Chapter 4 Sri Narasimha , Fighting internal enemies by the grace of Lord Narasimha

[Paramananda das]

Chapter 4 Sri Narasimha , Fighting internal enemies by the grace of Lord Narasimha
The internal enemies' lust, anger, greed leads to the degradation of the soul. Krsna has stated:
tri-vidham narakasyedam dvaram nasanam atmanahkamah krodhas tatha lobhas tasmad etat trayam tyajet
.
There are three gates leading to this hell--lust, anger, and greed. Every sane man should give these up, for they lead to the degradation of the soul. (BG 16.21)
Srila Prabhupada has stated :
PURPORT
The beginning of demoniac life is described herein. One tries to satisfy his lust, and when he cannot, anger and greed arise. A sane man who does not want to glide down to the species of demoniac life must try to give up these three enemies which can kill the self to such an extent that there will be no possibility of liberation from this material entanglement.
In the 5th canto of Srimad Bhagavatam chapter 18 Prahlada Maharaja has prayed:
SB 5.18.8: I offer my respectful obeisances unto Lord Nṛsiḿhadeva, the source of all power. O my Lord who possesses nails and teeth just like thunderbolts, kindly vanquish our demon-like desires for fruitive activity in this material world. Please appear in our hearts and drive away our ignorance so that by Your mercy we may become fearless in the struggle for existence in this material world.
SB 5.18.9: 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.
SB 5.18.10: My dear Lord, we pray that we may never feel attraction for the prison of family life, consisting of home, wife, children, friends, bank balance, relatives and so on. If we do have some attachment, let it be for devotees, whose only dear friend is Kṛṣṇa. A person who is actually self-realized and who has controlled his mind is perfectly satisfied with the bare necessities of life. He does not try to gratify his senses. Such a person quickly advances in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, whereas others, who are too attached to material things, find advancement very difficult.
SB 5.18.11: By associating with persons for whom the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Mukunda, is the all in all, one can hear of His powerful activities and soon come to understand them. The activities of Mukunda are so potent that simply by hearing of them one immediately associates with the Lord. For a person who constantly and very eagerly hears narrations of the Lord's powerful activities, the Absolute Truth, the Personality of Godhead in the form of sound vibrations, enters within his heart and cleanses it of all contamination. On the other hand, although bathing in the Ganges diminishes bodily contaminations and infections, this process and the process of visiting holy places can cleanse the heart only after a long time. Therefore who is the sane man who will not associate with devotees to quickly perfect his life?
SB 5.18.12: All the demigods and their exalted qualities, such as religion, knowledge and renunciation, become manifest in the body of one who has developed unalloyed devotion for the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vāsudeva. On the other hand, a person devoid of devotional service and engaged in material activities has no good qualities. Even if he is adept at the practice of mystic yoga or the honest endeavor of maintaining his family and relatives, he must be driven by his own mental speculations and must engage in the service of the Lord's external energy. How can there be any good qualities in such a man?
SB 5.18.13: Just as aquatics always desire to remain in the vast mass of water, all conditioned living entities naturally desire to remain in the vast existence of the Supreme Lord. Therefore if someone very great by material calculations fails to take shelter of the Supreme Soul but instead becomes attached to material household life, his greatness is like that of a young, low-class couple. One who is too attached to material life loses all good spiritual qualities.
SB 5.18.14: Therefore, O demons, give up the so-called happiness of family life and simply take shelter of the lotus feet of Lord Nṛsiḿhadeva, which are the actual shelter of fearlessness. Entanglement in family life is the root cause of material attachment, indefatigable desires, moroseness, anger, despair, fear and the desire for false prestige, all of which result in the repetition of birth and death.
These slokas can be chanted daily for full benefit with Sanskrit along with reading Srila Prabhupada's purports to the verses.
At Rakta kunda at Ahovalam. Lord Narasimha washed His Lotushands after killing Hiranykasipu and his soldiers first.Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura has stated in in Navadvipa Mahatmya ,that Lord Narasimha came to Narasimha palli after killing Hiranykasipu , at Narasimha palli in Godruma Dvipa ,Lord Narasimha took bath and rested
(Thus in one sense Narasima Palli is superior to Rakta Kunda as it touched the full transcendental body of Lord Narasimha ).
The demigods came and build residences and stayed close to Lord Narasimha , so He must have rested for quite a while if even the Devas would build residences there.
Bhaktivinoda Thakura in his Navadvipa BhavaTaranga has offered prayers to Lord Narasimha in Narasimhapalli showing that the worship of Lord Narasimha is not incompatible with the worship of Lord Caitanya and Sri Sri Radha Krsna:
These prayers are as follows.
e dusta hrdayekamaadi ripu chaya
kutinatipratisthasasathya sada raya
hrdaya-sodhanaarakrsnera vasana
nrsimha-caranemoraei to' kamana
Within my sinful heart the six enemies headed by lust perpetually reside, as well as duplicity, the desire for fame, plus sheer cunning. At the lotus feet of Lord Narasimha, I hope that He will mercifully purify my heart and give me the desire to serve Lord Krsna.
kandiyanrsimha-pademagibo kakhana
nirapadenavadvipejugala-bhajana
bhaya bhayapayayan'ra darsane se hari
prasanna hoibo kabe more daya kari
Weeping, I will beg at the lotus-feet of Lord Narasimha for the benediction of worshipping Radha and Krsna in Navadvipa, perfectly safe and free from all difficulties. When will this Lord Hari, Whose terrible form strikes fear into fear itself, ever become pleased and show me His mercy?
yadyapi bhisanamurtidusta-jiva-prati
prahladadikrsna-bhakta-jane bhadra ati
kabe va prasanna ho'ye sa krpa-vacane
nirbhaya karibe ei mudha akincane
Even though Lord Narasimha is terrifying toward the sinful souls, He offers great auspiciousness unto the devotees of Lord Krsna headed by Prahlada Maharaja. When will He be pleased to speak words of compassion unto me, a worthless fool, and thereby make me fearless?
svacchande baiso he vatsa sri-gauranga-dhame
jugala-bhajana hau rati hau name
mama bhakta-krpa-bale vighna jabe dura
suddha cite bhajo radha-krsna-rasa-pura
He will say, "Dear child! Sit sown freely and live happily here in Sri Gauranga-dhama. May you nicely worship the Divine Couple, and may you develop loving attachment for Their Holy Names. By the mercy of My devotees, all obstacles are cast far away. With a purified heart, just perform the worship of Radha and Krsna, for such worship overflows with sweet nectar."
ei boli' kabe mora mastaka-upara
sviya sri-carana harse dharibe isvara
amani jugala-preme sattvika vikare
dharaya lutibo ami sri-nrsimha-dvare
Saying this, will that Lord delightedly place His own divine lotus-feet upon my head? I will experience sublime love for the Divine Couple Radha-Krsna and undergo the ecstatic transformations called sattvika. Falling on the ground, I will roll about at the door of Sri Narasimha's temple.
Also as mentioned previously the Yogapith of Lord Caitanya Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura installed the Deity of Laxmi Narasimha for the protection of the Yoga pitha.
Adi Sankacarya has written an important prayer to Laxmi Narasimha:
1. Shrimat-pavo-nidhi-niketana chakra-pane
bhogindra-bhoga-mani-rajita punya-murte
yogisha shashvata sharanya bhavabdhi-pota
lakshmi-nrisimha mama dehi karavalambam
Lord, Your form is all beautiful because you are the master of the goddess of fortune. You reside in the ocean of milk, and You carry the Sudarshana disc in Your hand. Your all-auspicious form is made even more resplendent by the jewel-like body of Anantadeva, the king of serpents upon whom You rest. You are the eternal deliverer from the ocean of birth and death for all those who seek Your shelter and You are the master of all mystics. O Lakshmi-Nrisimha, please bless me with the touch of Your lotus hands.
2. Brahmendra rudra-marud arka-kirita-koti
sanghattitangri-kamalamala-kanti-kanta
lakshmi lasat-kucha saroruha-raja-hamsa
lakshmi-nrisimha mama dehi karavalambam
Lord Brahma, Lord Indra, Lord Shiva, the Maruts and the sun-god all fall down with their tens and millions of helmets at Your lotus feet, which are most dear to the goddess of fortune, Lakshmi, who appears as beautiful as a royal swan enjoying the lotus flower of Your chest. O Lakshmi-Nrisimha, please bless me with the touch of Your lotus hands.
3. Samsara-dava dahanakula bhishanoru
jvalavalibhih ati-daghda tanuru-hasya
tvat pada-padmasarasim sharanagatasya
lakshmi-nrisimha mama dehi karavalambam
The conditioned soul suffers on the path of repeated birth and death exactly like one caught in a forest fire. Being fearful, his body burnt by the licking flames, he cries most pitiably. Just as one tormented by a forest fire may take shelter in a pond. Your lotus feet are just like a pond giving refuge to the surrendered soul from the forest fire of samsara. O Lakshmi-Nrisimha, please bless me with the touch of Your lotus hands.
4. Samsara-jala-patitasya jagan-nivasa
sarvendriyarta-badishagra-jhashopamasya
protkampita-prachurataluka-mastakasya
lakshmi-nrisimha mama dehi karavalambam
O abode of the universe, I have fallen into the net of repeated birth and death. Just like an aquatic animal, I eagerly accept the hook baited with the sense objects. And just as the fish is caught trembling, and his head is cut off, so my real consciousness is lost as I am punished by the material nature. O Lakshmi-Nrisimha, please bless me with the touch of Your lotus hands.
5. Samsara-kupam ati-ghoram agadha-mulam
samprapya dukha-shata-sarpa-samakulasya
dinasya deva kripaya padam agatasya
lakshmi-nrisimha mama dehi karavalambam
Having fallen into the horrible and bottomless well of repeated birth and death, I am tormented by the serpent of hundred fold miseries. In this fallen condition, O Lord, by Your mercy I am surrendered to Your lotus feet. O Lakshmi-Nrisimha, please bless me with the touch of Your lotus hands.
6. Samsara-bhikara-karindra-karabhighata
nishpidyamana-vapushah sakalarti-nasa
prana-prayana bhava-bhiti-samakulasya
lakshmi-nrisimha mama dehi karavalambam
You slay the king of the demons, Hiranyakashipu, whose body is as strong as an elephant by squeezing him with your hands. In this way You destroy all miseries by breaking the fearful cycle of birth and death. You are the ultimate goal of life for those who are disturbed by fear of material existence. O Lakshmi-Nrisimha, please bless me with the touch of Your lotus hands.
7. Samsara-sarpa-visha-digdha mahogra-tivra
damstragra-koti-paridashta vinashta-murte
nagari-vahana sudhabdhi-nivasa shaure
lakshmi-nrisimha mama dehi karavalambam
I have been bitten by the tens of millions of terrible sharp fangs of the snake of material existence. Having been injected with its powerful poison, I have lost my consciousness as the eternal servant of Krishna. The best remedy for snakebite is nectar, therefore O Lord Shauri, You reside in the ocean of nectar and Your carrier is Garuda the great enemy of snakes. O Lakshmi-Nrisimha, please bless me with the touch of Your lotus hands.
8. Samsara-vriksha agha-bijam ananta-karma
shakha-yutam karana-patram ananga-pushpam
aruhya dukha-phalinam patitam dayalo
lakshmi-nrisimha mama dehi karavalambam
The tree of samsara, or material existence, is sprouted from the seed of sinful desire. The unlimited reactions to fruitive activities are its branches, the senses are its leaves and its flowers is Cupid’s attraction of sex desire. O merciful one, I climbed up this tree but I have only obtained the fruit of misery and am now fallen. O Lakshmi-Nrisimha, please bless me with the touch of Your lotus hands.
9. Samsara-sagara-vishala-karala-kala
nakra-graha-grasita-nigraha-vigrahasya
vyadhasya raga-nichayormini piditasya
lakshmi-nrisimha mama dehi karavalambam
In the broad ocean of material existence I am broken and smashed again and again by the powerful waves of my accumulated attachments. Grasped in the jaws of the fearful crocodile of the external time factor, I am pierced, ripped apart, and swallowed. O Lakshmi-Nrisimha, please bless me with the touch of Your lotus hands.
10. Samsara-sagara-nimajjana-muhyamanam
dinam vilokaya vibho karuna-nidhe mam
prahlada-kheda-parihara-kritavatara
lakshmi-nrisimha mama dehi karavalambam
O all-powerful, ocean of mercy, cast Your glance upon me. I am bewildered, helplessly sinking in the sea of samsara. You descended to remove the distress of your devotee Prahlada Maharaja. O Lakshmi-Nrisimha, please bless me with the touch of Your lotus hands.
11. Samsara-ghora-gahane charato murare
marogra vbhikara mriga prachurarditasya
artasya matsara-nidagdha-suduhkhitasya
lakshmi-nrisimha mama dehi karavalambam
O Murari, I have fallen into the pit of material existence and I am wandering just like an animal greatly tormented by fear of horrible death that awaits him. Distressed and miserable, I am burnt by envy. O Lakshmi-Nrisimha, please bless me with the touch of Your lotus hands.
12. Baddhva gale yama-bhata bahu taryajantaha
karshanti yatra bhava-pasha-shatair yutam mam
ekakinam para-vasha chakitam dayalo
lakshmi-nrisimha mama dehi karavalambam
Binding me with ropes, the servants of Yamaraja drag me to his abode, beating me severely along the path. Bound by material existence in hundreds of ways, I stand alone, helpless and trembling, under the influence of the superior force of daiva maya. O Lakshmi-Nrisimha, please bless me with the touch of Your lotus hands.
13. Lakshmi-pate kamala-nabha suresha vishno
yajnesha yajna madhusudana vishvarupa
brahmanya keshava janardana vasudeva
lakshmi-nrisimha mama dehi karavalambam
You are the Lord of Lakshmi and the master of the demigods. O Vishnu, Your navel is just like a lotus. You are the Lord of sacrifice and the embodiment of sacrificial performance. O Madhusudana, Vishvarupa, You are always favorably disposed to the brahmanas. O Keshava, Janardana, Vasudeva, O Lakshmi-Nrisimha, please bless me with the touch of Your lotus hands.
14. Ekena chakram aparena karena shankham
anyena sindhu-tanayam avalambya tishthan
vametarena varadabhaya-padma-chihnam
lakshmi-nrisimha mama dehi karavalambam
In one of Your four hands You hold the Sudarshana disc and in another a conch. With another You embrace Lakshmi, who was born from the milk ocean, and with another on the left You bestow fearlessness. The palm of that hand which is raised to give the benediction is marked with the lotus symbol. O Lakshmi-Nrisimha, please bless me with the touch of Your lotus hands.
15. Andhasya me hrita-viveka-maha-dhanasya
corair mahabalibhir indriya-namadheyaiha
mohandhakara-kuhare vinipatitasya
lakshmi-nrisimha mama dehi karavalambam
Although I was very wealthy, I am blind and without discrimination. I have been robbed of my great treasure (Krishna consciousness) by the thieves known as the senses. Despite all my attempts to appease them with different types of offerings, they have thrown me into the pit of illusion and darkness. O Lakshmi-Nrisimha, please bless me with the touch of Your lotus hands.
16. Prahlada-narada-parasara-pundarika
vyasadi-bhagavata-pungava-hrin-nivasa
bhaktanurakta-paripalana-parijata
lakshmi-nrisimha mama dehi karavalambam
You reside in the hearts of the best devotees such as Prahlada Maharaja, Narada Muni, Parashara Muni, Pundarika, Vyasadeva and others. You are very fond of Your devotees and You are their parijata tree of protection. O Lakshmi-Nrisimha, please bless me with the touch of Your lotus hands.
17. Lakshmi-nrisimha-charanabja-madhu-vratena
stotram kritam shubha-karam bhuvi shankarena
ye tatpathanti manuja hari-bhakti-yuktaha
lakshmi-nrisimha mama dehi karavalambam
This prayer, bestowing auspiciousness in this world, has been composed by Shankaracharya, who is a honeybee in the lotus flower of the feet of Sri-Sri Lakshmi-Nrisimha. Those who read this prayer with devotion to Lord Krishna attain the shelter of Sri Sri Lakshmi-Nrisimha’s lotus feet and also attain their eternal spiritual form, which is never annihilated.
Trivikram Panditacarya a disciple of Madhavacarya has written two verses in the Introduction of Sri Hari Vayuh Stuti to the transcendental nails of Lord Narasimha :
paantvasmaam puruuhutavairi balavanmaatanga maadyadghataa kumbhocchaadri vipaatanaadhi kapatu pratyekavajraayitaah Shrimat kanthiravaasya pratatasunakharaa daaritaaraatiduura pradhvasta dhvaatashaanta pravitata manasaa bhaavitaa nakivrnda
"May the wide-spread and auspicious nails of the lion-faced God, Narasimha, Who is in the company of His consort Laxmi, protect us. His nails are like thunderbolts and are highly skilled in tearing asunder the lofty mountain-like heads of the herds of strong and intoxicated elephants in the form of demons; the foes of Indradev. His nails are also meditated upon by the groups of devas with their broad minds which are concentrated upon Him and from which the darkness of ignorance is driven away to a great distance and the internal enemies of lust, anger, etc., are torn in twain."
lakshmikaanta samantato vikalayannai veshituste saman pashyaamyuttama vastu duurataarato paastam rasoyo stumah yadrosotkara daksanetra kutila prantotthitogni sphurat khadyotopamavisphylinya bhasitaa brhmeshushakrot karaan
"Oh consort of Laxmi! Although I've made an all-round study of the shastras, I don't find anything equal to You, Who are my master! The thing thought superior to You is therefore flung far and is similar to the 8th tuste (it does not exist). Brahma, Shiva, Indra and their hosts are reduced to ashes by the sparks of fire resembling sparkling glowworms and issuing from the curved edge of Your right eye which is filled with masses of wrath."
Thus ends chapter 4 of Sri Narasimha : Fighting internal enemies by the grace of Lord Narasimha