Manyu Suktam from Rg Veda

BY: SUN STAFF

Dec 16, 2010 — CANADA (SUN) — A prayer to Lord Narasimha.

A recitation of Manyu Suktam, hymn 10.83-84 of Rg Veda, which contains 14 verses dedicated to Manyu. The Sanskrit term manyu refers to temper, anger or passion. The original Deity that this hymn addresses is believed to be Lord Narasimha.

References to Lord Narasimha are found in a wide variety of Puranic scriptures, with seventeen versions of the main narrative, some in more detail than others. The Bhagavata Purana (Canto 7), Agni Purana (4.2-3), Brahmanda Purana (2.5.3-29), Vayu Purana (67.61-66), Harivamsa (41 & 3.41-47), Brahma Purana (213.44-79), Vishnudharmottara Purana (1.54), Kurma Purana (1.15.18-72), Matsya Purana (161-163), Padma Purana (Uttara-khanda 5.42), Shiva Purana (2.5.43 & 3.10-12), Linga Purana (1.95-96), Skanda Purana 7 (2.18.60-130) and Vishnu Purana (1.16-20) all contain depictions of Lord Narasimha's pastimes. There is also a short reference in the Mahabharata (3.272.56-60) and a Tapani Upanishad (Narasimha tapani Upanisad), the earliest of Vaishnava Upanishads named in reference to Him.

Due to the nature of Narasimha's ugra form, it is essential that worship be given with a very high level of attention. In many temples, only life-long brahmacharies are able to perform the daily puja. Forms where Narasimha appears sitting in a yogic posture, or with the goddess Lakshmi are the exception to this rule, as Narasimha is taken as being more relaxed in both of these instances compared to His form when first emerging from the pillar to protect Prahlada.

Sri Yoga Narasimhar Temple at Thirukadigai is one of the 108 Vaishnava Divyadesam. Thirukkadigai (Sholingur) is located near Arakonam in the Chennai-Bangalore route. There is a temple for the moolavar at the top of a hill and a temple for the utsavar at the foot of the hill.

Sri Manyu Suktam is chanted in this video by Shangu Chakra, from his ashram, according to Thenkalai Iyengar sect and the teachings of Sri Manavalamamuni and Vedanta, also known as Devaperumal or Varavaramuni.