Ferocious Protector
Sri Mayapur Chandrodaya temple in Mayapur, near Kolkata
Since Vishnu appeared as Narasimha on Chaturdashi or the 14th day during Shukla Paksha, the waxing phase of the moon in the month of Vaishakh (April-May), the day is celebrated as Narasimha Chaturdashi or Narasimha Jayanti.
The faithful believe that the deity comes to their aid in times of trouble. There are many legends about it. According to one, Chand Kazi, a Muslim magistrate of Navadvipa, opposed the Harinam Sankirtana movement in Mayapur. Narasimha is said to have appeared in his dream and instructed him not to create hurdles for his devotees. And the Kazi eventually became an ardent disciple of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.
The installation of the idol of Narasimha at the Chandrodaya temple itself is seen as an act of miracle. Until 1984, the Chandrodaya temple had two altars, one of Sri Radha-Madhava - Krishna and Radha along with eight gopis - and the other of the Pancha Tattva deities. In Gaudiya Vaishnavism, five features of Krishna incarnated on Earth as five people in the late 15th century. They are Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Nityananda Prabhu, Advaita Acharya, Gadadhara Pandita and Srivasa Thakura.
After the temple was attacked by dacoits, it was decided to install an idol of Narasimha for protection. At the Mayapur temple, the deity is worshipped as Ugra Narasimha. Ugra means ferocious. The idol in the temple is Sthanu-Narasimha, a form of Ugra Narasimha - his knees are bent with one foot forward as if ready to jump out of the pillar. He has a searching glance, his eyes looking around ferociously.
Priests at the temple say that the scriptures talk about special instructions about how to perform puja to this form of Narasimha. The priest must be a naisthika-brahmachari, or celibate for life. Due to the nature of Narasimha’s form - divine anger - it is essential that the puja be done with a high level of attention.
On Narasimha Chaturdashi, devotees fast and visit the temples of Vishnu. They also give alms and perform annadanam, or distributing food to the poor. It is believed that those who observe the fast will attain Vaikunta - the abode of Vishnu.
Another ritual that is eagerly awaited at Mayapur is the two-hour Maha Abhishekam, where the deity is anointed with many ingredients, including sesame paste, milk, curd, sandalwood paste, oil, honey, herbs, seeds, kusha grass, perfumes and fruit juices. These are poured onto the idol using giant-sized conch shells, amidst blissful shouts of Hari Bol.
Narasimha indicates God’s omnipresence. Vishnu’s manifestation in this form demonstrates his willingness and ability to come to the aid of his devotees, no matter how difficult or impossible the circumstances may appear to be. Also, although Prahlada was the son of a demon, his devotion demonstrated the greatest bhakti to God, and he endured so much, without losing faith.
Om Namah Shivay.
No comments:
Post a Comment