Today in what will one day be called 205 AD. In the temple courtyard of what today is called Andhra Pardesh, India the demon Hiraṇyakaśipu yawned and streached on his throne. It had been a long day of tyranny. Looking at the growing shadows from the setting sun he laughed.  He had cut a deal, got a wish granted, a spell to put it another way.

He said, "Grant me that I not die within any residence or outside any residence, during the daytime or at night, nor on the ground or in the sky. Grant me that my death not be brought about by any weapon, nor by any human being or animal. Grant me that I not meet death from any entity, living or nonliving. Grant me, further, that I not be killed by any demigod or demon or by any great snake from the lower planets."

He immediately took over the local capital and began holding court in front of the temple calling himself God. This didnt sit well with Vishnu, who for the purpose of this setting, is. He made an avatar, which in the beginning of the second millennium a disappointing movie will help describe what that is. He made it half lion half man and as his incarnation got use of all his gear. At almost 8 feet tall he is a sight to see as he walks into the courtyard. 

Hiraṇyakaśipu sneers, rises from his throne and walks tward him a heavy mace in his hands. Narasimsaya meet him at the bottom of the stairs moving in a blur it seems as if he has additonal arms. One moment he has a sword, a mace, a bow, a shield, even just 8 unarmed arms moving in unison. 

As the last sliver of the sun sinks under the horizon Narasimsaya lifts him up and slams him on his knee in a backcracker. There in the place that was neither inside nor outside, not on earth nor in the sky. In that moment between day and night. This creation that was not alive but was not dead, was not a man nor beast not a demigod or demon. Sank the claws on his bare hands into Hiraṇyakaśipu's belly, and ripped it open. Kaliya, the serpent with a thousand heads came to life. Hanging out on Narasimsaya's back as his cloak they struck in unison not killing but paralyzing him. Roaring and disemboweling him he draggs him sputtering blood up the polished white steps of the temple. Ripping him to pieces he tosses them down the stairs as he takes the throne to the cheers of everyone. Prahlada, the son of Hirayakasipu approached carefully with a necklace of flowers as a peace offering. 

Nodding and appearing to smile as much as a lion can he tells everyone things are cool now and celebrate the defeat of the bad guy. Raising a extra arm he holds a small disk that looks like its made of polished metal flashing in the sunlight. Putting it on his middle and index finger he says

"This is called a party mix disk"


It begins to spin on his fingers and suddenly sounds came out of the air. Rhythmic beat like those of a drummer pulsed through the air and earth. There was a 30 second intro just enough time to get everyone tapping their feet to the dirty bass line when like the rest of the sounds a voice came out of the air clearly and in HQ

< click to listen here >

(translated from Hindi)

"I offer my obeisances to Lord Narasimha, who gives joy to Prahlada Maharaja and whose nails are like chisels on the stone like chest of the demon Hiranyakasipu.

Lord Nrsimha is here and also there. Wherever I go Lord Nrsimha is there. He is in the heart and is outside as well. I surrender to Lord Nrsimha, the origin of all things and the supreme refuge.

O Kesava! O Lord of the universe! O Lord Hari, who have assumed the form of half-man, half-lionl All glories to You! Just as one can easily crush a wasp between one's fingernails, so in the same way the body of the wasp like demon Hiranyakasipu has been ripped apart by the wonderful pointed nails on Your beautiful lotus hands.

In His mouth, on his tongue the goddess Suddha-Sarasvati is always present, on His chest Laksmi-devi always resides, and within His heart special affection for His devotees is always manifest – I worship that Nrsimhadeva."

The serpent Kaliya arched its thousand heads in a cone behind Narasimsaya and lights began rhythmicly flashing off their belly By dawn dudes riding winged beasts and clouds showed up everyone was still dancing. 

Nara S Imsaya woke up to that dammed red painted room again. What in gods name did I drink last night??