Narasinha was one of the previous avatars of Lord Vishnu as described in the Bhagvata Purana. Varaha the avatar killed an evil Asura called Hiranyaksa. Hiranyakasipu the demon king and elder brother of Hiranyaksa wanted to take revenge and attained special powers with years of penance. A boon was offered to the demon king by Brahma, thereafter. Accordingly, Hiranyakasipu took a boon that no nonliving or living entity, human being, weapon or animal could take away his life. Further, any great snake from the lower planets, or demon or demigod shall not have the power to kill him. This boon made him invincible and he unleashed terror on Vishnu’s devotees.
Prahlada, the son of Hiranyakasipu was not in favor of his father and hence rebelled. Hiranyakasipu became very angry when Prahlada became Vishnu’s devotee. Since Vishnu’s spiritual power protected Prahlada, King Hiranyakasipu’s attempts to kill him failed each time. Prahlada believed that the omnipresent and all-pervading Vishnu only was the Supreme Lord of the Universe. Thus he was unwilling to accept his father as the Supreme Lord of the Universe.
Prahlada told Hiranyakasipu that Vishnu is everywhere including in the pillar nearby. This angered the demon king and with his mace crushed the pillar. Vishnu appeared in the form of Narasinha the half-man half-lion form and killed Hiranyakasipu. Narasinha the incarnation of Vishnu was not an animal, deva or human which made him the eligible to kill Hiranyakasipu. The demon king was thus killed by Narasinha, with his sharp claws.
The deity Narasinha has significance as an iconic symbol of victory over persecution, creative resistance, hope against all odds and the destruction of evil. As per Hindu belief not only does Narasinha destroys the inner evil mind, evil speech and evil body, but is also the one who helps in destroying external evil.
