“Narasimha Stotras” – published by the Bhaktivedanta Academy
Nåsiàha Tapani Upaniñad
Oà ugraà véraà mahä-viñëuà
jvalantaà sarvato mukham
nåsiàhaà bhéñaëaà bhadraà
måtyur måtyuà namämy ahaà
“I bow down to Lord Nåsiàha, who is ferocious and heroic like Lord Viñëu. He is burning from every side. He is terrific (terrifying; fearful), auspicious and the death of death personified.”
-OR-
“I offer my obeisances to You, O Nrisimha, the terrifying (bhéñaëaà) and combative form of Mahavishnu, whose effulgent face is everywhere. O powerful destroyer of death, I salute You.”
This mantra is quoted or at least referred to in many scriptures. The Nåsiàha Tapäni Upaniñad also gives the history of this mantra. In the last creation, the presiding deity was Lord Nåsiàhadeva and this was the mantra inspiring the entire creation into which Lord Brahmä was initiated. In the present creation, the presiding deity is Çré Kåñëa, and He initiated Brahmä into the Käma-Gäyatri.
In Jagannätha Puré the püjäris believe that Lord Jagannätha is from the previous creation and was originally worshipped as Lord Nåsiàhadeva. Jagannätha Puré Dhäma floats on the ocean of devastation and is thus never destroyed. Every twelve or nineteen years the Deities’ forms are changed. The installation yajïa for the new Deities takes about two weeks and is mainly comprised of a Nåsiàha mantra which is chanted 20,000 times.
