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NARASIMHA LIFTING THE ASURA TO THE THRESHOLD AND TEARING HIS BODY WITH HIS NAILS

Narasimha caught him again like a snake seizing a mouse; with a loud roar he carried Hiranyakashipu to the threshold of the hall. He sat on the threshold with the Rakshasa in his lap. Then he dug his nails deep into his body and tore it open. He took out the entrails and wore them round his neck. Thus the wicked Asura was finally killed by the hands of the man-lion, Vishnu.

NARASIMHA - THE FIERCE MAN-LION

All this while the bodyguards and the other courtiers had stood speechless and motionless in paralyzing fear. But at the death of their king they sprang to action. In fierce rage, they fell on Narasimha in a body. But all were crushed into a lump of flesh in the winking of an eye.

After the enemies were all destroyed, Narahari (Vishnu) sat on the throne of the Rakshasa King, glaring at those around him. The gods showered flowers from heaven. The Gandharva sang divine music and the Apsaras, the dancers of heaven, danced in joy. All earth rejoiced. But the terrible anger of Narasimha did not diminish. Even Goddess Lakshmi, Lord Vishnu's wife, was afraid to go near him.

The little boy Prahalad touched the feet of Narasimha with his head, in deep devotion. At the tender touch of Prahalad the Lord was pleased. He grew calm. Anger gave way to kindness. Narasimha kissed the boy softly and raised him gently.

NARASIMHA BEING WORSHIPPED BY THE GODS AND PRAHALAD

The gods praised Vishnu's ways. "Hiranyakashipu got boons from Lord Brahma; and Narasimha has respected all the promises. For it is now twilight, which is neither day nor night; the place is neither outside the house nor inside it, it is the threshold. Again he was killed neither on land nor in the sky, but on the lap of the god; he was killed neither by weapons nor by missiles but torn by nails; no one created by Brahma has killed him nor was he born in the wombs by ordinary course; it is Vishnu, in the form of Narasimha, who slew him. O wonder of wonders!" so they sang the praise of the Lord. Prahalad was in tears and asked Narasimha about the fate of his father in the after-life. Vishnu assured the devotee that as He, the Lord himself had killed the father; the latter would surely go to heaven. Vishnu also gave a blessing to Prahalad that now onwards none of his race would die by the hands of Vishnu.