Narasimha Jayanti 2027

About Narasimha Jayanti

Narasimha Jayanti falls on Vaishakha Shukla Chaturdashi, the fourteenth day of the bright half of Vaishakha, the day before Buddha Purnima. Narasimha, whose name means man-lion, is the fourth avatar of Vishnu, and is worshipped as the one who comes to the aid of those who call on him in faith.

The story is of the demon king Hiranyakashipu, who had won a boon that seemed to put him beyond reach: no man or beast could slay him, not by day or by night, not inside or outside, not on the earth or in the sky, and by no weapon. Proud of this, he demanded that everyone worship him alone. His young son Prahlada would not stop praying to Vishnu, and the king tried again and again to harm the boy, but each time Prahlada was kept safe.

At last the king struck a pillar and asked whether Vishnu was in it too. Narasimha burst out of the pillar, neither man nor beast. At dusk, which is neither day nor night, on the threshold, neither inside nor outside, holding the king on his lap, neither earth nor sky, he ended Hiranyakashipu's cruel rule with his claws. Then, calmed by Prahlada's devotion, he blessed the boy. The story is told as a reminder that sincere faith is never alone.

Devotees keep a fast from sunrise and do the main puja at dusk, the time of Narasimha's appearance, with flowers, tulsi, a lamp and offerings such as panakam and sweets. Hymns to Narasimha are recited, and the fast is usually opened the next morning. Narasimha temples such as Ahobilam and Simhachalam in Andhra Pradesh and Yadagirigutta in Telangana hold special festivals, and Vaishnava families across India keep the day with devotion.

The day is chosen so that Chaturdashi is present at sunset, which is why the evening timing shown above matters most. Families follow their own customs for the fast.