Narasimha slaying King Hiranyakashipu

1886

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 251

The tale of Narasimha, the man-lion avatar of Vishnu, is one of pure devotion. In the story, King Hiranyakashipu repeatedly tries to kill his own son, Prahlad, for the boy’s unwavering adoration of Vishnu. Vishnu responds to Prahlad’s prayers and descends in the ferocious form of Narasimha to slay the king and avenge this dharmic wrong. However, the king, having secured special protection from the god Brahma in reward for his mastery of yogic austerities, cannot be killed during the day or at night, inside or outside, by weapons or by a god, a demon, a man, or an animal. Vishnu finally outsmarts these spells by appearing as a half-man, half-animal being at the threshold of the palace at dusk. Narasimha draws the king upon his lap and disembowels him with his claws.

Artwork Details

Object Information

Overview

Exhibition History

Title: Narasimha slaying King Hiranyakashipu
Date: 1886
Culture: India, Maharashtra, Pune
Medium: Chromolithograph with varnish on paper
Dimensions: Image: 19 1/8 × 14 1/8 in. (48.6 × 35.9 cm)
Sheet: 20 × 15 in. (50.8 × 38.1 cm)
Classification: Prints
Credit Line: Purchase, Peter Louis and Chandru Ramchandani Gift, 2018
Object Number: 2018.276
Curatorial Department: Asian Art

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