Naama 200-210: Narasimha Avataram

अमृत्युस्सर्वदृक् सिंहः सन्धाता सन्धिमान् स्थिरः ।

अजो दुर्मर्षणश्शास्ता विश्रुतात्मा सुरारिहा ॥ २२ ॥

amṛtyussarvadṛk siṃhaḥ sandhātā sandhimān sthiraḥ |

ajō durmarṣaṇaśśāstā viśrutātmā surārihā || 22 ||

200. amṛtyuḥ · अमृत्युः

The one who is death to death itself.

(oṃ) amṛtyavē namaḥ

उग्रं वीरं महाविष्णुं ज्वलन्तं सर्वतोमुखम् ।

नृसिंहं भीषणं भद्रं मृत्युमृत्युं नमाम्यहम् ॥

ugraṃ vīraṃ mahāviṣṇuṃ jvalantaṃ sarvatōmukham |

nṛsiṃhaṃ bhīṣaṇaṃ bhadraṃ mṛtyumṛtyuṃ namāmyaham ||

The Lord, as Narasimha, brings death to those who are the cause of death, thereby eventually ridding the devotee of the cycle of life and death.

Birth, growth, decay, disease, and death are the changes that every finite thing must go through. The Lord is beyond all of them. Sri Bhattar explains that as Narasimha, He became death to the one who was death to the world. With this name, Sri Bhattar begins his description of the Narasimha incarnation.

201. sarvadṛk · सर्वदृक्

The one who is impartial to all.

(oṃ) sarvadṛśē namaḥ

The Lord sees all beings at all times: those who are devoted to Him, those who are hostile, and those who are indifferent. Even when He is fierce, as Narasimha, His vision remains fair to all. Since He sees everything, we must be pure in thought, word, and deed even when no one else is watching.

202. siṃhaḥ · सिंहः

The one who appears as a magnificent man-lion.

(oṃ) siṃhāya namaḥ

Sri Bhattar explains the name as the one who took the body of a man-lion. Sri Sankara explains it as "the one who destroys" (hinasti), formed by transposing the letters of hiṃsa: the Lord destroys all sins by being merely remembered (hinasti smaraṇamātrēṇa samasta pāpān).

203. sandhātā · सन्धाता

The one who openly accepts all those who are honest and sincere.

(oṃ) sandhātrē namaḥ

The Nirukti summarises Sri Bhattar's explanation: "He unites with Himself devotees like Prahlada" (prahlādādyaiḥ sandhātā saṃślēṣa karaṇācca saḥ). Sri Sankara explains that He unites all beings with the fruits of their actions.

204. sandhimān · सन्धिमान्

He who ensures that there are no gaps between Him and His devotees.

(oṃ) sandhimatē namaḥ

The Nirukti says, "He who is in eternal union with devotees like Prahlada is called sandhimān" (prahlādādyaiḥ nityasandhiḥ yasya syāt sandhimān smṛtaḥ). Prahlada never felt separated from the Lord, not even when he was thrown from the cliff, into the fire, or under the elephants' feet.

205. sthiraḥ · स्थिरः

He who offers His devotees the opportunity to correct any mistakes that they might have committed.

(oṃ) sthirāya namaḥ

Sri Bhattar's words are "apacārē'pi acālyatvāt sandhānē sthira ucyatē", "He is called sthira because He cannot be shaken from His union with His devotees even when they commit offences." Sri Sankara explains that He is always the same, free from birth, decay, and other changes.

206. ajaḥ · अजः

He who is born through an unconventional method other than through gestation in a mother's womb.

(oṃ) ajāya namaḥ

This name occurred earlier as the 96th naama, and occurs again as the 524th naama. Here, in the context of Narasimha, it recalls that the Lord came out of a pillar, not from a mother's womb.

207. durmarṣaṇaḥ · दुर्मर्षणः

The one whom His enemies cannot bear to face.

(oṃ) durmarṣaṇāya namaḥ

The name means "the one who cannot be overcome" (duṣkaraṃ marṣaṇam asya). Hiranyakashipu could not bear even to look at the blazing form of Narasimha. One commentator adds that though we may turn away from His path for many births, in the end we will seek His feet for true happiness; His is the final victory.

208. śāstā · शास्ता

The one who controls and metes out punishment to those who cause atrocities.

(oṃ) śāstrē namaḥ

The name comes from the root śās, "to teach" or "to govern". The words śāstra and śikṣā come from the same root. Sri Bhattar explains that He righteously punishes those who stand in the way of His devotees, and so teaches them a lesson. He also teaches the whole world through the Vedas, the Smritis, and our elders.

209. viśrutātmā · विश्रुतात्मा

The story of Narasimha Charithram instils a sense of purity in those who listen to the story. The one who is capable of instilling purity in His devotees is known as viśrutātmā.

(oṃ) viśrutātmanē namaḥ

Sri Bhattar explains the vi in this name as "with wonder" (vismayēna): the Lord is the one whose deeds are heard of with wonder by all, at all times, and in all places. Sri Sankara explains it as "the one who is especially renowned".

210. surārihā · सुरारिहा

He is the one who tore open the abdomen of Hiranyakashipu to protect his devotee Prahalada and the Devas.

(oṃ) surārighnē namaḥ

Sri Bhattar reminds us of the destruction of Hiranyakashipu. All the names in this shloka are interpreted by Sri Bhattar as describing the qualities seen in the Narasimha incarnation. One commentator adds that meditating on this name destroys the enemies within us: the claims of the senses, the assertions of the ego, and the passions of desire.