ŚRĪ NR̥SIMHA SWĀMI - YIELDS only to devotion

(A true historical incident demonstrating the grace of Śrī Nr̥simha Swāmi)

Padmapāda, the disciple of Jagadguru Śrī Ādi

Śaṅkara, is a great Upāsaka of Nr̥simha.

Once a Kāpālika approached Jagadguru Śrī Ādi

Śaṅkara asking for cutting His head to do
sacrificial offering to obtain some powers of
sorcery. Due to the overwhelming nobility of the
Jagadguru Śrī Śaṅkara who is not attached to
either His body or the world, He told the
Kāpālika to come next day at a predetermined
time when He was in Samādhi, cut His head and
take way.

By divine intuition, Padmapāda divined the

nefarious intention. By the force of his
meditation, the force of Nr̥simha overtook
Padmapāda and he immediately rushed to his
Guru and tore the Kāpālika into pieces. Happy at
warding off the danger, all the other disciples
asked Padmapāda how he attained such highest
grace of Nr̥simha like Prahlāda.

Padmapāda replied that there is no secret and started narrating an incident. Once,
Padmapāda was roaming in the forests meditating upon Nr̥simha. A hunter asked him
what animal he is searching in the forest. When told that he was searching for a unique
animal, the hunter said that there was no such being
anywhere in the forest, as he knew every inch of the
forest. Padmapāda insisted that indeed there was
such a being. He then described minutely the form of
Nr̥simha to the hunter. The hunter said that he
would produce that unique animal in the form of
man-lion as soon as he finds it.

The hunter roamed about in search of the elusive

being repeatedly reminiscing the form as described
by Padmapāda. Bhagavān Nr̥simha was pleased with
the hunter’s devotion and steadfastness. He appeared
before the hunter, who immediately put the rope
round the neck of Nr̥simha, dragged Him to the
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presence of Padmapāda and showed him the captured man-lion. Padmapāda could see the
hunter, the rope, but not the Lord. Immediately, he concentrated on his mantra. Then, he
was able to see Bhagavān Nr̥simha.

Surprised beyond measure, Padmapāda cried and fell at the feet of the Lord. He asked
Nr̥simha how it all happened. Bhagavān Nr̥simha replied that even Brahma had not shown
such earnestness in contemplation as the illiterate hunter, and He always submits not to
scholarship, arguments, riches, but only to pure, untainted, and resolute devotion.

Narrating this incident, Padmapāda said that God submits only to devotion.
Let’s pray Bhagavān Nr̥simha to grant us that unwavering faith and steady devotion in Him!

Moral(s) of the story:

• God submits only to steady devotion.
• One can attain God by continuous inward and outward search. This in itself is great
spiritual practice. i.e., Anvēṣaṇayē sādhana.
• One shall certainly obtain the grace of God by following the words of Guru with implicit
faith, though one is not well-versed in scriptures.

Q&A
1. Who is Padmapāda?

2. How did the hunter search Nr̥simha Swāmi?

3. Why did Jagadguru Śrī Ādi Śaṅkara accept the ask of Kāpālika?

4. What did you learn from this true story?

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