NARSING DEVTA
The temple is situated in the heart of Joshimath on the old route to Badrinath through the Bazaar area. Of all the temples in Joshimath the Narasingha temple is the most magnificent. Carved from the Shaligram it was supposedly crafted in the eighth century during the reign of king Lalitaditya Yukta Pida of Kashmir. The Narasingha legend is fascinating one. Hiranyakashipu, the demon king worshiped Vishnu and received from him a boon that made him invincible and invulnerable to both man and beast. The boon also protected him from death, during day and night, indoor and outdoor.
Thus assured of immortality, the demon king showed his true color and declared himself to be a God. To end his tyranny Vishnu assumed the form of Narasingha , Half Man and Hal Lion. He then slew Hiranyakashipu when the sun had just half set, hence the time was neither day nor night. The act was done at the threshold, making it neither indoor nor outdoor. People believe that one day the hand of the idol will finally fall off and it is supposed that Badrinath shrine then shift to Bhavishya Badri.