Narasimhotsava

 

The Chaturdaśī after Vijayadaśamī is celebrated as Nr̥simhōtsava by many śāktas. On this day, one begins with the worship of Pātāḷa Nr̥simha, Akāśabhairava, Yajñavarāha, and Sōmaśambhu as the digdēvatās who also represent the four elements that signify the four hands of Nr̥simha in his macrocosmic form. Each of the dēvatās is to be worshipped with Japa and tarpaṇa.

The mūla-dēvatā, Lakṣmīnr̥siṁha is worshipped along with śrī-lakṣmī and Bhū-lakṣmī respectively with Puruṣa, śrī, and Nīḷā sūktas. Lagh Sudarśana and Mahāsudarśana mantras are used for arghya samskāra along with Hayagrīva mantra. We shall not discuss the āvaraṇa-krama here for a specific reason. Bali is offered to the seven pārśadas while reciting the Rudra praśna.

Japa, tarpaṇa, and hōma are then performed with the mūla mantra – Mantrarāja with astra-pañcaka, śrī, and bhū bījas added. While the seer of this mantra remains Brahmā, the dhyāna uses a variation where both śrī and Dharā are seated on the lap of the Supreme Lord. Lord sports śaṅkha, cakra, pāśa, and pināka in his four hands, is of hēma/aruṇa varṇa, adorned with trinētra and is accompanied by Brahmā and Rudra who bear cāmaras in their hands. Along with the mūla mantra, the four chief aṅga mantras are also propitiated. These are:

A. śuddha praṇava
B. Sāvitrī (not to be confused with the popular Gāyatrī; here this refers to a specific Sūrya mantra outlined in the Tāpanīyōpaniṣad)
C. Yajurlakṣmī
D. Nr̥simha Gāyatrī

After the Japa, brāhmaṇa bhōjana is performed and blessings are sought from the ācārya. In the night, pāyasa is offered to the Lord and his two consorts and distributed to one’s family and śiṣya-varga, after it is purified with viśēṣārghya. This prayōga earns one the grace of Mantrarāja Mahānr̥simha and thereby one is blessed with health, prosperity, protection, progeny, and wisdom. The Japa of mūla mantra along with the aṅga mantras is to be continued till the next aṣṭamī tithi of kr̥ṣṇa pakṣa after which one may resume normal upāsanā procedures.

प्रत्यानीताः परम भवता त्रायतां नः स्वभागा
दैत्याक्रान्तं हृदयकमलं त्वद्गृहं प्रत्यबोधि |
कालग्रस्तं कियदिदमहो नाथ शुश्रूषतां ते
मुक्तिस्तेषां न हि बहुमता नारसिंहापरैः किम् ||

 

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