One of the most beautiful festivals we celebrate at the Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math is Sri Nrsimha Chaturdasi, and this is so for many reasons. One is our devotees naturally feel much joy and hope by hearing how the Lord so lovingly protected His devotee, and also by hearing the beautiful devotional qualities of Sri Prahlad Maharaj whose faith is unwavering. As if these marvelous pastimes weren’t enough, we also celebrate on this most auspicious day the day that our Srila Gurudev, Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj came to the Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math in Nabadwip, India.
Nrsimha Chaturdasi at our Seva Ashram in 2003
Every Nrisimha Chaturdasi, right around sunset, we hear the slokas from the Srimad Bhagavatam chanted in the temple room of all our Maths around the world. We marvel at their description of Lord Nrsimhadeva’s fierce Form when He was extremely angry after killing Hiranyakashipu. Even though all of his devotees and associates surround Him, none of them feels comfortable approaching Him and they send the beautiful boy Prahlad Maharaj to appease the Lord.
sva-pada-mule patitam tam arbhakam
vilokya devah krpaya pariplutah
utthapya tac-chirsny adadhat karambujam
kalahi-vitrasta-dhiyam krtabhayam
(Srimad Bhagavatam: 7.9.5)
“When Lord Nrsimhadeva saw the small boy Prahlad Maharaj prostrated at the soles of His lotus feet, He became most ecstatic in affection toward His devotee. Raising Prahlad, the Lord placed His lotus hand upon the boy’s head because His hand is always ready to create fearlessness in all of His devotees.”
Such is the nature of the Lord. We can see how Prahlad Maharaj had no fear. He approached the Lord with his beautiful heart and offered prayers to Him that pacified Him. Even though he looked like a small boy, he showed us the kind of faith and chastity a disciple should have to his master as he prays:
evam janam nipatitam prabhuvahi-kupe
kamabhikamam anu yah prapatan prasangat
krtvatmasat surarsina bhagavan grhitah
so ‘ham katham nu virrje tava bhrtya-sevam
(Srimad Bhagavatam: 7.9.28)
Prahlad Maharaj and his Gurudev Narada Muni
“My dear Lord, O Supreme Personality of Godhead, because of my association with material desires, one after another, I was gradually falling into a blind well full of snakes, following the general populace. But Your servant Narada Muni kindly accepted me as his disciple and instructed me how to achieve this transcendental position. Therefore, my first duty is to serve him. How could I leave his service?”
Such is the nature of Prahlad Maharaj’s devotion. We see in Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita how Vasudeva Datta prayed to the lotus feet of Mahaprabhu to please liberate all the suffering condition souls, and that he would take the karma from their actions upon his own head:
eta suni’ mahaprabhura citta dravila
asru-kampa-svarabhange kahite lagila
“tomara vicitra nahe, tumi – saksat prahlada
tomara upare krisnera samurna prasada
krsna sei satya kare, yei mage bhrtya
bhrtya-vancha-purti vinu nahi anya krtya
brahmanda jivera tumi vanchile nistara
vina papa-bhoge habe sabara uddhara”
(Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita: 15. 164-167)
Prahlad Maharaj offers prayers to Lord Nrsimhadev
“When Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu heard Vasudeva Datta’s statement, His heart became very soft. Tears flowed from His eyes, and He began to tremble. In a faltering voice He spoke as follows. Accepting Vasudeva Datta as a great devotee, the Lord said, ‘Such a statement is not at all astonishing because you are the incarnation of Prahlad Maharaj. It appears that Lord Krishna has bestowed complete mercy upon you. There is no doubt about it.’ Whatever a pure devotee wants from his master, Lord Krishna doubtlessly grants because He has no duty other than to fulfill the desire of His devotee. If you desire the deliverance of all living entities within the universe, then all of them can be delivered even without your undergoing the tribulations of sinful activity.”
We have heard from our guardians again and again how Bhakta Prahlad is a perfect example of compassion and devotion. By his unwavering faith the Lord Himself descended to protect him. May we pray to Prahlad Maharaj, the perfect example of unflinching devotion, that he may be merciful to us and help us only see the lotus feet of our Divine Master, whose loving shelter frees us from all fear.