Festival · Vaishakha Shukla Chaturdashi
Narasimha Jayanti 2026
On Vaishakha Shukla Chaturdashi, at dusk, Vishnu burst out of a pillar as Narasimha. A reminder that God comes from anywhere to save a devotee!
Date, tithi and timing
Times are for Pune. The app gives times for your city.
Date and time in every city
Next year, 2027
Quick facts
- Also known asNarasimha Chaturdashi, Narsimha Jayanti
- WhereMaharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and northern Tamil Nadu
- Puja forNarasimha (Lakshmi Narasimha)
- In one lineVishnu as Narasimha: Prahlad saved and Hiranyakashipu ended.
Narasimha Jayanti, in a little more detail
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About the festival
Narasimha means man and lion: half human, half lion. He's the fourth of Vishnu's ten avatars.
Narasimha appeared at dusk, so the main puja today is in the evening. Many people fast all day and eat only after the puja.
The lesson: however big your pride, it finds no loophole in the end. And a true devotee is never alone.
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The god from the pillar
Hiranyakashipu had won a boon from Brahma: no man or beast could kill him, not inside or outside, not by day or by night, not on the ground or in the sky, and not with any weapon. He thought he could never die.
But his son Prahlad kept saying Vishnu's name. In a rage Hiranyakashipu pointed at a pillar: is your Vishnu in this? And he struck it with his mace. The pillar split, and out came Narasimha.
Narasimha kept every word of the boon: he was neither man nor beast. On the threshold, at dusk, holding Hiranyakashipu on his lap, he ended him with his claws. And what calmed Narasimha's fury afterwards was Prahlad's prayer.
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In Maharashtra and beyond
In Pune district, where the Bhima and Nira rivers meet, stands the Lakshmi Narasimha temple of Nira Narsingpur. Its Navratri runs from Vaishakha Shukla Shashthi and ends on Narasimha Jayanti, with pravachans, bhajans, kirtans and classical concerts.
In Vidarbha, the Kevala Narasimha temple at Ramtek has an image of Narasimha from the fifth century.
In Karnataka and Andhra, Lakshmi Narasimha temples hold special pujas today. Panakam, a drink of jaggery and water, is handed out, and some temples feed everyone who comes.
Ahobilam in Andhra is believed to be where Hiranyakashipu met his end.
How to do the puja
In short: A fast through the day, Narasimha's puja and Prahlad's story at dusk, then panakam and prasad.
- 1Bathe in the morning and resolve to fast until the evening puja.If you're unwell, pregnant or elderly, skip the fast and keep the puja with all your heart.
- 2Keep the day light: fruit and milk if you need them.Vaishakha is hot: keep drinking water.
- 3Before dusk, set Narasimha's or Lakshmi Narasimha's picture on a chaurang.A photo works just as well.
- 4At dusk, the hour he appeared, worship with sandalwood paste, flowers, tulsi, a lamp and incense.Your city's evening time is above.
- 5Read or listen to Prahlad's story.Reading the Prahlada Charitra is the day's own custom.
- 6Offer panakam as naivedya, and do the aarti.Naivedya goes to God first, then to everyone.
- 7Give what you can: food or water.In summer, a cool drink of panakam or water is a gift too.
- 8After the puja, break the fast with the prasad.Some temples feed everyone who comes today.
What you needTick as you go
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Frequently asked questions
Why is the puja at dusk?
Hiranyakashipu's boon ruled out both day and night. So Narasimha came at the time between them, dusk, and today's main puja is held then.
What is panakam?
A drink of jaggery and water; many homes add dry ginger and cardamom. It's offered today as the drink that cools Narasimha's fury.
Do I have to fast?
No. Many fast until the evening puja, but it is your choice. Health comes first.
What if I can't do the puja at dusk?
Do it when you can: the feeling is what counts. Reading Prahlad's story and saying Narasimha's name can be done any time.
Set a reminder in the app
The app sends a notice the day before and on the day, even offline.