Retelling Nara Sinha's Myth
You can read about Narasimha on wikipedia. He is considered the fourth avatar of the Hindu god Vishnu. He incarnated as a part-lion, part-man to kill a tyrant named Hiranyakshipu, thereby restoring balance.
He is one of 10 or 12 avatars of Vishnu, depending on your source. Vishnu is the energy of the universe as embodied by his blue skin, representing the cosmos or oceans. Consider for a moment that the Buddha is also an avatar of Vishnu.
Narasimha is worshipped in India to this day. He is known as a fierce deity with strong shakti energy. He is a protector god, a master of Yoga and time.
I was researching lion-headed or lion-related warriors and heroes in Indian (subcontinental) ancient history when I came across his story. His character intrigued. He seems to pop in and out of Hindu mythology, usually to confront an unstoppable force.
I decided he would define one of my characters in my retelling. I would maintain the essence of how he and the characters of his story are perceived. He is wild and independent. He stands apart from the pantheon of Hindu gods. On occasion, he needs to be calmed down as he is known for his righteous anger.
In A Lion's Head, he is a construct of the gods. This is the beginning of his journey. He is simply Sinha, a character naive about relationships, yet holding a seed of the Tree of Knowledge. He is appreciated for his defeat of Hiranyakshipu and yet he is feared. He is recognized by the humans he has saved, yet he is pushed to stand on a pedestal. He has no family to fall back on. He is alone.
Through my writing, he experiences the joys of friendship and family. Through his choices he becomes legendary, embodying the god that is worshipped today.
Sign up for the free monthly digest.
- Read the first chapter of Sinha's story.
- Access my short stories set in the ancient world.
- Access the archive—my journey to becoming an author.
Here's a link to the introduction and first chapter.
D.M. De Alwis
Member discussion