This Narasimha defies conventional iconography, as it combines Ugra Narasimha and Lakshminarasimha. Two episodes combined into a single bronze.

Ugra Narasimha story: Vishnu took the Narasimha (man-lion) avatar to conquer Hiranyakasipu. See the blog on Narasimha for more details. Here you see Narasimha with Hiranyakasipu on his lap, tearing Hiranyakasipu’s abdomen. It is Narasimha’s baktha, Prahalad, standing on his right.

Lakshminarasimha story: According to one version, after killing Hirankasipu, Narasimha’s anger did not subside, and he continued his destructive activities. Upon request from other Gods, Lakshmi, Vishnu’s consort, went and sat on Narasimha’s lap. That pacified Narasimha. That form is Lakshminarasimha.

Here, the artist has combined the two episodes, Narasimha killing Hiranyakasipu and Lakshmi pacifying Narasimha, in one sculpture. The combining of multiple scenes in one visual representation is not uncommon in paintings. This is the first such depiction that I have come across in bronze.

Going by the way the pillars are depicted, this Vigraha is from the Northern part of India (Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, and Western Uttar Pradesh). This Vigraha is about 11 cm in height and may be dated to the eighteenth century.