Various Forms of Lord Narasimghadev

According to Vedic philosophy, Lord Vishnu descends in a variety of avataras all of whom are non-different from Him. All the avataras are of the nature of sat-cid- ananda: eternity, bliss and knowledge. They reside in the spiritual world, Vaikuntha. When They descend into the material world, They are called "avatar a" (literally, "descent"). Any attempt to minimize the transcendental status of any avatara constitutes an offense and is a stumbling block on the path of self-realization. And to understand Lord Nrisingha, one must first appreciate the transcendence of Lord Vishnu.

In addition, the scriptures describe Lord Nrisingha as prominently manifesting all six attributes of God (strength, wealth, renunciation, splendor, energy, wisdom): "In Nrisingha, Rama and Krishna, all the six opulences are fully manifest." (nrisingha-rama-krsnesu sad-gunyam paripuritam - Padma-purana)

Lord Krishna or Lord Narayana is considered to be the origin of the other transcendental forms of God. From
Narayana, Vasudeva is manifest, and from Vasudeva, Sankarsana is manifest (Agni-purana 48.13). And according to the scriptures, Lord Nrisingha is an expansion (amsha) of Sankarsana. [Padma-tantra 1.2.31 and Vishnu-dharmottara-purana 3.78(2).5-7 (haris sankarsanamsena nrisingha-vapur dharah)] Just as Sankarsana destroys the universe, Lord Nrisingha destroys all ignorance and all sins arising from body, mind and speech.

Lord Nrisingha Himself is recognized in the scriptures by a variety of forms. The Vihagendra-samhita (4.17) of the Pancharatra-Agama enumerates more than seventy forms of Nrisingha. Most of these forms are distinguished by the arrangements of weapons in the hands, His different postures, or other subtle distinctions.

Of these seventy-four, nine are very prominent (Nava-vyuha-Nrisingha):

(1) Ugra-Nrisingha
(2) Kruddha-Nrisingha
(3) Vira-Nrisingha
(4) Vilamba-Nrisingha
(5) Kopa-Nrisingha
(6) Yoga-Nrisingha
(7) Aghora-Nrisingha
(8) Sudarsana-Nrisingha
(9) Laksmi-narasima

In Ahobila, Andhra Pradesh, the nine forms are as follows:

(1) Chhatra-vata-Nrisingha (seated under a banyan tree)
(2) Yogananda-Nrisingha (who blessed Lord Brahma)
(3) Karanja-Nrisingha
(4) Uha-Nrisingha
(5) Ugra-Nrisingha
(6) Kroda-Nrisingha
(7) Malola-Nrisingha (With Laksmi on His lap)
(8) Jvala-Nrisingha (an eight armed form rushing out of the pillar)
(9) Pavana-Nrisingha (who blessed the sage Bharadvaja)

Other forms are as follows:

Stambha-Nrisingha (coming out of the pillar)
Svayam-Nrisingha (manifesting on His own)
Grahana-Nrisingha (catching hold of the demon)
Vidarana-Nrisingha (ripping open of the belly of the demon)
Samhara-Nrisingha (killing the demon)

The following three refer to His ferocious aspect:

Ghora-Nrisingha
Ugra-Nrisingha
Chanda-Nrisingha
Jvala-Nrisingha (with a flame-like mane)
Laksmi-Nrisingha (where Laksmi pacifies Him)
Prasada-Nrisingha or Prahlada-varada-Nrisingha (His benign aspect of protecting Prahlada)
Chhatra-Nrisingha (seated under a parasol of a five-hooded serpent)
Yoga-Nrisingha or Yogesvara-Nrisingha (in meditation)
Avesha-Nrisingha (a frenzied form)
Attahasa-Nrisingha (a form that roars horribly and majestically strides across to destroy evil)
Chakra-Nrisingha (with only a discus in hand)
Brahma-Nrisingha, Vishnu-Nrisingha, and Rudra-Nrisingha
Prthvi-Nrisingha, Vayu-Nrisingha, Akasa-Nrisingha, Jvalana-Nrisingha, and
Amrta-Nrisingha (representing the five elements)
Pusthi Nrisingha (worshipped for overcoming evil influences)

There are still other varieties which are standing, riding on Garuda, alone, in company, benign, ferocious, and multi-armed (two-sixteen). All of these forms point to the diversity in transcendence of the Nrisingha-Avatara.

Nrisingha forms in general:

Kevala-Nrisingha  - Nrisinghadeva alone (with 2 or 4 hands), standing.
Girija-Nrisingha  - coming out of a mountain cave, seated.
Yoga-Nrisingha  - in yoga-asana, sometimes with yoga-patta around legs.
Stambhodbhava-Nrisingha (Sthauna-Nrisingha) - coming out of the pillar.
Yanaka-Nrisingha - riding on Garuda or lying on Ananta-sesa.
Laksmi-Nrisingha - peaceful or fierce. Fierce form described in Naradiya
Mahapurana: five faces (each with 3 eyes), garland of entrails, yajnopavita made of a serpent.
Yogananda-Laksmi-Nrisingha - "yoga" and "bhoga" combined; very rare.
Varaha-Laksmi-Nrisingha - rare. Mouth of Varaha. Laksmi on lap.
Prahladanugraha Murti - blessing Prahlada with His hand.

Rare, not mentioned in agama-sastras.

Nrisingha and Chencheta - Nrisingha in Hari-Hara aspects.
Tandava (Nritta Nrisingha) - Dancing. No sanction in agama-sastras.