SRI VIBUDHENDRA SWAPNALABDA

LORD SRI SHODASHA BAHU NARASIMHA

»» SRI NARASIMHA ASTAKA

       Composition of Sri Vijayeendra Theertharu

     Sri VijayIndra tIrtha is known to most mAdhvas. He is the great soul who strove very hard to propagate madhva philosophy and its practices far and wide, and protect it from the onslaught of other doctrines. Blessed with a very keen and unique intellect he was the reservoir of many laudable traits and characteristics. He used his gifts to demonstrate to the world the supremeness of Lord Hari, and the greatness of Acharya Madhva and his philosophy.

    Unable to tolerate the glory of Sri VijayIndra tIrtha some vile sorceror tried to harm him by poisoning the naivedya offered to Sri Mula rAma devaru. How can poison affect the Lord who is responsible for the creation, sustenance, maintenance and destruction of this entire universe? How could it affect such a great devotee of Rama like Sri VijayIndra tIrtha? Obviously not, but Sri VijayIndra tIrtha saw this differently. He saw this as an opportunity to demonstrate to the world the power and potency of the Narasimha mantra. Accordingly, he composed a unique stotra to Lord Narasimha consisting of several bIjAksharas (primordial syllables) and offered that with devotion to the Lord. The nectar that issued out from his devotion-soaked lips is the Sri ShoDashabAhu nrusimhAsTaka.

    Anybody who chants this mantra daily with utmost devotion, while maintaining a clean and chaste body and mind, will be immune to all poisons. In addition, he will attain all his desires. Since the stotra contains several primordial syllables, it should not be chanted by ladies or by people who have not undergone brahmopadesha (upanayana). However, they can request other eligible people to recite the mantra on their behalf and thus benefit from it.