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Shiv's Sharabh form is mentioned in Atharv Ved. When Vishnu took Narasinh Avataar to kill Hiranyakashyap, He did not get pacified even after killing him, so Shiv had to come to pacify Him. He came in the form of Sharabh Dev. Shiv depicts himself in his winged form in his Sharabh Avataar. Images of the Devee's are iconographically depicted on his body. Narasinh sits nearby, the destroyed demon Hiranyakashyap keeping on his lap, with Prahlaad and Lakshmee nearby.

The Puraan describe Narasinh Dev's pastime of killing demons, saying that the Lord consumed every drop of Hiranyakashyap's blood, then wore the demon's mangled body as a garland to make sure that none of the demon's physical remains made contact with the universe.

After the destruction, Prahlaad, Lakshmee and various demigods attempted to soothe the Lord's anger, but without success. Coming at the request of the Rishi and demigods, then Shiv, along with Shree Shoolinee and Pratyankiraa Devee and their respective entourages, manifested his supremely aggressive Sharabheshwar form. He embraced Shree Narasinh, cooled him down and made him accessible to all beings. This Sharabheshwar Swaroop is Shiv's universal Omkaar form.

Narasinh Dev's post-destruction and disappearance pastimes were not discussed in any detail by Gaudeeyaa Vaishnav Sampradaaya Aachaarya. While numerous temple deities, painted images and Shaastrik references are found to Shiv's Sharabh form. The major Puraan, like Bhaagvat, do not mention the Sharabh forms of Narasinh and Shiv. Likewise, no mention appears to have been made in the Upa-Puraan too, like the Narasinh Puraan, or other Upanishads associated with Narasinh Dev. Rather, they stop at the point in the Leelaa pastime with the destruction of Hiranyakashyap and the pacification of the Lord's anger by Bhakt Prahlaad and the demigods and goddesses.

Although the post-destruction pastimes are not mentioned in the primary Shaastra, there are many references found to Shiv Sharabh and to Narasinh Dev's own Sharabh form. Included amongst them are references to Narasinh's form as Gand Bheroo Naad, a rare two-headed bird incarnation worshipped in Southern India, as well as two versions of a pastime wherein Shiv Sharabh actually fought with and killed Lord Narasinh Dev. Some have concluded that this incarnation of Shiv was simply created by a group of South Indian Shaivites as a means to position Shiv as being greater than Vishnu.

In the Atharv Ved Upanishad, the 10th of the 31 Upanishad is the Sharabh Upanishad, which glorifies Shiv in his fierce Sharabh manifestation. Verse 3 of this Upanishad states that Maheshwar took the form of Sharabh and killed Narasinh. What follows is a translation by PR Ramachander:

Sharabh Upanishad

Om ! O Devas, may we hear with our ears what is auspicious;
May we see with our eyes what is auspicious, O ye worthy of worship !
May we enjoy the term of life allotted by the Devas,
Praising them with our body and limbs steady !
May the glorious Indra bless us !
May the all-knowing Sun bless us !
May Garuda, the thunderbolt for evil, bless us !
May Brihaspati grant us well-being !
Om ! Let there be Peace in me !
Let there be Peace in my environment !
Let there be Peace in the forces that act on me !

I am saluting that primeval God who is the Lord, who is the best, who is the father of the world, who is the greatest among gods, who has created Brahma, who gave all Vedas to Brahma in the beginning, who is the father of Vishnu and other Devtaa, who merits praise, and who at the time of deluge destroys the world. He is the only one who is greater than every body, who is the best and who rules over others. [1-2]

That very strong Maheshwar took the horrifying form of Sharabh and killed Narasinh who was destroying the world. (Sharabh is the Avataar of Shiv which is a combination of eagle, lion and man.) [3]

That god with his sharp claws tore, Vishnu who took the form of Narasinh. He who was wearing the hide became Veerabhadra. [4]

For every one desiring to get all occult powers, he is the one who should be meditated. Salutations to that Rudra who tore away the fifth head of Brahmaa. [5]

Salutations to that Rudra who kicked Kaal, the God of death, and made him fall and also him who drank the burning Halaahal poison. [6]

Salutations to that Rudra whose feet were worshipped by the flower of Vishnu’s eyes and who being pleased gave him the holy wheel (Chakra). [7]

The one, who has crossed sorrows, sees that God, who is atom within an atom, gross among the gross, who as Aatmaa hidden in the heart of beings and who is beyond physical action, clearly because of these reasons. [8]

Salutations to that Rudra who is the greatest god, who holds the Shool (spear) in his hand, who has a big swallowing mouth, who is the Maheswara and whose blessing has good effects. [9]

“Char”, indicates beings which move and because Brahmam shines in the half of their body as Hari, it is called Sharabham. Hey great sage, that can grant salvation directly. [10]

Any twice born who reads this, which is called “the great Shaastra of Pippalaad” or makes others read it, would get rid of births and deaths and attain salvation. The Upanishad tells that he will become similar to Brahmaa.

Om ! O Devas, may we hear with our ears what is auspicious;
May we see with our eyes what is auspicious, O ye worthy of worship !
May we enjoy the term of life allotted by the Devas,
Praising them with our body and limbs steady !
May the glorious Indra bless us !
May the all-knowing Sun bless us !
May Garud, the thunderbolt for evil, bless us !
May Brihaspati grant us well-being !
Om ! Let there be Peace in me !
Let there be Peace in my environment !
Let there be Peace in the forces that act on me !
Here ends the Sharabhopanishad, as contained in the Atharv Ved.

Other References to Sharabh

In the Shree Narasinh Sahastra Naam, the thousand names of Narasinh Dev (which was translated by Kusakratha Dasa), the name "Sharabh" is included as one of the names of Narasinh Dev which was recited by Brahmaa Jee to calm down the Lord's anger after he had killed Hiranyakashyap.

"Obeisance to Lord Narasinh, who gives religion, economic development, sense gratification and liberation (Dharm, Arth, Kaam, Moksh) , who is always aloof from matter (Vi-rakt), who is the most pure (Bhaav-Shuddh), who is perfect (Siddh), who is the goal of spiritual life (Saadhya), who is ferocious like a Sharabh monster (Sharabh)…"

The Shiv Puraan describes Sharabh, also known as Sharabheshwar, as follows :--
"He had a thousand hands and wore matted locks. His head was adorned by the crested Moon. He appeared like a bird with wings and beak. His body was fierce and fully developed. His fangs were very sharp. Adamantine claws were his weapons. His neck was black in color. He had huge arms and four legs. He was blazing like fire. His voice was resonant and terrible like the rumbling sound of the clouds that gather at the end of the Yug. His three eyes were wide and blazing as the fire of the evil spirit of great fury. His fangs and lips were clearly visible. He was producing a hissing sound of Humkaar. Shiv of such a form appeared in sight."

In addition to the description of Sharabheshwar's advent in Atharv Ved, his mention is also found in the Ling Puraan, Skand Puraan and Brahmaand Puraan too. Special mention is made in Rig Ved and Taittireeya Upanishad as well, at the Uttar Bhaag of Shree Lalitaa Sahastra Naam.

Paayaanno Dev Sharabastwa Payaat, Sathaarirogath Vipinorakaapyam
Vaishwaanaro Kugari Ritchakebya, Prethebhyo Bhoothebhyo Rusha Krudanthan
(Atharv Ved)

The Vaidik Mantra affirm that one's all sins are wiped away by chanting the powerful Mantra of Shree Sharabh. Ved Vyaas in the 96th chapter of his Ling Puraan categorically states that those who worship Shree Sharabheshwar will be rid of all afflictions caused by bad dreams, chronic ailments, poisonous bites, disasters caused by earthquake, floods, cyclone, thunder, lightning, etc ----

Sarv Vighn Prashamaanam, Sarv Vyaadhi Vinaashanam
Arichakra Prashamaanam, Sarv Dukh Vinaashanam,
Atraanyotpad Bookamba taavagni Paamasu Vrishtishu
Tatho duh-swapn Shamanam, Sarv Bhoot Nivaaranam,
Vish Graha Kshayakaram Putra putraadi Vardhanam
Tatraaksh Daaranam Kuryaat Jangamaangey Varaananey
(Ling Puraan, Chapter 96)

One rendition (source unknown) of Lord Narasinh Dev's post-destruction pastime with Sharabh is described as follows :--

"Unfortunately his anger and fierceness did not subside, even after annihilation of the demon and the three worlds trembled in fear. All the Devtaa headed by Brahmaa appealed to Shiv to appease the anger of Narasinh. The compassionate Shiv sent his lieutenant Aghor Veerbhadra to do the job, but in vain. The Rajo Gun caused by tasting the blood of the demon did not let Narasinh calm down. Veerbhadra then, unable to subdue Narasinh, prayed to Shiv to intervene.

There appeared the most terrible form of a combination of man, bird and animal. It was a queer combination of man with Sharabh (Bird) and Yaali (animal), celebratedly known and worshipped by the name Shree Sharabheshwar, being the 30th Avataar of Lord Shiv amongst his 64 incarnations.

Shree Sharabheshwar, sporting two huge wings, (representing Shoolinee Durgaa and Pratyankiraa Devee), eight legs, the nose of an eagle, four arms carrying fire, serpent, a deer and the Ankush, with fingers having sharp nails looking very fierce and turbulent, came flying and comforted Narasinh with his two wings to calm down. But the fiery energy stored in Narasinh came out in the form of a bird called "Kandaberunda" and started to fight with Sharabh, and this divine encounter continued for 18 days.

Then Sharabheshwar decided to conclude this Leelaa (sport). By his will, Pratyankiraa Devee came out of one of his wings, took a huge physical form, gulped the Kandaberunda bird and brought its end. Narasinh realizing his erroneous action, praised Sharabheshwar with beautiful epithets, which later became the Ashtottar (108 Names) of the victorious Lord.

Shiv then revealed to all Devtaa that : "To annihilate the Asur, Narasinh had to come, and to appease Narasinh, I had come as Sharabheshwar. Be aware that we are both one and the same like water and water, milk and milk, ghee and ghee, both inseparable and to be worshipped as one."

Yathaa Jale Jalam, Kshiptam, Ksheeram, Ksheeray, Krutang Krute Yekayev Tathaa Vishnu Shiv Leeto Nachanyat

Brahmaa, out of gratitude for saving the universe from the anger of Narasinh, worshipped Sharabheshwar with Shree Sharabheshwar Ashtottar Stotra. At the very appearance of Sharabheshwar, glittering like thousand Suns, the rage of Narasinh subsided and the entire universe heaved with relief. Let Shree Sharabheshwar protect us for ever, from any disaster.

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