly, although very ferocious to non-devotees like Hiranyakashipu, Lord Nrisimhadeva is very, very soft and kind to devotees like Prahlada Maharaja."

Just like a lion Lord Narasimhadeva is very merciless to the demons , just like the Chand Kazi had
the Mrdangas broken.Lord Narasimha is the protector of the sankirtana movement.At this time Lord Narasimhadevas body is harder than anything in this world, and more fierce than death personified(death personified runs away screaming in fear of Lord Narasimha).His body is Sac Cid ananda Vigraha.So He does not need to go to the gym to get muscles.
There is a Narasimha Dhyana in Srimad Bhagavatam ( at the opening of the ISKCON Tirupati temple when I chanted that many Sri Vaisnavas was very happy, because they love this Narasimha meditation from Srimad Bhagavatam)
Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 7.8.19-22

mīmāḿsamānasya samutthito 'grato

nṛsiḿha-rūpas tad alaḿ bhayānakam

pratapta-cāmīkara-caṇḍa-locanaḿ

sphurat saṭā-keśara-jṛmbhitānanam

karāla-daḿṣṭraḿ karavāla-cañcala-

kṣurānta-jihvaḿ bhrukuṭī-mukholbaṇam

stabdhordhva-karṇaḿ giri-kandarādbhuta-

vyāttāsya-nāsaḿ hanu-bheda-bhīṣaṇam

divi-spṛśat kāyam adīrgha-pīvara-

grīvoru-vakṣaḥ-sthalam alpa-madhyamam

candrāḿśu-gauraiś churitaḿ tanūruhair

viṣvag bhujānīka-śataḿ nakhāyudham

durāsadaḿ sarva-nijetarāyudha-

praveka-vidrāvita-daitya-dānavam

Hiraṇyakaśipu studied the form of the Lord, trying to decide who the form of Nṛsiḿhadeva standing before him was. The Lord's form was extremely fearsome because of His angry eyes, which resembled molten gold; His shining mane, which expanded the dimensions of His fearful face; His deadly teeth; and His razor-sharp tongue, which moved about like a dueling sword. His ears were erect and motionless, and His nostrils and gaping mouth appeared like caves of a mountain. His jaws parted fearfully, and His entire body touched the sky. His neck was very short and thick, His chest broad, His waist thin, and the hairs on His body as white as the rays of the moon. His arms, which resembled flanks of soldiers, spread in all directions as He killed the demons, rogues and atheists with His conchshell, disc, club, lotus and other natural weapons

Lord Narasimha is transcendental to "muscular arms" yet He is the most powerfull incarnation of Krsna, next to Lord Rama and Sri Krsna Himself.Just like when Krsna wrestled Canura and Mustika, they seemed like tender small boys.But Narasimhadevas form is all powerfull, fierce, and frightening to the asuras.I know they quickly realize here is the most powerfull being there exists,He is certainly God.Sometimes Lord Narasimhadeva's body is described as a thunderbolt,harder than dimond.To the devotees He is softlike a pussycat that plays with His kittens.In Brhad Bhagavatamrta is explained Lord Narasimha licked all of Prahlada Maharajas body, just like a kitten or lioness licks Her cubs(or the lion also sometimes does)
I hope this meets you blissfully absorbed in the meditation on Lord Narasimha
your friend
Payonidhi das