Essay name: Vaishnava Myths in the Puranas
Author:
Kum. Geeta P. Kurandwad
Affiliation: Karnatak University / Department of Sanskrit
The essay studies the Vaishnava Myths in the Puranas by exploring the significance of the ten principal incarnations of Lord Vishnu as depicted in various ancient Indian texts like the Vedas, Upanishads, and Puranas. The research also investigates the social, political, philosophical, and religious impact.
Chapter 4 - Significance of Vaishnava Myths
79 (of 234)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
Download the PDF file of the original publication
J 221 The Padma purāṇa describes the Lord Viṣṇu in the form of
Nrsimha as below :
Having assumed the body of Nṛsimha Viṣṇu manifested there
only. He was covered with the lustre of crores of suns and fires. In his
face he resembeled a lion, and in the body he had a human figure.
His mouth was fierce due to fangs, and was raised up to the sky with
his throbhing tongue. The ends of his hair were sorrounded by
flames. The Lord had eyes like burning fire brands. Covered by a
thousand long arms, full of all weapons, he appeared like Meru
mountain, with many trees having branches. He had worn a garland
of divine flowers, and was decorated with divine ornaments.
To destroy all demons he remained in the form of a man lion.
Seeing very powerful, terrible looking man lion, the Hiranyakasipu
burnt with his eyelashes and body affected. Then Prahlāda seeing
Viṣṇu like man lion saluted 143 Viṣṇu with the words "Victory to you,
� एव� प्रभाव� दैत्याऽस� मैत्रेयासीन्महामति� �
प्रह्लाद� भगवद्भक्तो यं त्वं मामनुपृच्छसि || [eva� prabhāvo daityā'sau maitreyāsīnmahāmati� |
prahlādo bhagavadbhakto ya� tva� māmanupṛcchasi || ] Ibid., 35
प्रह्लाद� सकलापत्स� यथ� रक्षितवान्हरिः �
तथ� रक्षति यस्तस्� श्रृणोति चरित� सद� || [prahlāda� sakalāpatsu yathā rakṣitavānhari� |
tathā rakṣati yastasya śrṛṇoti carita� sadā || ] Ibid., 39
143. नृसिंहवपुरास्याथ तत्रैवाऽऽविरभूद्धरिः �
अनेककोटिसूर्याग्नितेजस� � समावृत� �
मुखेपञ्चाननप्रख्यः शरीरे मानुषाकृती� �
दंष्ट्राकरालवदनस्त्र्यक्षश्च त्रिसटोद्धतः �
ज्वालावलितकेशान्तस्सस्फुलिंगेक्षणोविभु� �
सहस्रबाहुभिर्दीर्धे� सर्वायुधसमान्वितैः �
वृतेमेरुरिवाभाति बहुशाखानगान्वितः �
दिव्यमाल्याम्बरधरो दिव्यगन्धानुलेपन� �
श्रीवत्स कौस्तुभोरस्क� दिव्याभरणभूषित� �
तस्य नृकेसरी तत्र संहत्त� सर्वदानवान� � [nṛsiṃhavapurāsyātha tatraivā''virabhūddhari� |
anekakoṭisūryāgnitejasā sa samāvṛta� ||
mukhepañcānanaprakhya� śarīre mānuṣākṛtī� |
daṃṣṭrākarālavadanastryakṣaśca trisaṭoddhata� ||
jvālāvalitakeśāntassasphuliṃgekṣaṇovibhu� |
sahasrabāhubhirdīrdhe� sarvāyudhasamānvitai� ||
vṛtemerurivābhāti bahuśākhānagānvita� |
divyamālyāmbaradharo divyagandhānulepana� ||
śrīvatsa kaustubhorasko divyābharaṇabhūṣita� |
tasya nṛkesarī tatra saṃhattu sarvadānavān || ] �
