To me, the Great Narasimha, brings together the dual components of Tantra: ‘upaya’ and ‘prajna’, skillful means and perfect insight.
When the asura Hiranyakashipu secured the boon that he could not be killed by the following conditions:
• in day time or at night
• inside a dwelling or outside
• on ground or in the air
• by human or animal
• by any known weapon or tool
The wise Vishnu took on the form of Narasimha — ‘man-lion’, such a ferocious beast that was neither man nor animal.
At dusk (neither day nor night), the great Narasimha grabbed Hiranyakashipu at the threshold of his dwelling (neither inside or outside) and placed him on his lap (neither ground nor air), before disemboweling him with his claws (neither weapon nor tool).
For every asura — or inner demon — there is an intelligent way to conquer its complexity. This is followed by careful and conscious sadhana in order to implement and give form to such an intelligence.
The path of the sadhaka and tantrika requires these ingredients to be present within. ‘Hiranyakashipu’ which means ‘golden cushion’ represent the inertia and attachment to worldly pleasures and materialism. One’s body and mental will becomes soft and weak as a result of lifetimes of overindulgence and self-forgetting.
It is at these times Narasimha is invoked, a ferocious and powerful energy, to override and eradicate the psychic inertia brought upon by such a sluggish karmic pattern.
So many are afraid to let go because they have identified themselves with their material physical wealth.
Skillful means merged with perfect insight. Hence, Narasimha is seen as the perfect consort to Goddess Lakshmi, She Who Grants All Desires.
May we enjoy the pleasures of this world, but let go completely when the game is up.
Aham brahmasmi. All is Maya and temporary.
S.
2/9/2022
(Photo taken in Nepal, 2019)
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