Narasimha Jayanti 2027नृसिंह जयन्ती

When is Narasimha Jayanti?

Observed on Shukla Chaturdashi, Vaishakha month (at dusk). Dates follow the Panchang for New Delhi and can differ by a day in other places — check the Panchang for your city.

What Narasimha Jayanti means

Narasimha Jayanti celebrates the fourth avatar of Vishnu — Narasimha, half man and half lion — on the fourteenth day of the bright half of Vaishakha. He appeared at twilight (sandhya), so the puja is done at dusk, and devotees fast until then.

Narasimha is the protector of devotees in danger. His story is above all the story of the child Prahlada, whose faith in Vishnu did not waver even when his own father tried to kill him; the Lord came in a form no boon could stop to save him. For devotees the day is a promise that God protects those who take refuge in him.

Though fierce, Narasimha is worshipped with great love, especially in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, at Ahobilam, Simhachalam and Yadagirigutta, where he is the family deity of countless families.

The story of Narasimha Jayanti

The asura king Hiranyakashipu, seeking revenge for his brother Hiranyaksha's death at Vishnu's hands, won from Brahma a boon that seemed to make him immortal: no man or beast could kill him, by day or night, inside or outside a house, on earth or in the sky, with any weapon.

His son Prahlada grew up a devotee of Vishnu. The king tried every means to kill the boy — poison, elephants, serpents, fire (with his sister Holika) — but Prahlada was protected each time. At last the king demanded, "Is your Vishnu in this pillar?" and struck it.

Vishnu burst from the pillar as Narasimha, neither man nor beast, at twilight, neither day nor night. He placed Hiranyakashipu on his lap — neither earth nor sky — at the threshold, neither inside nor outside, and killed him with his claws, not a weapon. Then, gentled by Prahlada's prayers, he blessed the boy.

Narasimha Jayanti puja vidhi, step by step

How Narasimha Jayanti is kept at home.

What you need

• An image of Narasimha or Lakshmi-Narasimha
• Panchamrit, water and sandal for abhishek
• Flowers, tulsi, a ghee diya, incense
• Panakam, buttermilk, fruit and kheer

When to do the puja

In 2027 Narasimha Jayanti falls on Tuesday, 18 May. The puja is done at dusk (sandhya kaal), the hour of the Lord's appearance; check the Panchang for your city. See the Panchang for your city.

Steps

1. Fast. Fast through the day, as health allows.
2. Read. Read the story of Prahlada and Narasimha from the Bhagavata Purana (book 7).
3. Dusk puja. At sunset, do abhishek of Narasimha with panchamrit and sandal, offer tulsi and flowers.
4. Chant. Chant the Narasimha mantra or the Narasimha Kavacham.
5. Offer and share. Offer cooling panakam and fruit, do the aarti, and break the fast.

Offerings & food: Panakam (jaggery water with pepper), buttermilk, fruits, kheer — cooling offerings to the fierce form

Mantras for Narasimha Jayanti

Narasimha Jayanti across India

Ahobilam, Simhachalam, Yadagirigutta, Mangalagiri and Narasimha temples of the South; ISKCON temples

Andhra Pradesh and Telangana

Grand celebrations at Ahobilam (the nine Narasimha shrines), Yadagirigutta, Mangalagiri and Simhachalam.

Karnataka and Tamil Nadu

Abhisheks and processions at Narasimha temples such as Melkote and Sholingur.

ISKCON and Gaudiya temples

A fast until dusk and an evening abhishek of Narasimhadeva, the protector of devotees.

Prayers to recite

Do’s and don’ts

Frequently asked questions