Tuesday, September 22, 2026

What are the main reasons Vaishnavas reject the Shaiva claim that Sharabha defeated Narasimha?

 

Narasimha slaying Sharabha Murthy is mentioned in Vaishnava agamas such as sesha samhita in chapter 23.14. This mantra is mentioned by vijayendra tirtha from Agni Purana but currently it can only be traced in pancharatra samhita

  • हन्तुमभ्यागतं रौद्रं शरभं नरकेसरी ।
  • नखैर्विदारयामास हिरण्यकशिपुं यथा ॥
  • शेषस्मृति २३/१४
  • Distraught with fear, Rudra in the form of Sharabha was killed by Narakesari (Lord Nrisimha) by tearing him with his nails in the same way as Hiranyakashipu was killed.

The same mantra is quoted by adavita scholar in hari hara Advaita bhushanam and Rama subramanya Shastri

Kuresar alvar also quotes it in Athimanusthavam from the same mantra .

  • क्रीडाविधेः परिकरस्तव या तु माया
  • सा मोहनी न कतमस्य तु हन्त जन्तोः ।
  • मर्त्यसिंहवपुषस्तव तेजसोंऽशे
  • शम्भुर्भवन् हि शरभः शलभो बभूव ॥
  • “Your māyā, which is an accessory of Your divine play, is indeed bewildering—who among living beings is not bewildered by it? Śambhu, becoming Śarabha, indeed became a moth in the presence of a portion of the radiance of You whose form was the Man-Lion.”

People should not force their sectarian propoganda on vaishnavas and expect them to accept everything .