Namaste Narasimha!

lakshmi kataksha sarasi-ruha raja hamsam
pakshindra shaila bhavanam bhava-nasham-isham
go-kshira sara-ghana-sara-patira-varnam
vande kripa-nidhim ahovala narasimham
Laksmi devi's glance always rests upon the king of lions. He is the destroyer of material existance and the rocky resting place of Garuda. His complexion is that of the color of sandal wood and His splendor is that of milk. I offer my obeisances to the ocean of mercy, Ahobala Nrisimha.

adyanta sunyam ajam avyayam aprameyam
aditya candra sikhi locanam adi-devam
abja-mukhabja-mada-lolupa-matta-bringa
vande kripa-nidhim ahovala narasimham
He is without beginning or end. He is unborn, unperishable and unmeasurable. He is the original Lord and His eyes are like flames brilliant as the sun and the moon. He is like an intoxicated honey bee searching for the nectar of the face of Lakshmi devi. I offer my obeisances to the ocean of mercy, Ahobala Nrisimha.

kotira koti ghatitojjvala kanti kantam
kayura hara mani kundala manditangam
cudagra-ranjita sudhakara purna bimbam
vande kripa-nidhim ahovala narasimham
Him the beloved Lord, possesses effulgent manes made of millions and millions of dazzling hairs. His body is decorated by armlets, necklaces and diamond earrings. His wonderful face is adorned with a peacock feather. I offer my obeisances to the ocean of mercy, Ahobala Nrisimha.

varaha vamana nrisimha subhagyam isham
krida vilola hridayam vibudhendra vandyam
hamsatmakam paramahamsa mano-viharam
vande kripa-nidhim ahovala narasimham
Him the all auspicious Nrisimha appears in different forms such as Varaha or Vamana. He Whose heart is always absorbed in a sporting mood, is worshipped by the king of the devas. Although He is the personification of terror, He makes the mind of the self-realized joyful. I offer my obeisances to the ocean of mercy, Ahobala Nrisimha.

mandakini janana hetu padaravinda
vrindaraka-alaya vinodanam ujjvala-angam
mandara-pushpa tulasi racita-angghri-padmam
vande kripa-nidhim ahovala narasimham
His lotus feet is the source of the Mandakini river (Akasha Ganga or celestial Ganga). His body is brilliant and He constantly enjoys in His own abode. His lotus feet are decorated by the flowers of Tulasi and Mandara (one of the 5 celestial flowers). I offer my obeisances to the ocean of mercy, Ahobala Nrisimha.

tarunya krishna tulasi-dala dhamarabhyam
dhatri ramabhi ramanam mahaniya rupam
mantradhi-raja matha danava mana bhangam
vande kripa-nidhim ahovala narasimham
He is the protector of youthful Krishna in the land of Tulasi. He possesses a huge form. He enjoys amouros sports with Bhu and Shri. He is the Lord of all the mantras and the destroyer and humiliator of the foolish danavas. I offer my obeisances to the ocean of mercy, Ahobala Nrisimha.

Shri Nrisimhashtakam

dhyayami narasimhakyam
brahma vedanta-gocaram
bhavabdhi taran opayam
shankha cakra dharam param
I am meditating on the Supreme Person known as Nrisimha who is attainable through Vedanta philosophy. He is the carrier of the conch and the Sudarshana disc, and He is the only means for crossing the ocean of birth and death.

nilam ramam ca paribhuya krpa rasena
stambhe sva-shakti-managham vinidhaya deva
prahlada rakshana vidhavi yati krpa te
Shri narasimha paripalaya mam ca bhaktam
You mercifully protect Nila and Rama with Your chaste, spiritual internal potency. You also extend Your protective energy over Prahlada Maharaja. O Nrisimha please protect me too, for I am also trying to be Your devotee.

indra-adi deva nikarasya kirita koti
pratyupta ratna prati-bimbita pada-padma
kalpa-anta kala ghana garjana tulya-nada
Shri narasimha paripalaya mam ca bhaktam
Your lotus feet are comparable in effulgence to the brilliance of the sum total of the jewelry possessed by all the demigods. Your roaring is like that of the thundering clouds at the universal dissolution. O Nrisimha please protect me too, for I am also trying to be Your devotee.


prahlada posha pralayarka samana vaktra
hum-kara nirjita nishacara vrinda nada
Shri-narada muni sangha sugiyamana
Shri narasimha paripalaya mam ca bhaktam
You are the maintainer of Prahlada Maharaja and Your open mouth is exactly as the sun which causes the destruction of the universe. O Lord, Your grunts frightens all the roaming predators of the night. You are always beautifully glorified by sages such as Narada Muni. O Nrisimha please protect me too, for I am also trying to be Your devotee.

ratrin caradri jatarat parisramsya-mana raktam
nipiya pari-kalpita sa-antara-mala
vidravita-akhila surogra nrisimha rupam
shri narasimha paripalaya mam ca bhaktam
O Nrisimha, Your divine form is horrifying. You are tearing apart all the wild animals descending from the caves of the mountains to terrify and to drink the blood of everyone. O Nrisimha please protect me too, for I am also trying to be Your devotee.


yogi-indra yoga pari-rakshaka deva deva
dina-arthi-hari vibhava-agama giyamana
mam vikshya dinam asaranyam aganya-shilam
Shri narasimha paripalaya mam ca bhaktam
O King of the yogis, Lord of lords and the protector of the process of yoga. You are the remover of the sufferings of those who are dear to You. Your wonderful form is described in the agamas. Please glance upon me who is without shelter and possesses no good qualities. O Nrisimha please protect me too, for I am also trying to be Your devotee.

prahlada shoka vinivarana bhadra-simha
naktan-carendra mada khandana vira-simha
indra-adi deva-jana sangnuta pada-padma
Shri narasimha paripalaya mam ca bhaktam
You are the auspicious lion that dispersed the grief of Prahlada Maharaja. O Powerful Lion, who tears everything apart in an intoxicated mood, You are the Lord of the ferocious predators of the dark night. Your lotus feet are surrounded by all divine and pious personalities beginning with Lord Indra. O Nrisimha please protect me too, for I am also trying to be Your devotee.

jnanena kecid avalambya padambhujam te
kecit sukarma nikarena pare ca bhaktya
muktim gatah khalu janah kripaya murare
Shri narasimha paripalaya mam ca bhaktam
Some people try to embrace Your lotus feet through the process of knowledge. Others try by performing pious activities and yet others by the path of devotion. O Murari by Your mercy all of them attain liberation. O Nrisimha please protect me too, for I am also trying to be Your devotee.

iti Shri nrisimha ashtakam sampurnam
Thus ends the Nrisimha ashtakam.

Shri Nrisimha Maha-mantra
ugram viram maha-vishnum
jvalantam sarvato mukham
nrisimham bhishanam bhadram
mrityur mrityum namamy aham
“I bow down to Lord Nrisimha who is ferocious and heroic like Lord Vishnu. He is burning from every side. He is terrific, auspicious and the death of death personified.”