Nrsimha Caturdasi and the Appearance of Lord Nrsimhadeva
Festival
All day
What is Nrsimha Caturdasi?
Nrsimha Caturdasi, also called Narasimha Jayanti, is the day Lord Nrsimhadeva appeared from a pillar to protect His devotee Prahlada Maharaja. In 2027 the fourteenth day of the waxing moon of Vaisakha falls on Wednesday, 19 May.
Significance
The demon king Hiranyakasipu challenged his young son Prahlada to show him the Lord in a pillar of the assembly hall. The boy answered that the Lord is present everywhere. To prove His servant's word true, the Lord took a wonderful form, as Srila Prabhupada explains in his purport. His anger was for the demon, and His mercy was for Prahlada. Srimad-Bhagavatam describes the moment:
The form was neither that of a man nor that of a lion. Thus the Lord appeared in His wonderful form in the assembly hall.
Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.8.17
How to observe it
Devotees honour Lord Nrsimhadeva with a fast that usually lasts until dusk. If you are unsure how to break it, ask at your local temple. Give the day to hearing: Srimad-Bhagavatam tells of the Lord's appearance in the Seventh Canto, chapter 8, and gives Prahlada's prayers in chapter 9. Chant the holy names with the confidence of a child who trusts his protector.
Read more: Narasimha Jayanti
Questions
When is Narasimha Jayanti in 2027?
Narasimha Jayanti, or Nrsimha Caturdasi, is on Wednesday, 19 May 2027 in the Vaishnava calendar for Kurukshetra. It is the fourteenth day of the waxing moon of Vaisakha, when devotees celebrate the appearance of Lord Nrsimhadeva.
Why did Lord Nrsimhadeva appear?
The Lord appeared to protect His devotee Prahlada Maharaja and to prove that He is present everywhere, even inside a pillar. Srimad-Bhagavatam describes His form as neither that of a man nor that of a lion.
Do devotees fast on Nrsimha Caturdasi?
Yes, devotees fast on Nrsimha Caturdasi, usually until dusk. Customs for breaking the fast differ, so follow the guidance of your local temple.
Who was Prahlada Maharaja?
Prahlada Maharaja was a pure devotee of Lord Vishnu and the young son of the demon king Hiranyakasipu. Lord Nrsimhadeva appeared to save him, and his prayers are recorded in Srimad-Bhagavatam, Seventh Canto, chapter 9.
Reviewed by ISKCON Kurukshetra · Updated
Key facts
- Date
- Wednesday, 19 May 2027
- Fasting
- Until dusk
- Deity worshipped
- Lord Nrsimhadeva
- Devotee protected
- Prahlada Maharaja
- Told in
- Srimad-Bhagavatam, Seventh Canto, chapters 8 and 9
Seva for this day
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