In my previous article, we discussed about evolution in lord Vishnu avatars and also went through details on first three avatars of lord Vishnu. If you have missed this article, then please Go through the below link
Evolution in vishnu avatars
In this article, we will be discussing in details fourth, fifth and sixth avatars of lord Vishnu.
Narasimha Avatar
Narasimha Avatar is the Half-Man Half-Lion Incarnation of Hindu God Sri Hari Vishnu. The story of Narasimha Avatar is associated with Vishnu’s incarnation as the boar or Varaha. As described in my previous article, Varaha (Vishnu) had killed the demon Hiranyaksha. Hiranyaksha's brother Hiranyakashipu, greatly angered by this, started to hate Vishnu and all his followers. He decides a plan to kill Vishnu by gaining mystical powers, which he believe brahma, the chief among the devas, will award him if he undergoes many years of great austerity and penance. Hiranyakashipu performed intense austerities and was able to please Lord Brahma. When Brahma appeared before him he asked for immortality. But Brahma said he could not grant him the boon of immortality. So Hiranyakashipu played a trick on Brahma and asked a series of boons all of which indirectly tried to avoid death.
He will not die in any type of residence or outside.
He will not die during day or night.
He will not die on earth or sky
He will not be killed by any weapon
He will not be killed by Demi-gods, human being, animal or any other creation created by you
He should be the sole lordship over all living entities and presiding deities, and should be granted all the glories
Hiranyakashipu Asking for immortality
Brahma said, "Tatha asthu" (be it so) and vanished. Hiranyakashipu was happy thinking that he had won over death. After earning the boons, Hiranyakashipu defeated demigods and rulers on earth and announced that he was God and all prayers should be directed to him and not to Sri Hari Vishnu.
Meanwhile, Hiranyakashipu’s wife Kayadhu gave birth to Prahlad who grew up and became a keen devotee of Vishnu under the guidance of divine sage narada. The entire kingdom followed Hiranyakashipu commands of worshipping him but not his young son, Prahlad. The little boy Prahlad continued worshipping Lord Vishnu. Hiranyakashipu tried all means to make the boy worship Him. But all this efforts failed.
One day, Hiranyakashipu ordered his servants to kill Prahlad, if he refused to accept the primacy of his father. Each time he attempted to kill the boy, Prahlada was protected by Vishnu's mystical power. He was even being drowned, poisoned, and burnt and thrown from the mountain.
Hiranyakashipu trying to kill prahlada
Hiranyakashipu also ordered his sister Holika to kill Prahlada by sitting with him on the fire but eventually she died burning in fire and the tradition of burning holika(Frist day of holi) -is still followed in India. (Second day of holi-Festival of colors, is associated with another lord Vishnu avatar- lord krishna)
Festival of Colors, Holi in india
Tired of failure, Hiranyakashipu asked for an explanation then Prahlada refuses to acknowledge his father as the supreme lord of the universe and claims that Vishnu is all-pervading and omnipresent. Fed up with his son’s explanation of Vishnu worship, Hiranyakashipu demanded him to show his Vishnu who is present everywhere:
"O most unfortunate Prahlada, you have always described a supreme being other than me, a supreme being who is above everything, who is the controller of everyone, and who is all-pervading. But where is He? If He is everywhere, then why is He not present before me in this pillar?
In a fit of anger pointing to a pillar, Hiranyakashipu asked whether Vishnu is present in that pillar. Prahlada then answers, He was, He is and He will be. In an alternate version of the story, Prahlada answers, He is in pillars, and he is in the smallest twig.
Hiranyakashipu, unable to control his anger, smashes the pillar with his mace, and following a tumultuous thundering sound, Vishnu in the form of half man-half lion(Narasimha) appears from it and moves to attack his father in defence of Prahlada.
Half man-half lion(Narasimha)
He had large moustaches on the face and terrible teeth in the mouth and his paws had terrible nails. In order to kill Hiranyakashipu and not upset the boon given by brahma, the form of Narasimha is chosen. Hiranyakashipu cannot be killed by human, deva or animal. Narasimha is neither one of these as he is a form of Vishnu incarnate as a part-human, part-animal. He comes upon Hiranyakashipu at twilight (when it is neither day nor night) on the threshold of a courtyard (neither indoors nor out), and puts the demon on his thighs (neither earth nor space). Using his sharp fingernails (neither animate nor inanimate) as weapons, he disembowels and kills the demon.
Narasimha killing Hiranyakashipu
The Bhagavata Purana further narrates: even after killing Hiranyakashipu, none of the present demigods are able to calm Narasimha's fury (Since he took form of a beast), not even lord shiva. So all the gods and goddesses call his consort, Lakshmi, but she is also unable to do so.
Narasimha anger out of control
Then, at the request of Brahma, Prahlada prays to Narasimha, and finally he is calmed by the prayers of his devotee. Before leaving, Narasimha rewards the wise Prahlada by crowning him as the king.
The above story of lord narasimha avatar can also be seen in below video link
Narasimha kills Hiranyakashipu <https://www.mallstuffs.com/Videos/ViewVideo.aspx?VideoId=10741&VideoType=Spiritual>
Narasimha blessing prahlada
.
Today in kaliyug (Iron Age) we also have become some sort of hiranyakashapu. With these modern comforts, prosperity, lethal weapons, advanced medical systems we have started feeling that whatever we do we are safe. Unfortunately, Mankind has started proving that he is more intelligent and can do anything on this earth.
Vaman Avatar
BALI, the grandson of Prahlada(one described above) was a very valorous and mighty asura (Demon). By his penance and might, he conquered the whole world. Indra and other gods fearing that he and asuras(Demons) would conquer all the three worlds abandoned heaven. . This upset Indra's mother, Aditi. She, along with Rishi Kashyap, her husband, prayed to Lord Vishnu to restore the glory of the Devas (Deities).As Usual, lord intervened and was then born as a dwarf Vamana in the household of a brahmana(priest).
Vamana born in a brahman family
In the guise of a short Brahman, carrying a wooden umbrella, He then went to Bali requested as much land (To live) as he could cover with his three steps.
Vamana, Lord Vishnu fifth avatar
Bali, being an ardent devotee, was delighted to offer him anything he requested, even though his chief priest sukracharya, warned him that it was Lord Vishnu.
Bali was probably, relaxed, thinking of the small amount of land that the little foot-size of the Vamana could cover and delightfully committed to granting three steps of land, The Supreme God enlarged himself to such dimensions as to stride over the three worlds. He had grown so huge that with one-step he astrode the whole earth and in the second he, encompassed the heavens. King Mahabali, then recognized the Transcendental Being of Vishnu, disguised as Vamana. There was no place left where Vamana can put his third step. The pious and truthful Mahabali, kept his promise. He bowed down before the Omnipotent Power and offered his head, for putting the third step.
The above story of lord Vamana avatar can also be seen in below video link
Vamana avatar <https://www.mallstuffs.com/Videos/ViewVideo.aspx?VideoId=10742&VideoType=Spiritual>
Vamana growing to the size of the universe
Vishnu was immensely pleased with the goodness of Mahabali and granted him life. He educated Bali about the demerits of pride and arrogance, which forbids man from optimum progress. MahaVishnu further blessed Mahabali, that he would be the ruler of the earth in the following age or Yuga
Parashurama avatar
Parasurama (Axe-wielding Rama), belongs to the Treta yuga, was the Great Grandson of Bhrugu Rishi, after whom the "Bhruguvansh" has been named. Parashu means axe, hence his name literally means Rama-with-the-axe. Bhrugu's Son, Rucheek, married King Gadhi's daughter, Satyavati. The son of Satyavati & Jamadagni was Parashurama.
Statue of Parashurama
The purpose of the sixth incarnation or Sixth Avatara of Vishnu was to relieve the earth's burden by exterminating the sinful, destructive and irreligious monarchs that pillaged goddess earth resources, and neglected their duties as kings. At the same time, He wanted to convey the world, the importance of parents and how much one should respect their parent’s words.
Originally, Parashuram name was Raman. Pleased with his severe tapas (Penance), Lord Shiva gave him a weapon called Parasu (Axe). Raman thus came to be known as Parasuraman. He also learned the methods of warfare and other skills from lord Shiva.
Parashurama Meditation and penance
He is a Chiranjeevi (Immortal till end of kaliyuga), who fought the aggressing ocean to recede, thus saving land of Konkan and Malabar. Bhagwan Parashuram is also known as Lord of Yajnya, Lord who grants prosperity, and Lord of knowledge. According to ancient Himalayan tradition of knowledge, Parshuram was the first to introduce inter- planetary weapons on this planet in ancient days.
Parashurama has been mentioned in several scriptures - Ramayana, the Mahabharata, and Bhagavata and Kalki Puranas. He is famous for killing the Haihaya- Kshatriyas on the earth 21 times for their Ahankara (pride/arrogance). He wanted to spread & preserve the Vedic culture on Earth. He was born a Brahmin but is Kshatriya by Karma, or deeds.
Parashurama killed his own mother:
Parasurama's mother had deep respect and devotion for her husband and worshipped him as her Lord. So pure was her devotion that each day she would go to the river bed and pick up a handful of sand and this would form into a pot. She would be able to fill water in this unfired pot and take it to her husband for his daily pooja. One such day, as she took up a handful of river sand, she saw the reflection of a handsome gandharva (Demi-God) in the water and she looked up in admiration. This was a step down in her sincerity and she lost the ability to create a pot of the river sand. Sage Jamadagni realised through his Gnana Drishti (Sixth sense) of the happenings and ordered his sons to kill their mother. His other sons refused to do so, claiming their mother were even greater than God to them. 
Parasurama immediately chopped off his mother's head to do his duty to his father.
Rishi Jamadagni was overjoyed by his obedience and was willing to grant him any boon. Parasuraman asked for the life of his mother and brothers and also that they have no memory of the happenings. Jamadagni rishi granted him his wishes. In this way, Parshuram proved his devotion to his parents.
Parashurama killed all Kshatriyas on the earth 21 times
Once King Kartavirya Arjuna (Sahasrarjuna) and his army visited Jamadagni(Parashuram father), who fed his guest and the whole army with his divine cow Surabhi; the king demanded the magical cow and Jamadagni refused because he needed the cow for his religious ceremonies. King Kartavirya Arjuna (Sahasrarjuna) sent his soldiers to take the cow and then, parashurama killed the entire army and the king with his axe. Kartavirya’s sons were lusting for revenge. One day, when sage Jamadakni was alone in the ashram with his wife, they chopped off Jamadagni head.
When Parashurama returned home he found his mother crying hysterically. He asked why she was crying, she beat her chest 21 times. In a rage, Parashurama vowed to exterminate the world's Kshatriyas (Warrior clan) 21 times. He killed the entire clan of Kartavirya Arjuna (Sahasrarjuna), thus conquering the entire earth.
Parashurama killing all Kshatriyas
He offered his dead father's soul tarpana with the blood of the kings and warriors he slew. He then conducted the Ashwamedha sacrifice, done only by sovereign kings, and gave the entire land he owned to the priests who performed at the yagya. Moolagan was one of the kings who escaped Parasurama's wrath and Dasharatha, father of Lord Rama was his descendant.
Parashurama in the Ramayana
In the Swayambar of the princess Sita, Lord Rama broke the bow of lord shiva given to King Janaka(Father of sita) by Parashurama.. On breaking the bow, it produced a tremendous noise that reached the ears of Parashurama. After hearing the sound of breaking bow, parashurama decided to kill Rama. But Seeing that, lord rama was lord Vishnu avatar, he calmed down and blessed Sita "Saubhagyawati bhavah" .
Lord rama breaking lord shiva bow
The above story of lord Parshurama avatar can also be seen in below video link
Parashurama avatar <https://www.mallstuffs.com/Videos/ViewVideo.aspx?VideoId=10743&VideoType=Spiritual>
Parashurama in the Mahabharata
It is mentioned in the Mahabharata that Parashurama was the teacher of the warrior Karna. When Karna came to Parashurama after being rejected from the school of dronacharya, Parashurama agreed to teach Karna, believing him not be of Kshatriya birth and gave him the knowledge of many weapons including extremely powerful Brahmastra weapon.
when Bhishma refused to marry Amba, Granfather of Pandavas, Parashurama decided to slay Bhishma and fought with him for twenty three days, At the end when Bhishma was about to use the most deadly weapon namely "Pashwapastra", all Gods rushed to Bhishma and requested him not to use this weapon against Parshurama. Bhishma stopped and.in the end, all Gods and Parshuram himself showered praise on Bhishma and acknowledged that Bhishma is truly invincible.
Remaining avatars will be discussed in my next article with minute details since I have written many blogs on these avatars and many are already aware of Rama, Krishna and Buddha.
Before I end, a small poem to summarize and conclude
Many attempts were made to kill prahlad
Lord Vishnu devotion saved him every time
This made Hiranyakashipu furious and mad
In anger and revenge, continued his crime
Pointing to the pillar he ask angrily
If your supreme lord is there inside
Nodding head, prahlad said furiously
Keep false pride and arrogance aside
Enraged Hiranshipu hit pillar with his mace
Lord Vishnu showed his narasimha face
Killed cruel Hiranyakashipu on his thigh
Blessed prahlad, honouring brahma thereby
Indra and other deities abandoned heaven
Lord Vishnu incarnated as a dwarf Brahman
Asked bali three steps of land for shelter
Ignoring guru advice, yes did he answer
Supreme lord enlarged to huge size
In two steps covered whole universe
Offering his head, demon bali chastise
Immensely pleased, lord granted life
To kill all sinful,irreligious monarch
parashurama descended on mother earth
Lord shiva gave deadly parashu weapon
Killed all kshatriyas in cruel fashion
When lord rama broke lord shiva bow
Intense anger and pride parshuram show
Seeing vishnu in rama reduced his ego
Smilingly rama asked parshurama to go
In various form lord shows his illusions
Sometimes plays with devotees emotions
Sinful irreligious are killed in his action
Only sincere devotees attain salvation
Note: Images used on this website
are either a production of Bhaktivedanta Book Trust(https://www.krishna.com), Iskcon
Foundation or were found in google search under "Free to use and share". If any
of the images presented here violates copyright issues or infringes anyone copyright
or are not under "Fair use", then please bring it to our notice. Read
Disclaimer for more.
Share this to your friends. One of your friend is
waiting for your share.