Sri Narasimha Dwadasa Namavali

The Sri Narasimha Dwadasa Namavali is a short archana of twelve names of Narasimha. The names come from the Narasimha Dwadasa Nama Stotram, which opens with prathamam tu mahajvalo, the first is the great flame; here each name is framed as Om ... namah so that a flower can be offered with it.

The form of the man-lion

The first four names build a picture. Mahajvala is the great blaze, Ugrakesari the lion with a fierce mane, Vajradamshtra the one whose fangs are hard as a thunderbolt, and Visharada the skilled one who knows all. The fifth, Narasimha, simply names the avatara, half man and half lion.

The story of Prahlada

Kashyapamardana, the sixth name, points to the killing of Hiranyakashipu, son of the sage Kashyapa. Yatuhanta is the slayer of the yatudhanas, the demons, and Devavallabha the one dear to the gods. The ninth name, Prahladavarada, turns from fury to tenderness: he is the giver of boons to the child Prahlada, whose faith brought him out of the pillar.

The last three names

Anantahasta, the one with countless hands, Maharudra and Daruna, the terrible, close the list by returning to his fierce side. The source stotra calls these names a king among mantras. Devotees chant them on Narasimha Jayanti, on days of the Swati star and at sunset.