Man-Lion (Narsimha), Dwarf (Vamana) and Parshurama Avatars.

4.Man -Lion

Hiranyaksha had a brother named Hiranyakashipu. Hiranyakashipu was furious to learn that his

brother had been killed and he sweared to kill Vishnu. But this could not be done unless he

himself became powerful and invincible. Hiranyakashipu, therefore, began to pray to Brahma

through difficult meditation. Brahma was pleased at these prayers and offered to grant a boon.

“I want to be invincible,” said Hiranyakashipu. “Please grant me the boon that I may not be

killed by night or day; that I may not be killed by man or beast; and that I may not be killed in

the sky, the water or the earth.”

Brahma granted the desired boon. And Hiranyakashipu was happy. He thought that he had taken

care of all possible eventualities. And since he had become so powerful, he conquered all the

three worlds and kicked the gods out of heaven.

Hiranyakashipu had a son named Prahlada. You no doubt remember that Hiranyakashipu had

resolved to kill Vishnu. But strangely enough, Prahlada became devoted to Vishnu.

Hiranyakashipu tried to persuade his son. That did not work. He tried to kill his son. That too did

not work since each time, Vishnu intervened to save Prahlada.

Meanwhile, the gods had been driven off from heaven. They had also been deprived of their

shares in yajanas by Hiranyakashipu. These shares now went only to the asura king. In

desperation, they went and prayed to Vishnu and Vishnu promised them that he would find a

solution.

One day, Hiranyakashipu called Prahlada to him. “How is it that you escaped each time I tried to

kill you?” he asked.

“Because Vishnu saved me,” replied Prahlada. “Vishnu is everywhere.”

“What do you mean everywhere?” retorted Hiranyakashipu. He pointed to a crystal pillar inside

the palace and asked, “Is Vishnu inside this pillar as well?”

“Yes,” replied Prahlada.

“Very well then. I am going to kick the pillar,” said Hiranyakashipu.

When Hiranyakashipu kicked the pillar, it broke into two. And from inside the pillar, Vishnu

emerged in his form of half-man and half-lion. He caught hold of Hiranyakashipu and placed the

demon across his thighs. And with his claws, he tore apart the demon’s chest and so killed him.

Brahma’s boon had been that Hiranyakashipu would not be killed by man or beast. But then

narasimha was neither man nor beast it was half-man and half-beast. The boon had said that the

asura would not be killed in the sky, the water or the earth. But Hiranyakashipu was killed on

Vishnu’s thighs, which were not the sky, the water or the earth. And finally, the boon had

promised that Hiranyakashipu would not be killed by night or day. Since the incident took place

in the evening, it was not night or day.

After Hiranyakashipu died, the gods were restored to their rightful places. Vishnu’s made

Prahlada the king of the asuras.

 

5.The Dwarf

Prahlada’s grandson was Bali and Bali became very powerful. When he was the king of the

asuras, there was a war between the devas and the asuras. The gods were defeated and were

driven off from svarga. As always, the gods fled to Vishnu and began to pray to him to save

them. Vishnu assured the gods that he would do something about Bali.

Accordingly, Vishnu was born as the son of Aditi and Kashyapa. The son was a dwarf.

King Bali had arranged for a huge sacrifice and had announced that, on the occasion of the

sacrifice, he would not refuse anyone a boon. The dwarf arrived at this sacrifice and began to

recite the Vedas. Bali was so pleased at this that he offered the dwarf a boon. Bali’s guru (teacher)

was Shukracharya and Shukracharya thought that there was something fishy about the way the

dwarf had arrived. So he tried to restrain Bali.

“No,” said Bali. “I have offered a boon and I shall stick to my word.”What boon do you desire? I

will give whatever you want.”

Before a boon was actually granted, a small rite had to be performed with holy water.

Shukracharya was still trying to do his best to prevent the boon from being given. So he entered

the vessel in which the holy water was kept to seal the mouth of the vessel and prevent the water

from being taken out. To get at the holy water, the vessel was pierced with a straw. This straw

also pierced one of Shukracharya’s eyes. Ever since that day, the preceptor of the demon has

been one eyed.

“Give me as much of land as may be covered in three of my steps,” said the dwarf. “I need this as

Dakshina (fee) for my guru.”

Bali agreed. But the dwarf adopted a gigantic form. With one step he covered bhuloka. With

another step he covered bhuvarloka. And with the last step he covered svarloka. The three worlds

were thus lost to Bali and Vishnu returned them to Indra. Bali had no option but to go down to

the underworld (patala). But so pleased was Vishnu at Bali’s generosity that he granted the asura

                       6.Parashurama Avatar

The kshatriyas were the second of the four classes. It was their job to wear arms and protect the

world. And rule. The brahmanas were the first of the four classes. It was their job to pray, study

the sacred texts and perform religious rites. But the kshatriyas became very insolent and began to

oppress the world and the brahmanas. Vishnu was then born as the son of the sage Jamadagni

and his wife Renuka. Since this was the line of the sage Bhrigu, Parashurama was also called

Bhargava. Parashurama’s mission was to protect the brahmanas and teach a lesson to the

kshatriyas.

There was a king named Kartavirya who had received all sorts of boons from the sage

Dattatreya. Thanks to these boons, Kartavirya had a thousand arms and conquered and ruled over

the entire world. One day, Kartavirya went on a hunt to the forest. He was very tired after the

hunt and was invited by the sage Jamadagni who had Kamadhenu cow. This meant that the cow

produced whatever its owner desired. Jamadagni used the Kamadhenu to treat Kartavirya and all

his soldiers to a sumptuous feast.

Kartavirya was so enamoured of the Kamadhenu that he asked the sage to give it to him. But

Jamadagni refused. Kartavirya then abducted the cow by force and a war started between

Kartavirya and Parashurama. In this war, Parashurama cut off Kartavirya’s head with his axe

(parashu) and brought the Kamadhenu back to the hermitage.

After some time, Parashurama was away when Kartavirya’s sons arrived at the ashrama and

killed Jamadagni. On the death of his father, Parashurama’s anger was aroused. He killed all the

kshatriyas in the world twenty-one times. On the plains of Kurukshetra, he built five wells which

were filled with the blood of kshatriyas. Eventually, Parashurama handed over the world to

Kashyapa and went and lived on Mount Mahendra.

the boon that he would bear the title of Indra in the future.