Narasimha Avatar

Hiranyakashipu had received an extraordinary boon from Lord Brahma — he could not be killed by man or beast; not during day or night; not by weapon or tool; not inside or outside; not on earth or in the sky. This boon made him believe he was immortal. His son Prahlad was a devoted worshipper of Vishnu. Hiranyakashipu tried many times to kill Prahlad, but Vishnu protected him each time. One day, the furious demon king pointed to a pillar and demanded to know if Prahlad's Vishnu existed even inside it. Prahlad calmly replied that God exists everywhere. Hiranyakashipu smashed the pillar with his mace. From within it, Lord Vishnu emerged in the form of Narasimha — half-man, half-lion. He seized Hiranyakashipu and sat on the threshold (neither inside nor outside), at twilight (neither day nor night), placed the demon on his lap (neither earth nor sky), and tore him apart with his claws (neither weapon nor tool). Every condition of the boon was fulfilled. Prahlad then prayed to Lord Narasimha, and the fierce deity's anger was calmed.