Sri Narasimha, the half man and half lion incarnation of Lord Vishnu is revered as one of the famed incarnations of the Lord. Lord Krishna declares in the Bhagavad-gita that He incarnates to protect His devotees from the harassment of demons and to reestablish the principles of Dharma.

Lord Narsimha appeared to save His dear devotee Prahlada by slaying his demoniac father Hiranyakashipu who tortured his son in an attempt to kill him.