The fourth avatar out of the 10 avatars of Lord Vishnu was the Narasimha avatar in which Vishnu appears in a half-human and half-lion form. The legend behind it is found in the Hindu scriptures, specifically in the Bhagavad Purana and the Vishnu Purana.According to the legend, Lord Vishnu took the form of Narasimha to defeat the demon king Hiranyakashipu. The demon king had a boon of invincibility and was terrorizing the world and trying to kill his son Prahlada, a devotee of Lord Vishnu. Lord Vishnu protected Prahlada and killed Hiranyakashipu by tearing his chest with his claws.This legend, like the previous one, is believed to symbolize the triumph of good over evil and the power of devotion to Lord Vishnu. The Narasimha avatar is also seen as a representation of the power of Lord Vishnu to protect his devotees and the importance of devotion in attaining salvation.
