Quality That Attracts Lord Narasimha

Do not forget that Prabhupada is your master. Never be condescending in your praise or estimation of him. As disciples, we worship our guru with affection as well as with objective evidence of his greatness. We also have to be regularly touched by his greatness. I say this, having been touched by listening to Prabhupada’s lecture at the 1977 Mayapura festival, on Prahlada Maharaja’s prayers to Lord Nrsimhadeva.

Prabhupada said that Prahlada was able to please Lord Nrsimhadeva even though others, great demigods and even Laksmi-devi herself, could not. What was Prahlada’s quality that so attracted the Lord? Prabhupada went right to the heart of it. He spoke sweetly and simply, entering the mentality of Prahlada Maharaja and explaining it to us. A great teacher is one who can convey tremendous thoughts and experiences to the students. It is one thing to feel something, and it is an added empowerment to convey it to others. That teaching ability arises from compassion and empathy. Prabhupada was able to grasp the whole relationship of Prahlada Maharaja and Nrsimhadeva and give it to an audience—not of great scholars or long-time practicing sadhus—but to us ISKCON folk in 1977. He stressed the simplicity of Prahlada Maharaja’s approach: in a childlike way, he prostrated himself before Nrsimhadeva.

According to Prabhupada, Nrsimhadeva said to Prahlada, “It must have been very difficult for you to be tortured by your father, and then to witness his killing. Do not worry, do not be afraid. Now be pacified. I am here and you are all right, everything is all right.” When Prabhupada said, “Everything is all right,” I remembered how he had said that to me and to others at different times. He is our Lord Nrsimha protector.

Simple devotion to the Lord is what pleases Him. Prabhupada said, “Krsna is not unfeeling, He is not impersonal. He responds to your devotion.”