Narasimha and Coins

Narasimha, is the fourth avatar of Hindu God Vishnu. He is regarded to have incarnated in the form of a part-lion, part-man being to slay Hiranyakashipu, to end religious persecution and calamity on earth, thereby restoring dharma. In Sanskrit the word Narasimha consists of two words, ''nara'' which means man, and ''simha'' which means lion. He is known as Nrisimha, Nrisingha, Narasingh, Narasimba and Narasinghar in derivative languages.

                     

Narasimha, Wodeyar, (AH 1214-1225, AD 1799-1810), Gold Fanam.

    

The Vishnu hymn 1.154 of the Rigveda, contains a verse with allusions to a ''wild beast, dread, prowling, mountain roaming'', which has been interpreted by some to be the Narasimha legend. A more complete version is found in Shatapatha Brahmana of the Yajurveda in Chapter 12.7.3.v (7th -6th century BCE). There are references to Narasimha in a variety of Puranas, with 17 versions of the main narrative. In all the Puranas, Narasimha is described as the God of Destruction, and having three eyes like Shiva. Narasimha is also the focus of Nrisimha Tapaniya Upnishad.

                      

Narasimha, 5th century, Ramtek Kevala Narasimha temple.

The Bhagavata Purana describes that Vishnu, killed the evil Hiranayaksa. The older brother of Hirnayaksa, demon king Hiranyakasipu, hated Vishnu and wanted revenge. He undertook many years of austere penance to gain special powers. Brahma granted him what he had asked for. He had asked, '' Grant me that I will not die within any residence or outside any residence, during the daytime or at night, nor on the ground or in the sky. Grant me that my death is not brought about by any weapon, nor by any human being or animal. Grant me that I do not meet death from any entity, living or nonliving created by you''. Hiranyakasipu, once powerful and invincible with the new boon, began to persecute those who were devotees of Vishnu.                    

Narasimha killed Hiranyakasipu, who emerged from a pillar smashed by Hiranyakasipu in rage. He came out in twilight, on the threshold of a courtyard, and put the demon on his thighs. Using his sharp fingernails as weapons, he disemboweled and killed the demon king.

                         

Narasimha relief at the temple of Belur, India.

The earliest known iconography of Narasimha is dated between the 2nd and 4th century CE, and these have been found in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh. These have also been found in Vaikuntha Chaturmurti in Kashmir and Khajuraho temples, Himachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.                

Known by many names as Lakshmi Narasimha or Ugra Narasimha, Yoga Narsimha is the largest statue in Hampi. The reason this form is called as Yoga Narasimha is that he is shown sitting crossed legged in a Yogic Posture.

                       

Narasimha, Chola period, 12th-13th century, Tamil Nadu, from Museum Gulmet, Paris

Coins of Narasimha

                       

Princely State Mysore, Krishna Raja Wodeyar, (AH 1214-1225, AD 1799-1810), Gold Fanam, weight 0.3 gm, Obverse: Narasimha seated, Reverse: Kanarese legend Kanthirava Narasa Raja.

                        

Hoysala, Narasimha, 1143-1173 AD, gold pagoda, weight 4.0 gm, Obverse: Vishnu (Narasimha) standing facing, mounted on lion (Sardula) walking right, Chakra and conch, sun at right, crescent moon on left, Reverse: three lines Kannada legend: Sri Pra/ tapa Nara/ simha.

                       

Krishnaraja Wodeyar III, 1799-1868 AD, gold pagoda, weight 0.3 gm, Obverse: Narasimha in Yogabandha mudra, hands on knees, Reverse: Legend, Sri Kantirava

                      

Kantirava Narasa Raja Wodeyar, 1638-1662 AD, gold fanam, weight 0.3 gm, Obverse: Narasimha Yogabandha mudra, hands on knees, Reverse: Sri Kamti rava.

                                        

Kantirava Narasa Raja Wodeyar, 1638- 1662 AD, half pagoda, gold, weight 1.6gm, Obverse: Seated Lakshmi Narasimha holding Shankh and flame wheel, Reverse: Sri Kamti ravanara saraya.

                                       

Krishna Raja Wodeyar, 1799-1868 AD, Gold Kanthirava fanam, gold, weight 0.3 gm, Obverse: Narasimha seated facing, holding a chakra in each upper hand, Reverse: Sri Kamthi Rava

                                          

Vijayanagara Empire, Tuluva dynasty, Vira Narasimha, copper Kasu, weight 2.8 gm, Obverse: Narasimha seated squatting posture, Reverse: Nagari legend, Nara Simha.

Narasimha

Coins of Narasimha