Narasimha Jayanti

Narasimha Jayanti is celebrated on the Chaturdashi (14th day) of the bright fortnight of Vaishakha month. On this very day, Lord Narasimha appeared from a pillar and killed the demon Hiranyakashipu to protect his dearest devotee, Prahlada. So, this day is marked with fasting, worship of Lord Narasimha, and staying awake all night in His praise.

What the Scriptures Say

According to the Padma Purana:

• Whoever worships Lord Narasimha on this day with full devotion becomes free from all sins.
  
  
• Fasting and meditating on Him also brings the same effect.
  
  
• Any offerings or charity made on this day yield ten times the normal result.
  
  
• This vrat is one of the four major vrats of Vaishakha month:
  
  
• Vriddhashtami for longevity
  
  
• Narasimha Chaturdashi for health and protection
  
  
• Mohini Ekadashi for progeny
  
  
• Akshaya Tritiya for immense merit
  
  

Vrata Procedure:

After your morning bath and daily duties, take a vow:
‘I will observe the Chaturdashi vrat for the pleasure of Lord Narasimha.’

• Fast the whole day. If possible, do a waterless fast. If not, fruit-only is okay. Strictly avoid grains, onion, garlic, meat, and oil.
  
  
• Evening Puja: After sunset, worship Lord Narasimha:
  
  
• Place a yellow cloth on a platform.
  
  
• Install His idol or picture.
  
  
• Keep a small pillar nearby (symbolizing His emergence from the pillar).
  
  
• Invoke Ganesha, Lakshmi, Vishnu, and Gauri.
  
  
• Perform Kalash Sthapana.
  
  
• Offer flowers, incense, ghee lamp, fruits, naivedya, turmeric, kumkum, sandalwood, rice.
  
  

Chant this mantra during puja:

ॐ उग्रं वीरं महाविष्णुं ज्वलन्तं सर्वतोमुखम्।
नृसिंहं भीषणं भद्रं मृत्युर्मृत्यं नमाम्यहम्॥

Om Ugram Veeram Mahavishnum Jwalantam Sarvatomukham,
Narasimham Bhishanam Bhadram Mrityumrityum Namamyaham.

Narasimha Kavacha

1. 
   ॐ नारसिंहाय विद्महे वज्रनखाय धीमहि।
   तन्नो सिंहः प्रचोदयात्॥

Om Narasimhaya Vidmahe Vajranakhaya Dhimahi,
Tanno Simhah Prachodayat.

We meditate on Lord Narasimha, whose nails are like thunderbolts. May He inspire us.

2. 
   श्री प्रह्लाद उवाच –
   कवचं नारसिंहस्य प्रवक्ष्यामि समाहितः।
   श्रुत्वा लाभं प्रप्नोति सर्वत्र विजयī भवेत्॥

Shri Prahlada uvacha –
Kavacham Narasimhasya pravakshyami samahitah,
Shrutva labham prapnoti sarvatra vijayee bhavet.

Prahlada said: I now reveal the sacred Narasimha Kavach. Hearing it brings great benefits and victory everywhere.

3. 
   सर्वरोगान् प्रशमयेत् सर्वसम्पद्वर्धनम्।
   दुःस्वप्न नाशनं कुर्यात् स्मरणं भय नाशनम्॥

Sarvarogan prashamayet sarvasampadvardhanam,
Duhsvapna nashanam kuryat smaranam bhaya nashanam.

It cures diseases, increases wealth, removes bad dreams, and destroys fear.

4. 
   ग्रहपीडापरं नाशं यक्षराक्षसभूतनुत्।
   शत्रुहन्त्री सुभक्तानां भीतिहन्त्री निशाचरः॥

Grahapeedaparam nasham yaksharakshasabhootanut,
Shatrun hantree subhaktaanam bheetihantree nishacharah.

It removes planetary problems, defeats ghosts, demons, enemies, and protects devotees from fear.

5. 
   पूर्वतस्तु महावीर्यं आग्नेयां च पराजितम्।
   दक्षिणे सिंहनाथं च नैऋत्यां भीषणं बधम्॥

Poorvatastu mahaveeryam aagneyam cha paraajitam,
Dakshine Simhanaatham cha nairrityam bheeshanam badham.

He protects the East as the mighty one, the Southeast as unconquerable, the South as Simhanatha, and the Southwest as fierce destroyer.

6. 
   पश्चिमे सर्वतोमुखं वायव्ये नरसिंहकम्।
   उत्तरं पातु भीमं च ईशान्यां पातु शङ्करम्॥

Pashchime sarvatomukham vaayavye Narasimhakam,
Uttaram paatu bheemam cha eeshaanyaam paatu Shankaram.

In the West, may the all-faced one protect; in the Northwest, Narasimha; in the North, the terrifying one; in the Northeast, Shankara.

7. 
   ऊर्ध्वं पातु नरः क्रूरः अधस्ताच्च महेश्वरः।
   एवं दश दिशः पातु नारसिंहः स्वतेजसा॥

Urdhvam paatu narah kroorah adhastaccha Maheshwarah,
Evam dasha dishah paatu Narasimhah swatejasa.

Above, may the fierce form protect; below, Maheshwara. Thus in all 10 directions, may Narasimha guard with his brilliance.

8. 
   विद्यां पातु नरसिंहो वित्तं मे रक्षतु हरिः।
   पातु धर्मं सदा नारः कामं मे तेजसा रवेः॥

Vidyaam paatu Narasimho vittam me rakshatu Harih,
Paatu dharmam sadaa narah kaamam me tejasaa ravesh.

Let Him protect my knowledge, wealth, righteousness, and desires with divine light.

9. 
   मनस्तु पातु लोकश्च चक्षूंषि मे सुरेश्वरः।
   श्रोत्रे पातु सुरश्रेष्ठः नासिकां मे पातु रिपुः॥

Manastu paatu lokashcha chakshoomshi me Sureshwarah,
Shrotre paatu surashreshthah naasikaam me paatu ripuh.

May He guard my mind, senses, eyes, ears, and even the nose from harm.

10. 
    मुखं लक्ष्मीनृसिंहश्च जिव्हां मे विद्याप्रदः।
    कण्ठं पातु शुभक्तानां प्रियः पातु नः स्तनौ॥

Mukham LakshmeeNarasimhah cha jihvaam me vidyapradah,
Kantham paatu shubhaktanaam priyah paatu nah stanau.

Lakshmi-Narasimha guards my face; the giver of knowledge, my tongue; and the devotee-loving Lord, my throat and chest.

11. 
    हृदयं योगसाध्यश्च नाभिं मे पातु यज्ञभुक्।
    कटिं च कामरूपश्च गुह्यं मे पातु कामदः॥

Hridayam yogasaadhyashcha naabhim me paatu yajñabhuk,
Katim cha kaamaroopashcha guhyam me paatu kaamadah.

The Lord attainable by yoga protects the heart, the enjoyer of yajnas guards the navel, and the wish-fulfilling form guards the waist and private parts.

12. 
    ऊरू मनोहरः पातु जानुनी नररूपधृक्।
    जङ्घे पातु धराभारहर्ता योऽसुरनिसूदनः॥

Uruu manoharah paatu jaanunee nararoopadhrik,
Janghe paatu dharabhaarharta yo asuranisoodanah.

The beautiful one guards my thighs, the man-form guards my knees, and the demon-destroyer who lifts the Earth protects my calves.

13. 
    पादौ मे पातु विश्वेशः पृष्ठं मे पातु महामनाः।
    सर्वाङ्गं पातु मे नित्यं नरसिंहः सर्वतोमुखः॥

Paadau me paatu Vishweshah prishtham me paatu mahamanaah,
Sarvaangam paatu me nityam Narasimhah sarvatomukhah.

Let the Lord of the universe guard my feet, the great-minded one my back, and Narasimha protect all my limbs always.

14. 
    सर्वापद्भ्यो रक्षं दद्यात् नारसिंहो नृकेसरी।
    इदं नारसिंहकवचं प्रह्लादमुखमुत्तमम्॥

Sarvaapadbhyo raksham dadyaat Narasimhah nrukesaree,
Idam Narasimhakavacham Prahlaadamukhamuttamam.

Narasimha, the lion-headed Lord, protects from all dangers. This shield was spoken by Prahlada himself.

15. 
    यः पठेत्प्रयतो नित्यं त्रिसंध्यं श्रद्धयान्वितः।
    ददाति स यथाकामं क्षयं यान्ति न संशयः॥

Yah pathet prayato nityam trisandhyam shraddhayaanvitah,
Dadaati sa yathaakaamam kshayam yaanti na samshayah.

Whoever reads this daily at the three junctions of the day with faith gets all desires fulfilled and becomes free of flaws.

16. 
    सर्वत्र जयमाप्नोति सर्वत्र विजयभूषणः।
    जीवेत् वर्षशतं सौम्यं धनं धान्यं समृद्धिभिः॥

Sarvatra jayamapnoti sarvatra vijayabhushanah,
Jeevet varshashatam saumyam dhanam dhanyam samriddhibhih.

He gains victory everywhere, lives peacefully for a hundred years, and is blessed with wealth and prosperity.

17. 
    पुत्रपौत्रादिसहितं लभते मोक्षमुत्तमम्।
    भूतप्रेतपिशाचाद्याः भयं नास्ति कदाचन॥

Putrapautraadisahitam labhate mokshamuttamam,
Bhootapretapishaachaadyaah bhayam naasti kadaachana.

He gains moksha with his children and grandchildren beside him, and never fears ghosts, spirits, or evil forces.

What Else To Do on Narasimha Jayanti

• Do Narasimha Stotra, Prahlada Stuti, 7th chapter of Bhagavad Gita, and Vishnu Sahasranama.
  
  
• Stay awake in jagaran the whole night.
  
  
• In the morning, feed Brahmins and donate generously.
  
  
• For Rahu-Ketu dosha or children with fear/nightmares, recite Narasimha Kavach regularly.
  
  

Famous Temples With Celebrations

• Ahobilam (AP): Worship of nine forms of Narasimha.
  
  
• Simhachalam (Vizag): The deity covered in sandal is uncovered only on this day.
  
  
• Melkote, Srirangam: Grand abhishekams and alankarams.
  
  

This day isn't just about ritual — it's the living connection between bhakta and Bhagavan. Where there's surrender, there's protection. Where there's faith, there's grace.

Jai Shri Narasimha!

Ramaswamy Sastry and Vighnesh Ghanapaathi