Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva appearance day

(Nṛsiṁha-caturdaśī)

Fasting times

Devotees fast till dusk on Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva appearance day and break the fast with Ekādaśī prasādam.

Appearance of Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva

Excerpt from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Canto 7

When the Supreme Personality of Godhead appeared as the boar and killed Hiraṇyakaśipu’s brother Hiraṇyākṣa, Hiraṇyakaśipu was very much aggrieved. In anger, he accused the Supreme Personality of Godhead of being partial to His devotees and began to agitate all the demons and Rākṣasas and disturb the ritualistic ceremonies of the peaceful sages and other inhabitants of earth. Hiraṇyakaśipu performed a severe type of austerity for material benefit to become immortal and the absolute ruler of the entire universe.

When Hiraṇyakaśipu left his kingdom and went to the mountain known as Mandarācala to execute severe austerities, all the demons scattered. Hiraṇyakaśipu’s wife, Kayādhu, was pregnant at that time, and the demigods, mistakenly thinking that she carried another demon in her womb, arrested her. While they were taking Kayādhu to the heavenly planets, they met Nārada Muni, who stopped them and took her to his āśrama. In Nārada Muni’s āśrama, Kayādhu prayed for the protection of the baby in her womb, and Nārada Muni gave her instructions on spiritual knowledge. Prahlāda Mahārāja, although a small baby within the womb, listened very carefully. The spirit soul is always apart from the material body. Any person above the bodily conception of life is pure and can receive transcendental knowledge. This knowledge is devotional service, and Prahlāda received it from Nārada Muni.

Śukrācārya’s sons, Ṣaṇḍa and Amarka, educated Prahlāda in politics, economics, and other material activities, but he continued to be a pure devotee. Prahlāda Mahārāja would give instructions to his class friends in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, and they all became devotees like him. When this became pronounced, Ṣaṇḍa and Amarka approached Hiraṇyakaśipu and described the effect of Prahlāda’s preaching. Hiraṇyakaśipu decided to kill his son. Prahlāda Mahārāja tried to pacify him, but he was unsuccessful. Hiraṇyakaśipu advertised himself as greater than God, but Prahlāda glorified the Supreme Lord and said He is all-pervading. Hiraṇyakaśipu asked whether God was in the columns of the palace. Prahlāda replied yes, and Hiraṇyakaśipu struck a pillar with his fist.

As soon as he struck the column, a tumultuous sound issued forth. The Lord came out of the pillar in His incarnation as Narasiṁha, half lion and half man. Hiraṇyakaśipu could understand this form was meant for his death and prepared to fight. In the evening, on the border between day and night, the Lord captured him, threw him on His lap, and killed him by piercing his abdomen with His nails. The Lord also killed many of his followers and, roaring with anger, sat down on Hiraṇyakaśipu’s throne.

Lord Narahari in Navadvīpa

In the sacred land of Navadvīpa, there is a village called Nṛsiṁha Palli where Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva grants 24-hour darśana. Even if the temple doors are closed, you can still see Him through a metal grid. This is a place of great power and protection, and it held special meaning for Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura.

Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura would often go there, rolling in ecstasy in the courtyard, offering heartfelt prayers to Lord Narahari. In fact, he wrote five deep and intimate prayers to Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva in that very place. His relationship with Nṛsiṁhadeva was not just personal—it was instrumental in uncovering the appearance place of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

From his balcony in Godrumadvīpa, Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura would gaze toward the direction of Nṛsiṁha Palli in the early morning. Just before maṅgala-āratī, he saw a mysterious cloud of dust moving from Nṛsiṁha Palli to the spot now known as Yoga Pīṭha. He realized it was none other than Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva Himself rushing to attend the maṅgala-āratī of His beloved Lord Gaurāṅga.

Though some say Nṛsiṁhadeva is a deity of Vaikuṇṭha, Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura showed us that He is very much part of the pastimes of Lord Caitanya. When the Muslim Kazi tried to stop the saṅkīrtana movement, Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva personally appeared in his dream, placed His nails on the Kazi's chest, and warned him never to interfere again. That very Kazi later became respectful to the devotees.

Through Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura’s eyes, we see that Lord Narahari is not separate from vraja-prema or the mission of Lord Caitanya. He is ever-present—protecting, guiding, and even participating in the divine mission of saṅkīrtana.

Lessons from the pastime

1. Attend to your intention. If we intend to surrender to Supreme Person of Godhead, our life will mold in that way. This intention shapes not only individual actions but also the trajectory of one's life. In the context of daily life, attending to one's intention means being mindful of how our actions reflect our commitment to spiritual ideals and striving to live in harmony with those principles.

2. Sincerity is infallible. Anyone who sincerely tries, even if we are unqualified, even if we are animal, it pleases Kṛṣṇa, and Kṛṣṇa will move heaven and earth for the person to advance to the ultimate goal of life. Prahlāda Mahārāja says in SB 7.9.9, “bhaktyā tutoṣa bhagavān gaja-yūtha-pāya. Gajendra did this, and thus the Lord was satisfied with him.”

3. Violence is to not teach others about Kṛṣṇa conciousness. Being nonviolent is to dedicate your life to helping other people to come out of material world and not be slaughtered by it. Śrīla Prabhupāda was in the mood of Prahlāda Mahārāja. Known for his unwavering faith and dedication to Kṛṣṇa, Śrīla Prabhupāda actively engaged in the dissemination of spiritual knowledge and facilitating the journey of humanity towards spiritual enlightenment.