Lakshmi Narasimha () is an iconographical depiction of

Narasimha Narasimha (, , or , ), is the fourth avatara of the Hindu god Vishnu in the Satya Yuga. He incarnated as a part-lion, part-man and killed Hiranyakashipu, ended religious persecution and calamity on earth, and restored dharma. Narasimha has th ...

, the fourth

avatar Avatar (, ; ) is a concept within Hinduism that in Sanskrit literally means . It signifies the material appearance or incarnation of a powerful deity, or spirit on Earth. The relative verb to "alight, to make one's appearance" is sometimes u ...

Vishnu Vishnu (; , , ), also known as Narayana and Hari, is one of the Hindu deities, principal deities of Hinduism. He is the supreme being within Vaishnavism, one of the major traditions within contemporary Hinduism, and the god of preservation ( ...

, with his consort

Lakshmi Lakshmi (; , , sometimes spelled Laxmi, ), also known as Shri (, , ), is one of the principal goddesses in Hinduism, revered as the goddess of wealth, fortune, prosperity, beauty, fertility, sovereignty, and abundance. She along with Parvat ...

, the goddess of prosperity. It is one of the forms of Nava Narasimha.

Legend

In an alternate iteration of the legend of Narasimha, after he slays

Hiranyakashipu Hiranyakashipu (, ), also known as Hiranyakashyap, was a daitya king of the asuras in the Puranas. In Hinduism, Hiranyakashipu's younger brother, Hiranyaksha, was slain by the Varaha (boar) avatar of Vishnu. Angered by this, Hiranyakashipu ...

, his fury is still unabated. The deity is enraged that his virtuous devotee,

Prahlada Prahlada () is an asura king in Hindu scriptures. He is known for his staunch devotion to the preserver deity, Vishnu. He appears in the narrative of Narasimha, the lion avatara of Vishnu, who rescues Prahlada by disimboweling and killing hi ...

, is traumatised by the violent deeds of his own father. Despite the fact that the

devas Devas may refer to: * Devas Club, a club in south London * Anthony Devas (1911–1958), British portrait painter * Charles Stanton Devas (1848–1906), political economist * Jocelyn Devas (died 1886), founder of the Devas Club * Devas (band), ...

sing his praises and extol his glories, he remains unpacified. The devas proceed to pray to Lakshmi, who appears before her consort. She soothes Narasimha, assuring him that both his devotee and the world had been saved. Hearing his wife's words, the deity is pacified, and his appearance also becomes more benign. As a result, Lakshmi Narasimha is venerated as a representation of gentleness and peace.

Iconography

Narasimha deity is always accompanied by Lakshmi Mata, seated on his lap. In contrast to his ''ugra'' (terrific) aspect, where his face is fierce and enraged, he appears to be pleasant in this form. He often carries his aspects of the

Sudarshana Chakra The Sudarshana Chakra (, ) is a divine discus, attributed to Vishnu in the Hindu scriptures. The Sudarshana Chakra is generally portrayed on the right rear hand of the four hands of Vishnu, who also holds the Panchajanya (conch), the Kaumodak ...

and

Panchajanya Panchajanya (, ) is the '' shankha'' (conch) of the Hindu preserver deity Vishnu, one of his four primary attributes. The Panchajanya symbolises the five elements, and is considered to produce the primeval sound of creation when blown. Literat ...

, and his

murti In the Hinduism, Hindu tradition, a ''murti'' (, ) is a devotional image, such as a statue or icon, of a Hindu deities, deity or Hindu saints, saint used during ''Puja (Hinduism), puja'' and/or in other customary forms of actively expressing d ...

is decorated with ornaments and garlands.

Symbolism

In the ''Tiruppavai'', the mythical motif of the lion is invoked in the representation of Lakshmi Narasimha. The deity is regarded to be magnanimous, the greatest of all beings (

Purushottama Purushottama (, from पुरुष, ''purusha'', "person," "personal animating principle," or "soul," and उत्तम, ''uttama'', "highest") is an epithet of the Hindu preserver deity, Vishnu. According to Vaishnavism, Vishnu is the sour ...

), and his heart is symbolised by his consort, Lakshmi.

Temples

* Sri Nava Narasimha Temple, Ahobilam * Lakshmi Narasimha temple, Antarvedi * Lakshmi Narasimha temple, Dharmapuri *

Lakshmi Narasimha temple, Yadadri The Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple or Yadadri or Yadagiri Gutta Devasthanam (YGD), or Pancha Narasimha Kshetram or Rishi Aradhana Kshetram is a Hindu Temple situated on a hillock in the small town of Yadagirigutta in the Yadadri Bhuvan ...

Lakshmi Narasimha temple, Mangalagiri Lakshmi Narasimha Temple is a Vaishnavite temple and one of the eight sacred places of Lord Vishnu in India. It is also known for being one of the eight ''mahakshetras'' Narasimha in India. It is situated at the foot of the ''Auspicious Hill'' ...

Lakshminarasimha temple, Javagal The Lakshminarasimha temple at Javagal, sometimes referred to as Lakshmi Narasimha temple of Javagallu, is a mid-13th century Hindu temple with Hoysala architecture. It is located in Javagal about 20 km northeast from Halebidu and 50 k ...

* Lakshmi Narasimha temple, Bhadravati *

Lakshminarasimha temple, Haranhalli The Lakshminarasimha temple at Haranhalli, sometimes referred to as Lakshmi Narasimha temple of Haranhalli, is one of two major historic Hindu temples that have survived in Haranhalli, Karnataka, India. It is triple-shrine temple dedicated to V ...

* Lakshminarasimha temple, Vignasante * Lakshmi Narasimhar temple, Narasinghapuram * Lakshminarasimha temple, Nuggehalli

Gallery

References

External links

{{commons category, Lakshmi Narasimha *

Lakshmi Narayan Lakshmi Narayana (, IAST: ) or Lakshmi Narayan is the dual representation of the Hindu Hindus (; ; also known as Sanātanīs) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism, also known by its endonym Sanātana Dharma. Jeffery D. Lo ...

a * Vaikuntha Kamalaja *

Radha Krishna Radha-Krishna (IAST , ) is the combined form of the Hindu god Krishna with his chief consort and ''shakti'' Radha. They are regarded as the feminine as well as the masculine realities of God and gender in Hinduism, God, in several Krishnaism, Kr ...

Forms of Vishnu Forms of Lakshmi Vaishnavism