4th Incarnation of Lord Vishnu

[Manfred M]

This very famous statue of Lord Vishnu is in Hampi, India. I tried to get a bit of a non-standard view of this statue.

[vaez]

that sis very great special eye look at me

[Wavelength]

If you would hear like a child, I will tell the story Lord Narasimha means Nara + simha= human + lion. Mahavishnu has an ardent young devotee called Prahlada, but his father named Hiranya Kashyap was a demon. He wanted his son to worship him only. But Prahlada says Vishnu was the Absolute and even his father should pray to Lord Vishnu only. Tired of his son, Hiranya tried to kill his son Prahlada several times; but every time Vishnu protected him. One day Hiranya asked Prahlada where was his Vishnu residing; Prahlada said, Vishnu to be omnipresent and to reside in every grass head, dust and in every living being. Furious father asked him whether He was present in the huge pillar in front of them. Prahlada said, yes. Hiranya took his heavy club and smashed on that pillar, which cleaved and fell asunder. From there in Lord Vishnu jumped out in His fourth Avatar called Narasimha. Huge Narasimha carried Hiranya to the threshold of the palace, sitting upon which Narasimha opened the stomach of Hiranya with his nails and teeth, thus gave moksha(liberation) to the soul of Hiranya who were suffering in the janma(life) as a demon(as per Hindu concept nothing is eternally evil; everything emerges from the Absolute and everything would return to That only). He blesses his ever devotee Prahlada.
Vishnu takes the form of Narasimha because Hiranya, through his austere tapas(deep meditation and observances) was blessed by Lord earlier that he would not be killed by animal or human (that is why by Narasimha), not in the day or night( that is why in the evening) not within or without(that is why at the threshold),not on Earth or in heaven( that is why on the lap of Narasimha) not by any weapons (that is why by nails and teeth)

In the sculpture what you see is the Simha(Lion), the upper part of Narasimha

[Shadowman]

Nicely composed.

[marlunn]

Nice image Manfred, thanks.

and thank you Nandakumar for enlightenment on this, in telling is education, in listening is understanding.

[Manfred M]

Thanks for the explanation Nandakumar. I'm sure it helps to have grown up with this, as I find much of the background of Hinduism rather confusing (and the same goes for Tibetan Buddhism). There are so many gods and various incarnations of them for my little mind to keep them straight.

[John 2]

Nice image Manfred, thanks.

and thank you Nandakumar for enlightenment on this, in telling is education, in listening is understanding.

+1 . Thanks Nandakumar.

Dan, good image. You have managed to really bring out the fierce character of this statue and it occurs to me that this is a child's eye view. Must be quite frightening for them to see.

[LePetomane]

Manfred and Nandakumar,

Thank you both.

[joebranko]

Thanks Manfred; thanks Nandakumar

[IzzieK]

We seem to have a confusion of names around here ...

Anyway, nice image, Manfred...and thank you for the very nice story, Nandakumer. It helps to be an enlightened person. Is this what you teach or some other subjects?