नृसिंह जयंती
Narasimha Jayanti
Narasimha Jayanti, on Vaishakha Shukla Chaturdashi, marks the appearance of Vishnu as Narasimha at dusk to protect his devotee Prahlad.
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| Date | Observance |
|---|---|
| Wednesday, April 29, 2026 | Narasimha Jayanti |
| Tuesday, May 18, 2027 | Narasimha Jayanti |
| Saturday, May 6, 2028 | Narasimha Jayanti |
About
Narasimha Jayanti marks the appearance of Lord Vishnu as Narasimha, the fourth avatar, half man and half lion. It falls on Vaishakha Shukla Chaturdashi, the fourteenth day of the bright half of the month of Vaishakha.
Narasimha appeared at Sandhya (dusk), so the main puja is held in the evening, in the period when Chaturdashi is present at sunset. A fast is kept through the day. Check the computed puja window for your city.
The festival is widely kept in Vaishnava traditions, including the Sri Vaishnava and Madhva communities, and in many Andhra, Karnataka and Tamil temples.
Significance and stories
The story is told in the Bhagavata Purana. The demon king Hiranyakashipu received a boon that he could be killed by no man or animal, neither indoors nor outdoors, neither by day nor by night, neither on earth nor in the sky, and by no weapon. Proud of his power, he demanded to be worshipped as God.
His young son Prahlad refused, continuing to worship Vishnu. After many attempts to harm Prahlad failed, the king asked mockingly if Vishnu was in the pillar before him. Vishnu emerged from the pillar as Narasimha at twilight, placed the king on his lap on the threshold, and ended his tyranny with his claws. Every condition of the boon was respected.
The story shows that faith protects the devotee, that arrogance has an end, and that the divine meets us in unexpected forms. Narasimha is invoked as a protector, who removes fear. The fierce form is understood to be gentle and protective toward the devotee.
How to observe (puja vidhi)
- Wake early, bathe and make a sankalpa for the vrat. Keep the day simple and quiet.
- Spend the day in remembrance, chanting Narasimha's name or reading the Prahlad story.
- In the evening, before sunset, bathe again and set up an image of Narasimha with Lakshmi, or of Vishnu.
- Offer tulsi, flowers, sandal paste, fruit, and panakam (jaggery water) along with cooling items, as Narasimha is associated with heat. Light a lamp and incense.
- Recite the Narasimha Kavacham, the Lakshmi Narasimha Karavalamba Stotram, or "ॐ उग्रं वीरं महाविष्णुं ज्वलन्तं सर्वतोमुखम्" (the opening line of the Narasimha mantra). Ask a priest or elder to guide pronunciation.
- Perform aarti at dusk, the time of the avatar, and share the prasad.
- Break the fast after the puja, usually that night or the next morning, following your family custom.
Puja items (samagri)
- Narasimha or Lakshmi Narasimha image or idol
- Tulsi leaves, flowers, sandal paste, kumkum
- Panakam (jaggery water with ginger and cardamom), cool drinks, fruit, jaggery, and curd rice
- Fruit, coconut, betel leaf and nuts
- Diya, incense, camphor
- Prayer book with the Narasimha stotras
Fasting and food
A full-day fast is kept by many, with the fast broken after the evening puja. Others take fruit, milk and water during the day. Cooling foods such as panakam, buttermilk, curd rice and fruit are offered and eaten, since the hot season and the fierce form of Narasimha are linked. Grains, onion and garlic are avoided during the fast.
People with health conditions, pregnant or nursing women, children and the elderly should follow their doctor's advice and may keep a lighter fast.
Regional customs
- Andhra Pradesh and Telangana: Major temples include Simhachalam, Yadadri and Ahobilam, with special abhishekam.
- Karnataka and Tamil Nadu: Narasimha temples such as Melkote and Sholinghur hold special pujas, with panakam as the typical offering.
- Vaishnava and ISKCON communities: Fast until dusk, followed by kirtan and the Prahlad story.
- North India: Observed at Vishnu temples with evening aarti and Vishnu Sahasranama.
Traditions vary; follow your family's custom or your priest's guidance.
Celebrating in the USA
The evening timing suits working families, since the main puja is after the workday. Keep the fast as you can, take a break in the afternoon, and prepare panakam in advance: jaggery, water, ginger powder, cardamom and a little lemon.
Vaishnava temples, including Sri Venkateswara and other major temples in the USA, usually hold a special evening abhishekam and a Narasimha puja. If you do the puja at home, a small image and a lamp are enough. Use caution with camphor and incense near smoke detectors in apartments.
Do
- Make the main puja at dusk, when Narasimha appeared.
- Tell or read the story of Prahlad to children.
- Offer panakam or another cooling drink to the deity and share it.
- Chant the Narasimha mantra with calm devotion.
- Give charity to those in need, especially water, food or clothing.
- Offer prayers for protection from fear and trouble.
- Break the fast only after the puja is complete.
Don't
- Do not approach the deity with fear; Narasimha is the protector of the devotee.
- Do not eat grains, onion or garlic if you are fasting.
- Do not use harsh speech or anger, since the festival is about overcoming pride.
- Do not offer items your tradition does not use, such as unwashed or stale offerings.
- Do not rush the puja; keep a calm mood in the evening.
- Do not treat the story as a reason for hostility toward anyone.
Related
Customs differ between families, regions and traditions. This page describes common practice; follow your family’s tradition and your priest’s guidance.