Narasimha

Narasimha (Devanagari: नरसिंह, IAST: Narasiṃha, lit. 'man-lion') is an avatar of the Hindu god Vishnu. According to traditions, Narasimha is one of Vishnu's most fearsome avatars. He is often depicted with a human torso and lower body, a lion's face, and sharp claws. The iconography of Narasimha varies by region. Narasimha is also known as Narasinha in Bengali, Narasimha in Kannada, Narasimhan in Malayalam, Narasimha in Telugu, and Narasimha in Tamil. In the Hebrew language, Narasimha can be translated as נר-סימא (Nar-Sima). The story of Narasimha's avatar is detailed in the Bhagavata Purana and the Vishnu Purana, among other scriptures. Narasimha is celebrated in various festivals, particularly in South India, where he is worshipped as a protector against evil and a symbol of divine justice. The legend of Narasimha is deeply rooted in Vaishnavism, one of the major traditions within Hinduism, which focuses on the worship of Vishnu and his avatars.