Symbolism
- Narasimha indicates God's omnipresence and the lesson is that God is everywhere. For more information, see Vaishnava Theology.
- Narasimha demonstrates God's willingness and ability to come to the aid of His devotees, no matter how difficult or impossible the circumstances may appear to be.
- Prahlada's devotion indicates that pure devotion is not one of birthright but of character. Prahlada, although born a rakshasa, demonstrated the greatest bhakti to God, and endured much, without losing faith.
- Narasimha is known by the epithet "Mriga-Sharira" in Sanskrit which translates to Animal-Man. From a philosophical perspective, Narasimha thus is a symbol of Advaita with man half representing the Jeevatma and the Lion half the Paramatman.
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Famous quotes containing the word symbolism:
“...I remembered the rose bush that had reached a thorny branch out through the ragged fence, and caught my dress, detaining me when I would have passed on. And again the symbolism of it all came over me. These memories and visions of the poor—they were the clutch of the thorns. Social workers have all felt it. It holds them to their work, because the thorns curve backward, and one cannot pull away.”
—Albion Fellows Bacon (1865–1933)