Narasimha navaratri:

Today marks the start of Narasimha navaratri, it's an annual ritualistic 9 day festival celebrated till Narasimha jayanti. It starts with the Vaishakh Shukla shashthi and ends on the Vaishakh Shukla chaturdashi. It's not very commonly followed amongst the masses but its practice is quite wide spread in the regions of Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra.

On the Vaishakh Shukla Panchami the practitioner has to undergo the pre preliminary puja procedures like sharira shuddhi by doing ganga snana, hiranya snan, Tila mrittika snana, papa ghata daana, go daana, sandhya 10,000 gayatri japa(only for upanitas), vratabandha and sankalpa, acharya varan, Ganesh pujan, punyahvachan, matruka, Navagraha, kshetrapal, vastu puja. etc. to get the adhikara for anushthan and phala in the end of the navaratri puja. In the following 9 days one does fast, establishment of lord Laxmi Narasimha in the form of kalash in their homes, does puja, Abhishek, alankar puja, various naivedya offerings, tulasi, pushpa, bilva archana, Deepa daana, extensive japa of the moola mantra of lord Narasimha, big havan offering various ahutis to lord Narasimha, his anga upanga vidyas, ayudhas and previously established devatas on dwadashi/ trayodashi according to the kulachar, tarpan, Marjan sarva devata mahabali, then mahapuja on chaturdashi, Narasimha aakhyana shravan, Narasimha sahasranama recitation, daana dharma, bramhan bhojan and udyapan.

One must compulsorily light continuously burning pure ghee and sesame oil lamps throughout the Narasimha navaratri. One should offer different fragrant flower garlands to the lord throughout the 9 days in an increasing order. For eg. If a Champak garland is offered on the first day, then one should offer 2 Jasmine garlands on the next day. Three rose garlands on the third day. Like this they have to offer distinguished flower garlands. Lord Narasimha likes paanaka drink, suji halwa, paayasam, puliogare hence these must be included in the maha naivedya everyday. Pancha Deepa aarati and karpura aarti has to be offered every. One coconut should be broken and offered to the lord everyday at the end of the puja.

People do 9 day nirajala or waterless fast. Some do upavasa by being on water for 9 days. Others who can't do such difficult fasting do fast by taking fruits, tender coconut water and milk. Rest do ardha upavas or one meal (sattvik) fast. One must also sow some seeds/ grains like rice, barley, wheat, mung beans and sesame in front of the lord Narasimha's kalasha peetha. The growth of the grains shows the success of the ongoing puja. Also one must keep a plate filled with yellow sandalwood powder or kumkum in front of the kalasha peetha. If everything has been according to the procedure with all sanctity, purity and due diligence, then between the days 8-9 lord's Lotus feet appear in that yellow sandalwood or kumkum filled plate.

In order to perform this vrata one must humbly go to a competent acharya, guru or a karmakandi bramhan. Pay them homage, dakshina, and salutations. Then respectfully tell about your intentions, get the upadesha and invite them for the puja. Happiness and the blessings of the acharya will yield in maximum benefits. One must observe satvik achar vichar, daana dharma, utmost respect for the devata, shastra, bramhana and cow during the 10 days. Observe silence, bhagwat chintan during the 10 days. Do not fall prey to unnecessary distractions caused by Kali inorder to get the exorbitant grace from the supreme lord. In this age of Kali this vrata upasana is the easiest way to get Narasimha rupadhari lord Maha Vishnu's Krupa.

This is a very powerful 9 day puja to get abundant blessings from Lord Narasimha. It wards off one's greatest sins, gives wealth, health, progeny, success everywhere, destruction of foes, obstacles, supernatural problems and continuous auspicious, opulence, prosperity for future generations with continuous observation of this annual vrata puja.

🙏 Namo Narasimha 🙏