narasimhanrisimhavishnulakshmi

𑌲𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍍𑌮𑍀𑌨𑍃𑌸𑌿𑌂𑌹 𑌕𑌰𑌾𑌵𑌲𑌮𑍍𑌬 𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍋𑌤𑍍𑌰

Lakshmi Narasimha Karavalamba Stotram in Grantha · 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

🕉️ hindu·📿 1× repetitions·🕐 Morning or evening; Saturdays and Narasimha Jayanti·🎵 Audio included·📜 Attributed to Adi Shankaracharya

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हिन्दी / देवनागरी తెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ English සිංහල𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

Origin & Story

Attributed to Adi Shankaracharya · Adi Shankaracharya · c. 8th century CE

Lord Narasimha is the fourth avatar of Vishnu — half-man, half-lion — who burst forth from a pillar to slay the tyrant Hiranyakashipu and save his devotee-son Prahlada, becoming the supreme symbol of God's protection of His devotees. In this hymn the great teacher Adi Shankaracharya pictures the soul drowning in the ocean of samsara — beset by lust, envy, delusion and the fear of death — and in verse after verse stretches out his arms to Lakshmi-Narasimha with the same cry: 'give me the support of your hand.'

✦ As told in scripture

Narasimha appeared from a stone pillar at twilight — neither man nor beast, neither inside nor outside, neither by day nor night — to fulfil Brahma's boon and yet destroy the demon who had abused it, proving that the Lord will break through anything to protect one who takes refuge in Him. Devotees in fear, illness or calamity recite this Karavalamba Stotram as a direct cry for that same rescuing hand.

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Complete Text with Meaning

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Verse 1

𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍀𑌮𑌤𑍍𑌪𑌯𑍋𑌨𑌿𑌧𑌿𑌨𑌿𑌕𑍇𑌤𑌨 𑌚𑌕𑍍𑌰𑌪𑌾𑌣𑍇 𑌭𑍋𑌗𑍀𑌨𑍍𑌦𑍍𑌰𑌭𑍋𑌗𑌮𑌣𑌿𑌰𑌞𑍍𑌜𑌿𑌤𑌪𑍁𑌣𑍍𑌯𑌮𑍂𑌰𑍍𑌤𑍇 । 𑌯𑍋𑌗𑍀𑌶 𑌶𑌾𑌶𑍍𑌵𑌤 𑌶𑌰𑌣𑍍𑌯 𑌭𑌵𑌾𑌬𑍍𑌧𑌿𑌪𑍋𑌤 𑌲𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍍𑌮𑍀𑌨𑍃𑌸𑌿𑌂𑌹 𑌮𑌮 𑌦𑍇𑌹𑌿 𑌕𑌰𑌾𑌵𑌲𑌮𑍍𑌬𑌮𑍍 ॥௧॥

Shrimatpayonidhiniketana chakrapane Bhogindrabhogamaniranjitapunyamurte Yogisha shashvata sharanya bhavabdhipota Lakshminrisimha mama dehi karavalambam

Meaning:O Lord who dwells in the glorious ocean of milk, holder of the discus; whose holy form is reddened by the gems on the hoods of Shesha, lord of serpents; O Lord of yogis, eternal, refuge of all, the boat that carries us across the ocean of worldly existence — O Lakshmi-Narasimha, give me the support of your hand.

Verse 2

𑌬𑍍𑌰𑌹𑍍𑌮𑍇𑌨𑍍𑌦𑍍𑌰𑌰𑍁𑌦𑍍𑌰𑌮𑌰𑍁𑌦𑌰𑍍𑌕𑌕𑌿𑌰𑍀𑌟𑌕𑍋𑌟𑌿 𑌸𑌙𑍍𑌘𑌟𑍍𑌟𑌿𑌤𑌾𑌙𑍍𑌘𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌕𑌮𑌲𑌾𑌮𑌲𑌕𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌿𑌕𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌤 । 𑌲𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍍𑌮𑍀𑌲𑌸𑌤𑍍𑌕𑍁𑌚𑌸𑌰𑍋𑌰𑍁𑌹𑌰𑌾𑌜𑌹𑌂𑌸 𑌲𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍍𑌮𑍀𑌨𑍃𑌸𑌿𑌂𑌹 𑌮𑌮 𑌦𑍇𑌹𑌿 𑌕𑌰𑌾𑌵𑌲𑌮𑍍𑌬𑌮𑍍 ॥௨॥

Brahmendrarudramarudarkakiritakoti Sanghattitanghrikamalamalakantikanta Lakshmilasatkuchasaroruharajahamsa Lakshminrisimha mama dehi karavalambam

Meaning:O Lord, the spotless radiance of whose lotus-feet is rendered beautiful by the touch of the millions of crowns of Brahma, Indra, Rudra, the Maruts and the Sun as they bow; O royal swan playing at the lotus-breast of Lakshmi — O Lakshmi-Narasimha, give me the support of your hand.

Verse 3

𑌸𑌂𑌸𑌾𑌰𑌘𑍋𑌰𑌗𑌹𑌨𑍇 𑌚𑌰𑌤𑍋 𑌮𑍁𑌰𑌾𑌰𑍇 𑌮𑌾𑌰𑍋𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌭𑍀𑌕𑌰𑌮𑍃𑌗𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌵𑌰𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌦𑌿𑌤𑌸𑍍𑌯 । 𑌆𑌰𑍍𑌤𑌸𑍍𑌯 𑌮𑌤𑍍𑌸𑌰𑌨𑌿𑌦𑌾𑌘𑌨𑌿𑌪𑍀𑌡𑌿𑌤𑌸𑍍𑌯 𑌲𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍍𑌮𑍀𑌨𑍃𑌸𑌿𑌂𑌹 𑌮𑌮 𑌦𑍇𑌹𑌿 𑌕𑌰𑌾𑌵𑌲𑌮𑍍𑌬𑌮𑍍 ॥௩॥

Samsaraghoragahane charato murare Marograbhikaramrigapravararditasya Artasya matsaranidaghanipiditasya Lakshminrisimha mama dehi karavalambam

Meaning:O Murari! As I wander in the terrible dense forest of worldly existence, tormented by the fierce dreadful beast of lust, afflicted and scorched by the summer-heat of envy — O Lakshmi-Narasimha, give me the support of your hand.

Verse 4

𑌸𑌂𑌸𑌾𑌰𑌕𑍂𑌪𑌮𑌤𑌿𑌘𑍋𑌰𑌮𑌗𑌾𑌧𑌮𑍂𑌲𑌂 𑌸𑌮𑍍𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌾𑌪𑍍𑌯 𑌦𑍁𑌃𑌖𑌶𑌤𑌸𑌰𑍍𑌪𑌸𑌮𑌾𑌕𑍁𑌲𑌸𑍍𑌯 । 𑌦𑍀𑌨𑌸𑍍𑌯 𑌦𑍇𑌵 𑌕𑍃𑌪𑌣𑌾𑌪𑌦𑌮𑌾𑌗𑌤𑌸𑍍𑌯 𑌲𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍍𑌮𑍀𑌨𑍃𑌸𑌿𑌂𑌹 𑌮𑌮 𑌦𑍇𑌹𑌿 𑌕𑌰𑌾𑌵𑌲𑌮𑍍𑌬𑌮𑍍 ॥௪॥

Samsarakupamatighoramagadhamulam Samprapya duhkhashatasarpasamakulasya Dinasya deva kripanapadamagatasya Lakshminrisimha mama dehi karavalambam

Meaning:Having fallen into the well of worldly existence — most terrible and bottomless — swarming with a hundred serpents of sorrow; wretched, O God, and come to pitiable calamity — O Lakshmi-Narasimha, give me the support of your hand.

Verse 5

𑌸𑌂𑌸𑌾𑌰𑌸𑌾𑌗𑌰𑌵𑌿𑌶𑌾𑌲𑌕𑌰𑌾𑌲𑌕𑌾𑌲 𑌨𑌕𑍍𑌰𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌹𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌸𑌨𑌨𑌿𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌹𑌵𑌿𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌹𑌸𑍍𑌯 । 𑌵𑍍𑌯𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌸𑍍𑌯 𑌰𑌾𑌗𑌰𑌸𑌨𑍋𑌰𑍍𑌮𑌿𑌨𑌿𑌪𑍀𑌡𑌿𑌤𑌸𑍍𑌯 𑌲𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍍𑌮𑍀𑌨𑍃𑌸𑌿𑌂𑌹 𑌮𑌮 𑌦𑍇𑌹𑌿 𑌕𑌰𑌾𑌵𑌲𑌮𑍍𑌬𑌮𑍍 ॥௫॥

Samsarasagaravishalakaralakala Nakragrahagrasananigrahavigrahasya Vyagrasya ragarasanorminipiditasya Lakshminrisimha mama dehi karavalambam

Meaning:In the vast and fearsome ocean of worldly existence, caught in the grip of the crocodile of Time, distressed and battered by the waves of the restless tongue of craving — O Lakshmi-Narasimha, give me the support of your hand.

Verse 6

𑌸𑌂𑌸𑌾𑌰𑌵𑍃𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌮𑌘𑌬𑍀𑌜𑌮𑌨𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌕𑌰𑍍𑌮 𑌶𑌾𑌖𑌾𑌶𑌤𑌂 𑌕𑌰𑌣𑌪𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌮𑌨𑌙𑍍𑌗𑌪𑍁𑌷𑍍𑌪𑌮𑍍 । 𑌆𑌰𑍁𑌹𑍍𑌯 𑌦𑍁𑌃𑌖𑌫𑌲𑌿𑌤𑌂 𑌪𑌤𑌤𑍋 𑌦𑌯𑌾𑌲𑍋 𑌲𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍍𑌮𑍀𑌨𑍃𑌸𑌿𑌂𑌹 𑌮𑌮 𑌦𑍇𑌹𑌿 𑌕𑌰𑌾𑌵𑌲𑌮𑍍𑌬𑌮𑍍 ॥௬॥

Samsaravrikshamaghabijamanantakarma Shakhashatam karanapatramanangapushpam Aruhya duhkhaphalitam patato dayalo Lakshminrisimha mama dehi karavalambam

Meaning:O Compassionate One! Having climbed the tree of worldly existence — whose seed is sin, whose root is endless karma, whose hundred branches are the deeds, whose leaves are the senses and whose flower is desire — I am falling, for its fruit is sorrow — O Lakshmi-Narasimha, give me the support of your hand.

Verse 7

𑌸𑌂𑌸𑌾𑌰𑌸𑌰𑍍𑌪𑌘𑌨𑌵𑌕𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌭𑌯𑍋𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌤𑍀𑌵𑍍𑌰 𑌦𑌂𑌷𑍍𑌟𑍍𑌰𑌾𑌕𑌰𑌾𑌲𑌵𑌿𑌷𑌦𑌗𑍍𑌧𑌵𑌿𑌨𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌮𑍂𑌰𑍍𑌤𑍇𑌃 । 𑌨𑌾𑌗𑌾𑌰𑌿𑌵𑌾𑌹𑌨 𑌸𑍁𑌧𑌾𑌬𑍍𑌧𑌿𑌨𑌿𑌵𑌾𑌸 𑌶𑍗𑌰𑍇 𑌲𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍍𑌮𑍀𑌨𑍃𑌸𑌿𑌂𑌹 𑌮𑌮 𑌦𑍇𑌹𑌿 𑌕𑌰𑌾𑌵𑌲𑌮𑍍𑌬𑌮𑍍 ॥௭॥

Samsarasarpaghanavaktrabhayogrativra Damshtrakaralavishadagdhavinashtamurteh Nagarivahana sudhabdhinivasa shaure Lakshminrisimha mama dehi karavalambam

Meaning:O Shauri, who rides the enemy of serpents (Garuda) and dwells in the ocean of nectar! My very form is destroyed, burnt by the dreadful venom of the cruel, terrible fangs in the dense mouth of the serpent of samsara — O Lakshmi-Narasimha, give me the support of your hand.

Verse 8

𑌸𑌂𑌸𑌾𑌰𑌦𑌾𑌵𑌦𑌹𑌨𑌾𑌤𑍁𑌰𑌭𑍀𑌕𑌰𑍋𑌰𑍁 𑌜𑍍𑌵𑌾𑌲𑌾𑌵𑌲𑍀𑌭𑌿𑌰𑌤𑌿𑌦𑌗𑍍𑌧𑌤𑌨𑍂𑌰𑍁𑌹𑌸𑍍𑌯 । 𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌤𑍍𑌪𑌾𑌦𑌪𑌦𑍍𑌮𑌸𑌰𑌸𑍀𑌶𑌰𑌣𑌾𑌗𑌤𑌸𑍍𑌯 𑌲𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍍𑌮𑍀𑌨𑍃𑌸𑌿𑌂𑌹 𑌮𑌮 𑌦𑍇𑌹𑌿 𑌕𑌰𑌾𑌵𑌲𑌮𑍍𑌬𑌮𑍍 ॥௮॥

Samsaradavadahanaturabhikaroru Jvalavalibhiratidagdhatanuruhasya Tvatpadapadmasarasisharanagatasya Lakshminrisimha mama dehi karavalambam

Meaning:The very hairs of my body are scorched by the dreadful, vast rows of flames of the forest-fire of worldly existence; distressed, I have taken refuge in the lake of your lotus-feet — O Lakshmi-Narasimha, give me the support of your hand.

Verse 9

𑌸𑌂𑌸𑌾𑌰𑌜𑌾𑌲𑌪𑌤𑌿𑌤𑌸𑍍𑌯 𑌜𑌗𑌨𑍍𑌨𑌿𑌵𑌾𑌸 𑌸𑌰𑍍𑌵𑍇𑌨𑍍𑌦𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌯𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌤𑌵𑌡𑌿𑌶𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥𑌝𑌷𑍋𑌪𑌮𑌸𑍍𑌯 । 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑍋𑌤𑍍𑌖𑌣𑍍𑌡𑌿𑌤𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌚𑍁𑌰𑌤𑌾𑌲𑍁𑌕𑌮𑌸𑍍𑌤𑌕𑌸𑍍𑌯 𑌲𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍍𑌮𑍀𑌨𑍃𑌸𑌿𑌂𑌹 𑌮𑌮 𑌦𑍇𑌹𑌿 𑌕𑌰𑌾𑌵𑌲𑌮𑍍𑌬𑌮𑍍 ॥௯॥

Samsarajalapatitasya jagannivasa Sarvendriyartavadisharthajhashopamasya Protkhanditaprachuratalukamastakasya Lakshminrisimha mama dehi karavalambam

Meaning:O Abode of the universe! I have fallen into the net of worldly existence, like a fish caught on the baited hook of the sense-objects, my palate and head torn through — O Lakshmi-Narasimha, give me the support of your hand.

Verse 10

𑌸𑌂𑌸𑌾𑌰𑌭𑍀𑌕𑌰𑌕𑌰𑍀𑌨𑍍𑌦𑍍𑌰𑌕𑌰𑌾𑌭𑌿𑌘𑌾𑌤 𑌨𑌿𑌷𑍍𑌪𑌿𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌮𑌰𑍍𑌮𑌵𑌪𑍁𑌷𑌃 𑌸𑌕𑌲𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌤𑌿𑌨𑌾𑌶 । 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌾𑌣𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌯𑌾𑌣𑌭𑌵𑌭𑍀𑌤𑌿𑌸𑌮𑌾𑌕𑍁𑌲𑌸𑍍𑌯 𑌲𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍍𑌮𑍀𑌨𑍃𑌸𑌿𑌂𑌹 𑌮𑌮 𑌦𑍇𑌹𑌿 𑌕𑌰𑌾𑌵𑌲𑌮𑍍𑌬𑌮𑍍 ॥௧௦॥

Samsarabhikarakarindrakarabhighata Nishpishtamarmavapushah sakalartinasha Pranaprayanabhavabhitisamakulasya Lakshminrisimha mama dehi karavalambam

Meaning:O Destroyer of all affliction! My vital frame is crushed by the blow of the trunk of the dreadful elephant of samsara, and I am overwhelmed by the terror of death and rebirth as my life-breath departs — O Lakshmi-Narasimha, give me the support of your hand.

Verse 11

𑌅𑌨𑍍𑌧𑌸𑍍𑌯 𑌮𑍇 𑌹𑍃𑌤𑌵𑌿𑌵𑍇𑌕𑌮𑌹𑌾𑌧𑌨𑌸𑍍𑌯 𑌚𑍋𑌰𑍈𑌃 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌭𑍋 𑌬𑌲𑌿𑌭𑌿𑌰𑌿𑌨𑍍𑌦𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌯𑌨𑌾𑌮𑌧𑍇𑌯𑍈𑌃 । 𑌮𑍋𑌹𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌧𑌕𑍂𑌪𑌕𑍁𑌹𑌰𑍇 𑌵𑌿𑌨𑌿𑌪𑌾𑌤𑌿𑌤𑌸𑍍𑌯 𑌲𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍍𑌮𑍀𑌨𑍃𑌸𑌿𑌂𑌹 𑌮𑌮 𑌦𑍇𑌹𑌿 𑌕𑌰𑌾𑌵𑌲𑌮𑍍𑌬𑌮𑍍 ॥௧௧॥

Andhasya me hritavivekamahadhanasya Choraih prabho balibhirindriyanamadheyaih Mohandhakupakuhare vinipatitasya Lakshminrisimha mama dehi karavalambam

Meaning:O Lord! I am blind, the great wealth of my discrimination stolen by the mighty thieves named the senses, and I am cast down into the dark hollow-pit of delusion — O Lakshmi-Narasimha, give me the support of your hand.

Verse 12

𑌲𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍍𑌮𑍀𑌪𑌤𑍇 𑌕𑌮𑌲𑌨𑌾𑌭 𑌸𑍁𑌰𑍇𑌶 𑌵𑌿𑌷𑍍𑌣𑍋 𑌵𑍈𑌕𑍁𑌣𑍍𑌠 𑌕𑍃𑌷𑍍𑌣 𑌮𑌧𑍁𑌸𑍂𑌦𑌨 𑌪𑍁𑌷𑍍𑌕𑌰𑌾𑌕𑍍𑌷 । 𑌬𑍍𑌰𑌹𑍍𑌮𑌣𑍍𑌯 𑌕𑍇𑌶𑌵 𑌜𑌨𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌦𑌨 𑌵𑌾𑌸𑍁𑌦𑍇𑌵 𑌦𑍇𑌵𑍇𑌶 𑌦𑍇𑌹𑌿 𑌕𑍃𑌪𑌣𑌸𑍍𑌯 𑌕𑌰𑌾𑌵𑌲𑌮𑍍𑌬𑌮𑍍 ॥௧௨॥

Lakshmipate kamalanabha suresha vishno Vaikuntha krishna madhusudana pushkaraksha Brahmanya keshava janardana vasudeva Devesha dehi kripanasya karavalambam

Meaning:O Consort of Lakshmi, lotus-naveled, Lord of the gods, Vishnu; Vaikuntha, Krishna, slayer of Madhu, lotus-eyed; well-wisher of the holy, Keshava, Janardana, Vasudeva — O Lord of gods, give this wretched one the support of your hand.

Verse 13

𑌯𑌨𑍍𑌮𑌾𑌯𑌯𑍋𑌰𑍍𑌜𑌿𑌤𑌵𑌪𑍁𑌃𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌚𑍁𑌰𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌵𑌾𑌹 𑌮𑌗𑍍𑌨𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥𑌮𑌤𑍍𑌰 𑌨𑌿𑌵𑌹𑍋𑌰𑍁𑌕𑌰𑌾𑌵𑌲𑌮𑍍𑌬𑌮𑍍 । 𑌲𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍍𑌮𑍀𑌨𑍃𑌸𑌿𑌂𑌹𑌚𑌰𑌣𑌾𑌬𑍍𑌜𑌮𑌧𑍁𑌵𑍍𑌰𑌤𑍇𑌨 𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍋𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌂 𑌕𑍃𑌤𑌂 𑌸𑍁𑌖𑌕𑌰𑌂 𑌭𑍁𑌵𑌿 𑌶𑌙𑍍𑌕𑌰𑍇𑌣 ॥௧௩॥

Yanmayayorjitavapuhprachurapravaha Magnarthamatra nivahorukaravalambam Lakshminrisimhacharanabjamadhuvratena Stotram kritam sukhakaram bhuvi shankarena

Meaning:This blissful hymn was composed on earth by Shankara — a honey-bee at the lotus-feet of Lakshmi-Narasimha — as a great supporting hand for the multitude drowning in the abundant flood of births wrought by His maya.

Word-by-Word Meaning

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𑌨𑍃𑌸𑌿𑌂𑌹🔊NrisimhaThe man-lion — the fierce protective avatar of Vishnu who slew Hiranyakashipu

𑌕𑌰𑌾𑌵𑌲𑌮𑍍𑌬𑌮𑍍🔊KaravalambamThe support/help of the hand — a hand extended to lift one up

𑌸𑌂𑌸𑌾𑌰🔊SamsaraThe cycle of worldly existence — birth, death and suffering

𑌭𑌵𑌾𑌬𑍍𑌧𑌿𑌪𑍋𑌤🔊Bhavabdhi-potaThe boat that ferries the soul across the ocean of existence

𑌮𑍁𑌰𑌾𑌰𑍇🔊MurareO slayer of the demon Mura — an epithet of Vishnu/Krishna

𑌦𑍇𑌹𑌿🔊DehiGive, grant, bestow (imperative)

Benefits of Chanting Lakshmi Narasimha Karavalamba Stotram

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A heartfelt prayer of total surrender (sharanagati) to Lord Narasimha, asking for His hand to lift the devotee out of the ocean of worldly suffering.

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Traditionally recited for protection from fear, danger, enemies, illness and untimely death — Narasimha is the supreme protector who appears for His devotees.

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Said to dissolve the terrors of samsara — lust, anger, envy, delusion and the fear of death — described vividly in its thirteen verses.

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Brings courage, refuge and inner steadiness to those overwhelmed by calamity, grief or crippling anxiety.

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Composed by Adi Shankaracharya; recited daily, on Saturdays, and especially on Narasimha Jayanti.

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Each verse ends with the same surrendered plea — 'O Lakshmi-Narasimha, give me the support of your hand' — making it a powerful refrain for japa and meditation.

How to Chant Lakshmi Narasimha Karavalamba Stotram

Repetitions1times

Best TimeMorning or evening; Saturdays and Narasimha Jayanti

FaceEast or North

After bathing, sit before an image of Bhagavan Narasimha (ideally Lakshmi-Narasimha). Light a lamp, and recite the thirteen verses slowly and with feeling, dwelling on the refrain 'Lakshmi-Narasimha mama dehi karavalambam' as a prayer of complete surrender. It may be read once daily, or its single verses repeated as japa in times of fear or distress.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete Lakshmi Narasimha Karavalamba Stotram written in the Grantha script — the same Sanskrit/Hindi verses, transliterated character-by-character so you can read and chant comfortably. Tap any line (or the ▶ button) to hear it recited aloud.

Yes — only the script changes; the words and their meaning are the original. The verse-by-verse meaning, benefits and how-to-chant guidance on this page apply exactly the same.

It is a famous 13-verse Sanskrit hymn to Lord Narasimha (the man-lion avatar of Vishnu) with His consort Lakshmi, composed by Adi Shankaracharya. In each verse the devotee describes the terrors of worldly existence and pleads, 'O Lakshmi-Narasimha, give me the support of your hand (karavalamba).'

'Karavalamba' means 'the support of the hand' — a helping hand extended to lift someone who is drowning or falling. The whole stotra is a prayer asking Narasimha to reach out His hand and rescue the soul from the ocean of samsara.

It is chanted as a prayer of surrender for protection from fear, danger, disease and untimely death, and to cross the sufferings of worldly life. Narasimha is revered as the supreme protector of devotees, and this hymn is especially powerful in times of crisis.

It can be recited daily, morning or evening. Saturdays and Narasimha Jayanti (the appearance day of Lord Narasimha, in the month of Vaishakha) are considered especially auspicious.