What is Narasimha Jayanti? 

Narasimha Jayanti is a very auspicious and promising festival celebrated by the Hindus all over the India. Just like all other festivals celebrated in India, Narasimha Jayanti is also celebrated on a different date every year. In 2020, Narasimha Jayanti was celebrated on 6th May and in year 2021, it is on 25th of May. Narasimha Jayanti drops on the Shukla Chaturdashi (fourteenth day) in Vaishakha. (according to the Hindu Calendar Vaishaka is the second month and as per the Gregorian Calendar it is April and May.) Narasimha Jayanti signifies the victory of good over the evil. 

Why is Narasimha Jayanti celebrated? 

Lord Narasimha is a fourth Avatar or incarnation of the Supreme Lord Vishnu. Lord Narasimha is a fierce god of spiritual knowledge, wealth, valour, strength and has great compassion towards his devotees. On this day Lord Vishnu appeared as Narasimha to save his devotee- Prahlada from the evil king Hiranyakashipu. 

Storyline:- 

There was a very powerful but cruel king Hiranyakashipu,

(full info: Hiranyakashipu was an Asura and king of the daityas from the Puranic scriptures of Hinduism. translation of his name is "clothed in gold", and is depicting one who is fond of wealth. He went to the Himalayas and performed penance for many years. Lord Brahma was pleased by him and asked him for a boon, he asked that he could not be killed by human or animal, from inside or outside, by day or by night, and from no weapon.)  

He always wanted everyone in his Kingdom to worship him as a God, everyone did as he said because they were scared of him in the sense he would kill them. But his son, Prahlada was a devotee of Lord Vishnu and hence denied worshiping his father. He was very disappointed and angry by Prahlada's attitude of not worshipping him. King Hiranyakashipu had already tried to kill his son numerous times because of the reason that he doesn't worship him but he never succeed and always failed his every attempt. 

King Hiranyakashipu had a demoness sister named Holika, she was as evil as the king was. Holika possessed a special power that she will not get affected by the fire. They came up with the idea that Holika will take Prahlada and sit in fire. But due to her evil and unforgiving intention the opposite happened, her power didn't come to escape and was ineffective this time and she was burnt to ashes. But on the other hand, Prahlada gained immunity and hence, he was saved from the fire and nothing happened to him. 

Angered by all his deeds, Lord Vishnu appeared as a half-man-half-lion (Narshimha) to kill Hiranyakashipu. He killed Hiranyakashipu on his lap at the threshold of his palace at dusk, because he cannot be killed inside or outside so threshold, he cannot be killed at night or day so at dusk and he cannot be killed by a human or Animal so, he appeared as a half-man-half human: Narshimha! Hence, it signifies that good will always overcome the bad and evil, justice will always be given by the god himself. 

On this day Lord Narasimha blesses their devotees with strength, wealth, peace and prosperity. 

Narasimha is a Sanskrit word consisting two words- Nara (Man) and Simha (Lion). As lord Vishnu appeared in a half man-half Lion to kill the evil. Lord Narasimha is also known as 'great protector for the mankind'. He is considered as the fiercest form or Avatar of Lord Vishnu. Lord Narasimha saves his devotees from the danger. Once Lord Narasimha saved Adi Shankaracharya, from being sacrificed to goddess Kali ( goddess of dealth, time). 

Pacification of Lord Narasimha:- 

After lord Narasimha killed Hiranyakashipu, his angry didn't subdue, he was moving everywhere in terrible form and had red eyes. Because of Lord Narasimha massive anger, all the three worlds were shaking form terror and all the gods were scared as well that's when all of them approached Lord Shiva and request him to do something. Lord Shiva took the form of Sharabha (Sharabha was a incarnation of lord Shiva. He was blend of of human, bird and animal together.) And pacified lord Narasimha. 

How is Narasimha Jayanti celebrated? 

On this auspicious day, Puja and Artis are kept for the Lord Narasimha and godess Lakshmi. The devotees wake up early in the morning, observe a fast and take a bath and offer flowers, saffron, Jaggery, gram dal and sweets to the Lord. They recite the Narasimha mantra with the Rudraksha mala.