Narasimha

Narasingha
God of Protection
Narasingha, the Protector
Devanagari	नरसिंह
Sanskrit transliteration	Narasiṃha
Affiliation	Lion headed man and fourth Avatar of Vishnu
Abode	Vaikunta
Planet	Earth (getting out of earth)
Mantra	ॐ नृं नृं नृं नृसिंहाय नमः Om nṛṁ nṛṁ nṛṁ nṛsiṃhāya namaḥ Om Kshraum Narasinhaya Namah
Weapon	Chakra, mace, Nails and Jaws
Consort	Lakshmi Devi
Mount	None
Festivals	Narasingha Jayanti

ॐ नृं नृं नृं नृसिंहाय नमः

Narsingh (Sanskrit: IAST: Narasiṃha, lit. man-lion), Narasingh, and Narasingha and Narasinghar in Dravidian languages, is an avatar of the Hindu god Vishnu, who is regarded as the supreme God in Vaishnavism and a popular deity in the broader Hinduism. The avatar of Narasingha is evidenced in early epics, iconography, and temple and festival worship for over a millennium.

Narasingha is often visualised as having a human torso and lower body, with a lion face and claws. This image is widely worshipped in deity form by a significant number of Vaiṣṇava groups. Vishnu assumed this form on top of Himvat mountain (Harivamsa). He is known primarily as the 'Great Protector' who specifically defends and protects his devotees in times of need. Vishnu is believed to have taken the avatar to destroy the demon king Hiranyakashipu.

The word Narasimha means 'lion-man'/'half man and half lion'. Compare the Greek name Leander.

There are references to Narasiṃha in a variety of Purāṇas, with 17 different versions of the main narrative. The Valmiki Ramayana (7.24),Harivaṃśa (41 & 3.41-47), Viṣṇu Purāṇa (1.16-20), Bhagavata Purāṇa (Canto 7), Agni Purāṇa (4.2-3), Brahmāṇḍa Purāṇa(2.5.3-29), Vayu Purāṇa (67.61-66), Brahma-Purāṇa (213.44-79), Viṣṇudharmottara Purāṇa(1.54), Kūrma Purāṇa (1.15.18-72), Matsya Purāṇa(161-163), Padma Purāṇa(Uttara-khaṇḍa 5.42), Śiva Purāṇa (2.5.43 & 3.10-12), Liṅga Purāṇa (1.95-96) and Skanda Purāṇa 7 (2.18.60-130) all contain depictions of the Narasiṃha Avatāra. There is also a short reference in the Mahābhārata (3.272.56-60) and a Gopāla Tapani Upaniṣad (Narasiṃha tapani Upaniṣad), earliest of Vaiṣṇava Upaniṣads named in reference to him.