Narasimha Jayanti observed with a grand worship of the Lord

The mulavar Deity of Sri Narasimha with Prahlada

ISKCON Sri Radha Krishna temple, Bangalore celebrated the auspicious appearance day of Lord Narasimhaon May 13, 2014. The celebrations included special abhisheka and puja for the mulavar and utsava Dieties of the Lord.

The abhisheka ceremony for the mulavar Deity was performed early in the morning at 5.30 a.m. The Lord was anointed with white sesame paste and bathed with panchamrita (milk, yogurt, ghee, honey and jaggerywater), panchagavya (milk, yogurt, ghee, cow urine and cow dung mixed with water) and fruit juices. Then the Lord was anointed with turmeric and offered a special arati with lamps of various sizes and design. This was followed by showering various kinds of colorful and fragrant flowers on the Deity. The Lord was then dressed with fine costumes and adorned with ornaments and garlands and was offered a puja while the devotees glorified the Lord with songs.

The evening witnessed similar special abhisheka and puja performed to the utsava Deity of the Lord. The event was attended by a large number of devotees. The evening abhisheka also included a kalasha snanawith the recitation of the Purusha Sukta. There was a video presentation on the teachings of Srila Prabhupada on the mercy of Lord Narasimha on Prahlada Maharaja. The presentation also included darshanof the Dieties at 108 famous Narasimha temples located across India. The presentation was quite impressive and captivated the audience.

The utsava Deity of the Lord in a grand decoration during puja

Lord Narasimha is famous as the protector of His dear devotee Prahlada. He is also the remover of material impediments encountered by His devotees while executing devotional service. Narasimha Jayanti commemorates the appearance of Lord Vishnu in the half-man half-lion form to rescue Prahlada from the hands of his demoniac father Hiranyakashipu. This festival is celebrated on the Chaturdashi of bright fortnight in the month of Vaishakha every year.