The fourth manifestation of the Hindu god Vishnu is called Narasimha, also known as Narasingha. In order to kill Hiranyakashipu, put an end to religious persecution and natural disaster on earth, and restore dharma, it is believed that he took on the shape of a partially lion, partially human individual.When the cosmos is destroyed at the moment of the great dissolution (Mahapralaya), Narasimha, who is frequently pictured as having three eyes, is described as the God of Destruction in Vaishnavism. As a result, he goes by the epithets Kala (time), Mahakala (great-time), or Parakala (beyond time). In the Sri Vaishnava tradition, there is a matha (monastery) called Parakala Matha that is devoted to him. As Yoga-Narasimha, Narasimha is also referred to as the God of Yoga.

The asura Hiranyakashipu, whom he is generally defeating, is shown in Narasimha’s iconography as having a human torso and lower body, a lion face, and claws. The demon Hiranyaksha, whose evil brother the asura king was and whom Vishnu had previously vanquished, loathed.Hiranyakashipu received a blessing from Brahma that made it impossible for him to be slain by anybody or anything—a man, deva, asura, or animal—day or night, inside or outside the home, in the sky, on land, in Svarga, or in Patala. With this blessing, he started to cause mayhem and destruction, attacking everyone who worshipped Vishnu, even his own son.

The wicked king was killed at the intersection of day and night, at the threshold of his home, which was neither inside nor outside, by Vishnu, who was aware of the asura’s blessing. Vishnu did this while sitting on his lap and using his claws.The main way that people think about Narasimha is as the “Great Protector,” who specifically stands up for and shields his followers from evil. The narrative of Narasimha killing Hiranyakashipu, the evil father and tyrant of Prahlada, and protecting his devotion is the one that is most well-known.