Nrsimha Mantra to Worship Ugra Narasimha

BY: PAYONIDHI DASA

Bhaktivedanta Book Trust

Apr 29, MARYLAND, USA (SUN) — There are two Upanisads that deal with the Narasimha mantra. The Narasimha mantra was the main mantra in some other Kali yuga, but in this Kali yuga Lord Caitanya has given us the Hare Krsna Maha-mantra

om Hrim Ksraum ugram viram maha-vishnum
jvalantam sarvato mukham
nrisimham bhishanam bhadram
mrityur mrityum namamy aham

"I bow down to Lord Narasimha who is ferocious and heroic like Lord Vishnu. He is burning from every side. He is terrific, auspicious and the death of death personified."

The Narasimha Tapani Upanisad that I once read in Los Angeles was a copy the Bhaktivedanta Achieves had. I believe it was translated by His Grace Gaura Kesava Prabhu. It was very interesting. In that Upanisad, the Lord Brahma of that universe was chanting this Narasimha mantra and attained perfection.

Here is a translation with Sanskrit of the Narasimha Purva Tapaniyopanisad. Unfortunately I don't have a translation of the Narasimha Tapani Upanisad, but we pray to Lord Narasimha that the Bhaktivedanta Archives or BBT will publish the version I saw, as it was superb and wonderful.

Sri Narasimha Purva-Tapaniyopansad of the Atharva Veda

"O Lord of the demigods, may we continue to hear Your auspicious glories with our ears. O Worshipable One, may we forever see Your auspicious glories with our eyes. May we engage our entire span of life, with every limb of the body steady, in singing Your glories. This is to our highest benefit, O dear Lord.

May Indra, the ancient and famous, -- on the all-knowing and swift, Vayu, who saves us from all harm, and Brihaspati who protects spiritual wealth -- all kindly bestow upon us their blessings [for the intellectual strength to understand the scriptures and to follow the teachings]. Oh Supreme Personality of Godhead, may peace prevail over the three types of disturbances; adhiatmika, adidaivika, and adhibautika."

First Upanisad

The (unmanifest) universe was immersed in water. There, Prajapati (Brahma) was born upon a lotus-leaf. In his mind a desire arose: 'I will create the universe.' Therefore, whatever a man desires in his mind, he then tells in speech and attains it by performing activity.

(RV.10.129.4)

He (Brahma) performed austerities, and after that austerity he saw the mantra-raja (the king of mantras) which glorifies Lord Narasimha and is composed in the anua'ubh metre. And using this, he began creating whatever exists. Therefore, it is said that whatever exists in the whole universe is anua'ubh; from the anua'ubh are born all creatures; having been born, they live because of the anua'ubh; dying they go back to the anua'ubh. The anua'ubh is the first, and the anua'ubh is the last, for the anua'ubh is speech. Creatures depart by speech, and they are born by speech. Therefore it is said that the anua'ubh is the highest of all metres.

One should know that the first line (of the mantra-raja) is the earth with its oceans, mountains and seven islands. The second line is the antarika (space between earth and heaven) populated by the multitudes of Yaksas, Gandarvas and Apsaras. The third line is the heavenly planets where the Vasus, Rudras, Adityas and all other demigods reside. The fourth line is the transcendental form of the Absolute Truth dwelling in the highest abode. He who knows this attains immortality. The four lines (of this mantra) are the four Vedas, Rg, Yajur, Sama and Atharva, with their angas and Ãsokhas (divisions and brances). Thus (one should inquire) what is the meditation (of this mantra)? What is it's Deity? What are its parts? Who are their Deities? What is the metre? Who composed it?

Lord Brahma said:
One who knows that wonderful mantra consisting of eight syllables and the savitri mantra (as an anga) is blessed with all wealth. All the Vedas have the praëava (oÃ) at the beginning; if one also knows this praëava as an anga of that mantra, he conquers the three worlds. There is a mantra of Goddess Mahalaksmi which consists of twenty-four syllables -- if one knows this as one of the anga-mantras (of the mantra-raja), one will be blessed with longevity, fame, honour, knowledge and power. Therefore one should know this mantra along with its angas; he who knows it attains immortality. The Ãcaryas do not give the savitri mantra, the praëava or the laksmi mantra to women and sudras. One should know well this thirty-two syllable mantra, and he who knows it attains immortality. However, if a woman or a sudra knows the savitri mantra, praëava or Laksmi mantra they go downwards after death. Therefore one should never initiate them into this. If one does so, the teacher will also fall down after death.

Lord Brahma said:
One should know that the first line of this mantra is Agni, the Vedas, this universe and all living entities, the five life-airs, the sense organs, animals, food, and the eternal Supreme Lord, who is independent and omniscient. One should know that the second line of the mantra is the sun in the form of the Rg, Yajur, Sama and Atharva Vedas and the Supreme Lord who resides within the sun-orb.

One should know that the third line is the Lord that rules over all plants and herbs, the Lord of all luminaries, and the moon. One should know the fourth line to be Brahma, Siva, Hari, Indra, Agni -- the eternal Supreme Lord. He who knows this attains immortality.One should know that ugra is the first word of this mantra, jvalan is the second, narasimha is the third, måtyuà is the fourth. He who knows this attains immortality.

One should not give this mantra capriciously; if one wishes to impart it, one should only impart it to one's son if he desires to learn it, or otherwise to a disciple.

Lord Brahma said:
One should know this mantra as the form of the man-lion (Nrsimha) who rests in the milk-ocean in the spiritual world, who is meditated upon by the yogis. One who knows this attains immortality.

One should know the word véraà as the last part of the first-half of the first line. Taà sa –as that of the second; ham bhi - as that of the third; måtyuà - as that of the fourth. One who knows this attains immortality.

Therefore one who learns this mantra from the mouth of his spiritual master is liberated from the cycle of birth and death; he helps to liberate and attains liberation; he who chants it sees the Lord while still residing in this body. This is therefore considered to be the gate of liberation in the age of Kali, and there is no other way to attain liberation. Therefore one should know this mantra with all its divisions. He who knows this attains liberation.

One should know this mantra as being non-different from the Supreme Absolute Truth; the Supreme Person who is of a dark hue; the dark and red form of Sankara, the husband of Uma, the lord of animals, the wielder of the bow, who is of infinite splendor, the master of knowledge, the lord of all beings, the lord of Brahma and the brahmanas, the one who is to be praised by the Yajur Veda. One who knows this attains immortality. One should know that the word maha is the main word of the last half of the first line; rvato – as that of the second; ñaëaà - as that of the third, näma- as the fourth. One who knows this attains immortality.

Therefore this mantra is the Supreme Brahman, who is full of bliss, knowledge and eternity; he who knows this becomes immortal. Therefore one should know the mantra along with its divisions. And one who knows this attains immortality.

With this (mantra) those entities who create created the universe created. Since they created everything, they are known as ? Everything originates from them and they finally achieve the same world, wealth, and remain close to the Absolute Truth. One who knows this attains immortality. One should know the word viñëuà as the final part of the first line, mukha as the second, bhadra as the third, and myaha as the fourth. And one who knows this attains immortality.

The Lord has manifest all this. It relates to the soul and to the Absolute Truth. One should know how to worship with the anua'ubh metre. One who knows this attains immortality.

And if a man or woman desires to stay on the earth, the (mantra-raja) gives him wealth and power over all things. Wherever one may die, the Supreme Lord blesses that person and delivers him to the highest abode, where he attains immortality. Therefore one should chant this mantra. One who chants this and knows it well, becomes a part of it, and becomes like Prajapati.

Thus reads the great upanisad. One who knows this great upanisad and performs the proper worship, attains Mahäviñëu. He attains Mahäviñëu. Second Upanisad

The demigods were afraid of death, sin and the cycle of birth and death. They took refuge in Prajapati and he gave them this mantra-raja which invokes Narasimha and is composed in the anua'ubh metre. With this they conquered death, overcome sin, and avoided the cycle of birth and death. Therefore one who fears death, sin and samsara should take this mantra-raja which is addressed to Lord Narasimha and composed in the anua'ubh metre. He will then conquer death, sin and samsaraa.

Of the praëava, the first syllable is ‘a’. It is the Rg Veda, it is Brahman, the Vasus, the gayatri metre and the garhapatya fire -- this is the first line. The second syllable is ‘u’ and it is the Yajur Veda, it is Viñëu, the Rudras, the triñöubh metre and dakñiëa fire -- this is the second line. The third syllable is ‘m’ and that is the Sama Veda, it is Rudra, the Adityas, the jagati metre and the ähavanéya fire -- this is the third line. The fourth half-syllable which is at the end is the world of Soma, the oà sound. It consists of the hymns of the Atharva Veda, the Atharva Veda itself, it is the fire of universal destruction, the Maruts, the Viraj, the highest wisdom and the greatest effulgence -- this is the fourth line.

The first line is of eight syllables, and the three remaining lines are also of eight syllables; thus the result is thirty-two syllables. The anua'ubh metre is therefore of thirty-two syllables; by the anua'ubh metre the whole world was created, and by the anuñöubha metre it is wound-up again.

(The mantra) has five angas (parts) -- the four lines correspond to these four angas and the praëava corresponds with the fifth. Of the five angas, oà corresponds with the heart (namaù), to the head (svähä), to the çikha (vañaö), to the body (huà ) and to the missile (phaö). The first is combined with the first line (ugraà véraà mahäviñëuà - oà hådayäya namaù), the second is combined with the second line (jvalantaà sarvatomukhaà -oà çérase svähä)‚ the third with the third line (nåsià haà bhéñaëaà bhadraà - oà çikhäya vañaö), the fourth with the fourth line (oà måtyumåtyuà namämyaham – oà kavacäya huà ) and the fifth with the fifth (oà ugraà véraà mahäviñëuà jvalantaà sarvatomukhaà nåsià haà bhéñaëaà bhadraà måtyumåtyuà namämyaham – oà asträya phaö).

Because all the worlds are linked with one another, similarly the constituents (of the lines of the mantra) are also interwoven into one another. The praëava syllable is the whole world (Mandukya Upanisad), therefore the sound of oà has a place both before and after each syllable (of the mantra). Thus – oà u oà graà oà vé oà raà oà etc. These syllables are to be thus drawn as teachings of those who know Brahman.

In this (mantra) one should know that ugra is first -- one who knows this attains immortality. At the second is véraà , at the third mahäviñëuà , at the fourth jvalantaà , at the fifth sarvatomukha , at the sixth nrsimha, at the seventh bhéñaëaà , at the eighth bhadraà , at the ninth måtyumåtyuà , at the tenth namämi and at the eleventh aham. One who knows this attains immortality.

The anuñöubh has eleven words, by the anuñöubh this whole world has been created and by the anuñöubh it will again be reabsorbed. Therefore one should understand this whole world as being of the nature of anuñöubh- one who knows this attains immortality.

The Demigods said to Prajapati (Brahma): Why is the word "ugra" used? And Prajapati answered Because by His greatness He (the Lord) lifts up all the worlds (udghåëäti), all demigods, all entities, creates continually, expands and gives life, while He is caused to be elevated and is elevated. (Rg 2.33.11)

This is also not a complete version and is from the Acarya Folio. Srila Ramanujacarya has commented on verses from the 11th Chapter of the Bhagavad Gita, that these nine forms of Lord Narasimha, as described in this mantra, are manifested by the Universal form when Krsna manifested that form to Arjuna. These nine forms of Lord Narasimha are manifested within this part of the 11th Chapter of Bhagavad Gita:

BG 11.10-11: Arjuna saw in that universal form unlimited mouths, unlimited eyes, unlimited wonderful visions. The form was decorated with many celestial ornaments and bore many divine upraised weapons. He wore celestial garlands and garments, and many divine scents were smeared over His body. All was wondrous, brilliant, unlimited, all-expanding.

BG 11.12: If hundreds of thousands of suns were to rise at once into the sky, their radiance might resemble the effulgence of the Supreme Person in that universal form.

BG 11.13: At that time Arjuna could see in the universal form of the Lord the unlimited expansions of the universe situated in one place although divided into many, many thousands.

BG 11.14: Then, bewildered and astonished, his hair standing on end, Arjuna bowed his head to offer obeisances and with folded hands began to pray to the Supreme Lord.

BG 11.15: Arjuna said: My dear Lord Krsna, I see assembled in Your body all the demigods and various other living entities. I see Brahma sitting on the lotus flower, as well as Lord Siva and all the sages and divine serpents.

BG 11.16: O Lord of the universe, O universal form, I see in Your body many, many arms, bellies, mouths and eyes, expanded everywhere, without limit. I see in You no end, no middle and no beginning.

BG 11.17: Your form is difficult to see because of its glaring effulgence, spreading on all sides, like blazing fire or the immeasurable radiance of the sun. Yet I see this glowing form everywhere, adorned with various crowns, clubs and discs.

BG 11.18: You are the supreme primal objective. You are the ultimate resting place of all this universe. You are inexhaustible, and You are the oldest. You are the maintainer of the eternal religion, the Personality of Godhead. This is my opinion.

BG 11.19: You are without origin, middle or end. Your glory is unlimited. You have numberless arms, and the sun and moon are Your eyes. I see You with blazing fire coming forth from Your mouth, burning this entire universe by Your own radiance.

BG 11.20: Although You are one, You spread throughout the sky and the planets and all space between. O great one, seeing this wondrous and terrible form, all the planetary systems are perturbed.

BG 11.21: All the hosts of demigods are surrendering before You and entering into You. Some of them, very much afraid, are offering prayers with folded hands. Hosts of great sages and perfected beings, crying "All peace!" are praying to You by singing the Vedic hymns.

BG 11.22: All the various manifestations of Lord Siva, the Adityas, the Vasus, the Sadhyas, the Visvedevas, the two Asvis, the Maruts, the forefathers, the Gandharvas, the Yakshas, the Asuras and the perfected demigods are beholding You in wonder.

BG 11.23: O mighty-armed one, all the planets with their demigods are disturbed at seeing Your great form, with its many faces, eyes, arms, thighs, legs, and bellies and Your many terrible teeth; and as they are disturbed, so am I.

BG 11.24: O all-pervading Visnu, seeing You with Your many radiant colors touching the sky, Your gaping mouths, and Your great glowing eyes, my mind is perturbed by fear. I can no longer maintain my steadiness or equilibrium of mind.

BG 11.25: O Lord of lords, O refuge of the worlds, please be gracious to me. I cannot keep my balance seeing thus Your blazing deathlike faces and awful teeth. In all directions I am bewildered.

BG 11.26-27: All the sons of Dhrtarastra, along with their allied kings, and Bhisma, Drona, Karna -- and our chief soldiers also -- are rushing into Your fearful mouths. And some I see trapped with heads smashed between Your teeth.

BG 11.28: As the many waves of the rivers flow into the ocean, so do all these great warriors enter blazing into Your mouths.

BG 11.29: I see all people rushing full speed into Your mouths, as moths dash to destruction in a blazing fire.

BG 11.30: O Visnu, I see You devouring all people from all sides with Your flaming mouths. Covering all the universe with Your effulgence, You are manifest with terrible, scorching rays.

BG 11.31: O Lord of lords, so fierce of form, please tell me who You are. I offer my obeisances unto You; please be gracious to me. You are the primal Lord. I want to know about You, for I do not know what Your mission is.

These are the nine aspects of Ugra Narasima.

This Narasimha maha-mantra is also part of one very famous Narasimha Kavacha. By carefully studying this Kavacha one can understand some of its unlimited spiritual potency and that of the Narasimha Maha-mantra:

SRI NRISIMHA KAVACHA
of the Trailokya Vijaya in the Samhita of Brahma

1.
Sri Narada-uvaca
indr-adi deva vrndesa
pateshvara jagat-pate
maha vishnor nrisimhasya
kavacho bruhi me prabho
yasya prana thanad vidvan
trilokya vijayi bhavet

Sri Narad Muni said: "My dear father and lord, master of the Universe, lord of the multitude of demigods headed by Indra, kindly tell me the kavaca mantra of Lord Nrsimha, the incarnation of Visnu. O master, reading this kavaca aloud, a learned man will become victorious throughout the three worlds."

2.
sri brahmovaca
srinu narada vaksyami
putra shrestha tapodhana
kavacham narasimhasya
trailokya vijaya bhavet

"Lord Brahma said: My dear Narada, please hear me. O best of my sons, who are rich in austerity, I shall speak this kavaca of Lord Narasimha, which gives victory over the three worlds."

3.
yasya prapathanad vayami
trailokya vijayi bhavet
shresthaham jagatam vatsa
pathanat dharanat yataha

"My dear boy, by recitation of this kavaca an eloquent person will become victorious throughout the three worlds. It is by reciting this and meditating deeply on it that I (lord Brahma) am the creator of all these planetary systems."

4.
laksmir jagat-trayam pati
samharta cha maheshvaraha
pathanad dharanad deva
babhuvush cha digishvaraha

"It is by reciting and meditating upon this that Laksmi maintains the three worlds, and Lord Siva destroys them. Also the demigods in this way became controllers of the different directions."

5.
brahma mantra nayam vakshye
bhutadi vinvakaram
yasya prasadad durvasa
trailokya vijayi munih
pathanad dharanad yasya
shasta cha krodha bhairavaha

"I shall speak this essence of all Vedic mantras, which wards off all kinds of ghosts and hobgoblins. By its grace the sage Durvasa became victorious throughout the three worlds, commanding respect and most fearful in his anger."

6.
trailokya-vijayasyasa
kavachasya prajapatih
rshish chandash cha gayatri
nrisimho devata vibhuhu

"For this kavaca, which is directly perceived as giving victory over the three worlds, I (Brahma) am the Rsi, Gayatri is the metre, and the all powerful Nrsimhadev is the Deity."

7-8.
ksraum bijam me shirah pati
chandra-varno maha-manuhu
"ugram viram maha-visnum
jvalantam sarvatomukham
nrisimham bhishanam bhadram
mrtyu-mrtyum namamy aham"
dva-trimshad aksharo mantro
mantra-rajah sura drumaha

"One should place Lord Nrsimha's mantra bija, ksraum, on one's head, thinking, 'May my head be protected by the moon-colored one, who is the greatest among humans. My obeisances unto the ferocious and powerful, the great Visnu, the fiery one, who's faces are on all sides, the fearful one, Nrsimha, who causes the death of even death personified, or the one who can overcome death.' One should place this mantra, composed of thirty two syllables upon his head. It is the king of all mantras. It is like a wish fulfilling tree for the demigods and devotees."

9.
kantham patu dhruvam ksraum hrid
bhagavato chakshusha mama
narasimhaya cha jvala
maline patu mastakam

"One should also place ksraum firmly upon his neck for protection. Placing the word bhagavate upon his heart, narasimhaya upon his two eyes, and jvala maline on the top of his head, one meditates upon the different parts of this narasimha mantra protecting the different parts of his body."

10.
dipta-damshtraya cha tatha
agni netraya cha nasikam
sarva-raksho-ghnaya sarva
bhuta-vinashanaya cha

"One should place on his nose the syllables dipta damstraya agni netraya sarva rakso ghnaya sarva bhuta vinasanaya. (Obeisances unto Him, whose teeth are blazing, whose eyes are fire, and who destroys all ghosts and raksasas.)"

11.
sarva-jvara-vinashaya
daha daha pacha dvayam
raksha raksha sarva-mantra
svaha patu mukham mama

"Meditating on the protection of one's face, one should place there the syllables "sarva jvara vinasaya daha daha paca paca raksa raksa. ksraum ugram viram maha visnum jvalanatam sarvatomukham nrsimham bhisanam bhadram mrtyu mrtyum namamy aham. ksraum bhagavate narasimhya jvalamaline dipta damstrayagni netraya sarva rakso ghnaya sarva bhuta vinasanaya svaha". (This means: Unto He who vanquishes all fevers, oblations. Burn and burn, cook and cook, protect protect. My obeisances unto the ferocious and powerful, the great Visnu, the fiery one whose faces are on all sides, the fearful one, Nrsimha, who causes the death of even death personified, or who can overcome even death. Unto the Personality of Godhead Narasimha, garlanded with blazing energy, whose teeth are glowing and whose eyes are fiery, who kills all raksasas and demons and annihilates the ghosts, to You my oblations)"

12.
taradi ramachandraya
namah payad gudam mama
klim payat pani-yugmam cha
taram namah padam tataha
narayanaya parshvam cha
am hrim kraum kshraum cha hum phat

"Meditating on the protection of one's rectum, one should first sip water for purification and chant om Ramacandra namah. Sipping water again one should place the bija mantra klim on both of his hands together. Thereafter one should place om namah on his feet and narayanaya on his side, as well as the bija mantras am hrim kraum ksraum hum phat."

13.
varaksarah katim patu
om namah bhagavate padam
vasudevaya cha prishtham
klim krishnaya uru-dvayam

"Praying for the protection of one's waist, one should place there the varaksara Om. One should place the syllables om namo bhagavate upon his feet, vasudevaya on his back, and klim krsnaya upon his two thighs."

14.
klim krishnaya sada patu
januni cha manuttamaha
klim glaum klim syamalangaya
namah payat pada dvayam

"Upon his knees, one should place the mantra klim krsnaya, thinking that the Lord may always protect me in His form as the best of human beings. Then one should sip water for purification and place the mantra klim glaum klim syamalangaya namah upon his feet."

15.
kshraum narasimhaya kshraum cha
sarvangam me sadavatu

"One should meditate upon the constant protection of the body, placing the mantra kshraum narasimhaya kshraum upon all his limbs."

16.
iti te kathitam vatsa
sarva-mantraugha-vigraham
tava snehan mayakhyatam
pravaktavyam na kasyachit

"Lord Brahma continued: My dear boy, thus I have told you the embodiment of the potencies of all mantras. Because of your great affection I have explained it to you, although it is not to be spoken to just anyone."

17.
guru-pujam vidhayatha
grihniyat kavacham tataha
sarva-punya-yuto bhutva
sarva-siddhi-yuto bhavet

"Having performed worship of the spiritual master, one may accept this kavaca. Having become enriched in his pious activities he will attain all perfections."

18.
shatam ashtottaram chaiva
purashcharya vidhih smritaha
havanadin dashamshena
kritva sadhaka-sattamaha

"Performing the ritualistic ceremonies of purification (purascarya) one hundred and eight times is equal to one tenth the effect received by that best of devotees who chants this kavaca."

19.
tatas tu siddha-kavacaha
punyatma madanopaman
sparddham uddhuya bhavana
lakshmir vani vaset tataha

"Laksmi, the Goddess of fortune, and Sarasvati, the Goddess of speech and learning, reside in the home of that fortunate soul who has become perfected by this kavaca, giving up the intoxication of competing with others for supremacy."

20.
pushpanjalyashtakam dattva
mulenaiva pathet sakrit
api varsa sahasranam
pujayah phalam apnuyat

"Simply offering eight times puspajali and reading only once the original version, one attains the result of even a thousand years of worship."

21.
bhurje vilikhya gutikam
svarnastham dharayed yadi
kanthe va dakshine bahau
narasimho bhavet svayam

"If one write this down on a leaf or bark of a tree and keeps it within a golden capsule on his neck or right arm, Lord Nrsimhadev will be personally present."

22.
yoshid vama-bhuje chaiva
purusho dakshine kare
vibhryat kavacham punyam
sarva-siddhi-yuto bhavet

"A woman may keep it on her left arm, a man on the right hand. Certainly this most auspicious kavaca brings all perfection to the bearer."

23.
kaka-vandhya cha ya nari
mrita-vatsa cha ya bhavet
janma-vandhya nashta putra
bahu-putravati bhavet

"A woman who is totally barren, or who bears only one child, or whose sons are lost or dead may become possessed of many sons."

24.
kavachasya prasadena
jivan mukta bhaven-naraha
trilokyam kshobhayasyeva
trailokya vijayi bhavet

"By the grace of this kavaca, a man becomes jivan mukta, liberated soul even within this life time. He is able to move the whole universe, and certainly becomes victorious throughout the three worlds."

25.
bhuta-preta-pishachash cha
rakshasa danavash cha ye
tam drishtva prapalayante
deshad deshantaram dhruvam

"Certainly bhutas, pretas, pisacas, raksasas, and danavas all immediately flee from the country and go to another upon seeing it."

26.
yasmin gehe cha kavacham
grame va yadi tishthati
tam deshantu parityajya
prayanti chatidurantaha

"In the home or even the same village where this kavaca exists, all such demoniac creatures, once having understood its presence, give up that place and go far away."

Thus ends the Sri Nrsimha Kavaca, of the Trailokya Vijaya in the Samhita of Brahma.

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