Likucha-tilaka-sunuhu
Naarayana Panditaacharya
Naarayana Panditaacharya (1290 -1370) was the youngest son of Trivikrama Panditaacharya and the father of Vaamana Panditaacharya. An astute scholar and accomplished poet, he wrote a biography of Ananda Tirtha, a historical and poetic narration called Shri Madhwa Vijaya. He is also the composer of two sthuthis that are part of the pancha-sthuthi meant for daily paarayana (chanting). Naarayana Panditaacharya used the phrase Likucha-tilaka-sunuhu* as his ankitha.
*Son of the crest of the Likuchas (Trivikrama panditaacharya)
Narasimha sthuthi
God is present in each one of us as “bimba” rupa. As one progresses on the path of spiritual evolution, he can see the form in which he is present. For as long as we remain unaware of the form in which he exists in each of us, we must think of the form of Narasimha as the Lord that is present within us. A powerful prayer comprising 22 shlokas, with the first shloka an invocation, the others describing Narasimha from feet to face, (similar to his father’s Vishnu sthuthi, in that respect), his weapons, and ornaments; the Narasimha sthuthi is a striking composition by Naarayana Pandithaacharya. This prayer has a refrain at the end of every verse… Daha daha Narasimha Asahya Veera, Ahitam (Veeryaahitam) me Narasimha, the one who sets afire the cosmos at the time of dissolution, reduce my enemies* to ashes!
the six enemies within us, the arishadvargas : kama, krodha, lobha, mada, moha, matsara (lust, anger, greed, pride, ignorance, envy)
With the brilliance of a thousand (innumerable) rising suns, piercing gaze, a thundering roar that is comparable to the fearful roar of the waves at the time of deluge (pralaya), the one who tore apart the heart of Hiranyakashipu, his body covered (decorated) by the splattered blood, the one who protected Prahallada, we bow to such a Narasimha.
The prayer describes the terrifying thudding of his feet when he breaks out of the pillar in anger, sending shivers down the spine of everyone in the fourteen worlds. The soles of his feet are red with Hiranyakashipu’s blood.
The prayer describes his shins as weapons, and the mere sight of his powerful thighs is enough to get the daityas scampering and fleeing. The worst of sinners who glance at the brilliant and exquisite “peetaambara” (yellow silk) that Narasimha wears, tied at his waist, can never again see anything in the rest of the world, in an improper way.
Each of his nails is like the Vajra ayudha (the invincible weapon of Indra) and his chest like a mountain peak. When Hiranyakashipu is placed on the lap of Narasimha and his heart is torn open by the divine nails of Narasimha, the blood that splatters adorns his vast chest, and his slim waist marked by three horizontal lines above the navel.
The slender waist of Narasimha, like the lion’s, is described as “sandogha” which in a play of words is also called “sandeha”, meaning the very existence of the waist is doubtful.
The stars that spangle the sky appear as a necklace that adorn his chest, alluding to the colossal figure of Narasimha. Two of his arms are held high with the conch and the discus in each hand, while two hands rest on his knees and two are tearing apart the demon. When he tossed his head, his mane (kesara) scattered the clouds in the sky and in this cloudless sky, his arms are outstretched.
Pulling out the demon’s entrails, Narasimha wears it around his neck like a necklace, biting his lips in anger, with knitted eyebrows and creased forehead. The crown on his head, the shining Kausthuba on his chest, gem studded bracelets, rings, anklets, waist band; adorn his celestial body.
Narasimha has 16 arms (shodasha-baahu) which hold the following instruments: Conch and Discus as already mentioned, Sword and shield (khadga-charma), Bow and arrow, Mace, Bullhook (ankusha), Lasso (paasha), Club (musala). Two hands are holding the demon, two are tearing him apart and two are holding the entrails like a garland. Naarayana Panditaacharya then appeals to Narasimha to destroy our enemies by giving them moha (ignorance) or by making them go in circles, or to make them burn with fever…
Naarayana Panditaacharya says, your fearsome countenance, with three eyes, protruding teeth, tongue hanging out, spitting fire; is only to strike terror in the hearts of wrong-doers. The seed of compassion that sprouted when you took on this avataara to protect Prahallada is now like an expansive tree. Protect us with your compassion and grant us eternal wisdom. Glory be to you, the victorious one, grant us victory!
Naarayana Panditaacharya has composed this sthuthi in the metre called Malini (Malini vrutha/chandassu), every shloka is made of 60 syllables. Whether we understand the technicality of this metre or not, its alliterative quality makes for wonderful poetry.
Do listen to this sthuthi…
udaya-ravi-sahasra-dyotitam ruksha-viksham pralaya-jaladhi-nadam kalpa-krid-vahni-vaktram sura-pati-ripu-vakshash-cheda-raktokshitangam pranata-bhaya-haram tam narasimham namami
pralaya-ravi-karalakara-ruk-cakra-valam virala-yad-uru-roci-rocitashantarala prati-bhayatama-kopatyutkatoccatta-hasin daha daha narasimhasahya-virahitam me
sarasa-rabhasa-padapata-bharabhirava- pracakita-cala-sapta-dvandva-loka-stutas tvam ripu-rudhira-nishekeëaiva shonamghri-shalin daha daha narasimhasahya-virahitam me
tava ghana-ghana-ghosho ghoram aghraya jangha- parigham alaghum uru-vyaja-tejo-girim ca ghana-vighatitam agad daitya-janghalasangho daha daha narasimhasahya-virahitam me
kataki-kata-karala-dhatakagrya-stha-labha prakata-pata-tadit te sat-katishthati-patvi katuka katuka dushtatopadrishti-pramushtau daha daha narasimhasahya-virahitam me
prakhara-nakhara-vajrotkhata-rukshari-vakshah- shikhari-shikhara-raktair akta-sandoha-deha su-balibha-shubha-kukshe bhadra-gambhira-nabhe daha daha narasimhasahya-virahitam me
sphurayati tava sakshat saiva nakshatra-mala kshapita-ditija-vaksho-vyapta-nakshatra-margam ari-dara-dhara janv-asakta-hasta-dvayaho daha daha narasimhasahya-virahitam me
katu-vikata-sataudho-dhattanad bhrashta-bhuyo ghana-patala-vishalakasha-labdhavakasham kara-parigha-vimarda-prodyamam dhyayatas te daha daha narasimhasahya-virahitam me
hata-lutada-laghisthotkantha-dashto ‘sta-vidyut sata-shata-katianorah-pitha-bhit sushtu nistham patati nu tava kanthadhishtha-ghorantramala daha daha narasimasahya viryahitam me
hata-bahu-mihirabhasahya-samhara-ramho huta-vaha-bahu-heti-hreshitananta-heti ahita-vihita-moham samvahan saimham asyam daha daha narasimhasahya-virahitam me
guru-guru-giri-rajat-kandarantar-gate va dina-mani-mani-shringevanta-vahni-pradipte daddhad ati-kau-damstre bhishanojjihva-vaktram daha daha narasimhasahya-virahitam me
adharita-vibudhabdhi-dhyana-dhairyam vididhyad vividha-vibudha-dhi-sraddhapitendrari-nasham vidadhad ati-katahoddhatanoddhatta-hasam daha daha narasimhasahya-virahitam me
tri-bhuvana-trina-matra-trana-trishardra netra-trayam ati-laghitarchir vishtapavishtapadam navatara-ravi-tamram dharayan ruksha-viksham daha daha narasimhasahya-virahitam me
bhramad-abhibhava-bhubhrid-bhuri-bhu-bhara-sadbhid- bhid-abhinava-vida-bhru-vibhramadabhra-shubhra ribhu-bhava-bhaya-bhettar bhasi bho bho vibhabhir daha daha narasimhasahya-virahitam me
bhramad-abhibhava-bhubhrid-bhuri-bhu-bhara-sadbhid- bhid-abhinava-vida-bhru-vibhramadabhra-shubhra ribhu-bhava-bhaya-bhettar bhasi bho bho vibhabhir daha daha narasimhasahya-virahitam me
kaci-kacakacad-rajad-ratna-kotira-shalin gala-gata-galad-usrodara-ratnangadadhya kanaka-kataka-kanci-shinjini-mudrikavan daha daha narasimhasahya-virahitam me
ari-daram asi hetau chapa-banau gadam san musalam api karabhyam ankusham pasha-varyam kara-yugala-dhritantra-srag vibhinnari-vaksho daha daha narasimhasahya-virahitam me
cata cata cata duram mohayan bhramayarin kadi kadi kadi kayam jvalaya sphotayasva jahi jahi jahi vegam shatravam sanubandham daha daha narasimhasahya-virahitam me
vidhi-bhava-vibudhesha-bhramakagni-sphulinga- prasavi-vikata-damshtrojjihva-vaktra-tri-netra kala kala kala kamam pahi mam te su-bhaktam daha daha narasimhasahya-virahitam me
kuru kuru karunam tam sankuram daitya-pote disha disha vidisham me shashvatim deva drishtim jaya jaya jaya-murte 'narta jetavya-paksham daha daha narasimhasahya-virahitam me
stutir iyam ahita-ghni sevita narasimhi tanur iva parishanta malini sabhito 'lam tad-akhila-gurum agrya-shrida-rupa lasadbhih su-niyama-naya-krityaih sad-guëair nitya-yukta
likuca-tilaka-sunuh sad-dhitarthanusari narahari-nutim etam shatru-samhara-hetum akrita sakala-papa-dhvamsinim yah paöhet tam vrajati nriharilokam kama-lobhady-asaktah