Narayana

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Lakshmi with Vishnu-Narayana at Vaikuntha

Narayana (or Narayan or Naraina) is an important Sanskrit name for Vishnu, and in many contemporary vernaculars a common Indian name. Narayana is also identified as the original man, Purusha. The Puranas present divergent views on Narayana. In the Kurma Purana he is identified with Brahman and Krishna-Vishnu. He is considered to be the 1st Acaraya of the Adwaitha school of tought as Adi Shankaracharya mentions in his text & works.^[1]

In the Mahabharata, Krishna is often referred to as Narayana and Arjuna as Nara.^[2] The epic identifies them both in plural 'Krishnas', or as part incarnations of the earlier incarnations of Vishnu, recalling their mystical identity as Nara-Narayana.^[3]

Etymology

The fifth verse of the Narayana Sukta, a hymn in Yajurveda, states that Narayana pervades whatever is seen or heard in this universe from inside and outside alike. Another important translation of Narayana is "The First Being", according to the Manu Smriti. The waters are called narah, [for] the waters are, indeed, produced by Nara [the first Being]; as they were his first residence [ayana], he is called Narayana. ^[5] In Sanskrit, "Nara" can also refer to all human beings or living entities (Jivas). Therefore, another meaning of Narayana is 'resting place for all living entities'. The close association of Narayana with water explains the frequent depiction of Narayana in Hindu art as standing or sitting on an ocean.

The Narayana Upanishad of the Krishna Yajur Veda states that the Narayana Mantra is the crowning message of the Sama-veda. The Upanishad explains — In the beginning one vibrates "Om," then "Namo," and thereafter "Narayanaya." Om has one syllable; Namo has two syllables; Narayanaya is five syllabled. Together these make the eight jewelled syllable Narayana-mantra. One who recites this Narayana-mantra is free from fame with a pure heart and attains all: life, offspring, wealth, health and cows. Thereafter that person achieves to immortality, the spiritual world. Indeed he achieves the spiritual world. In this way it is understood.^[6]

The Narayana Upnaishad states that Narayana is the eternal being: and therefore Narayana is Brahma. Narayana is Shiva. Narayana is Indra. Narayana is time. Narayana is the primary directions. Narayana is the subdirections. Narayana is above. Narayana is below. Narayana is within and without. Narayana is certainly everything; past, present and future. He is 'nishkalam' without material parts [although all beings are part of Narayana]. Being free from all falsehood, matter, He is 'niranjanah' or Brahman. He is without any master 'nirvikalpah.' He is 'nirakhyatah' invisible to the masses in general [even though He is everywhere]. Narayana is the pure effulgent Supreme Personality of Godhead: no one else, without a second to compare. He, Lord Narayana, manifests in this world as Shri Vishnu. Certainly, He appears as Shri Vishnu.

Atha nithyo Narayana. Brahma Narayana
Shivascha Narayana. Shankrascha Narayana.
Kaalascha Narayana. Disascha Narayana.
Vidhisascha Narayana.Oordhwascha Narayana.
Adhascha Narayana. Anthar bahischa Narayana.
Narayana eevedam sarva yad bhootham yachcha bhavyam.
Nish kalanko niranjano Nirvikalpo niraakhyatha.
shabho deva eka Narayano na dwitheyesthi kaschit.
Ya evam veda sa vishnureva bhavathi sa Vishnureva bhavathi.

In Mahabharat, Naar means water in human (Nar) body, is residence (Aayan) of God (Naarayan).^[7] Another interpretation of the word Narayana sees Nara meaning "human" and Ayana as "direction/goal". Some view Narayana as meaning "son of man." Hence Narayana refers to the "direction of a human" (or the one that helps a human to his/her goal, i.e. towards moksha). Nara is related to moksha as both are rooted to the Water element (Ap), one of the Great Elements (Mahābhūta). (See also Tattva). Srimad Bhagavatam states that 'Yesha tu Narayanam devam adevam isham' ('Narayan is the lord of the lords beyond him there is nothing exists'). Whoever worships with love and devotion achieves the highest destination Vaikuntha. (G as Generator, O as Operator and D as Destroyer hence GOD)

The religion propagated by Lord Krishna was known as Narayaniya or Pancharatna earlier and later because the Satvat sect adopted and followed it assumed the name Satvat. Later on, people started believing in the fact that Nar-Narayana were none other than Arjuna and Sri Krishna themselves. Hence, it got labelled also as 'Bhagwat religion.^[8]

Variations

This unreferenced section requires citations to ensure verifiability.

• Narayanasamy
• Narayanaswamy
• Narayan
• Narayanan
• Narine
• Narayanaswami
• Narain

Religious uses

This unreferenced section requires citations to ensure verifiability.

• Narayana is appears as the 245th name for Vishnu in the Vishnu sahasranama (See Vaishnava Theology).
• Narayana is also the original name for Supreme Being from whom everything exists. It is observed in the Bhagavat Mahapuran and the Rig Veda that "Narayana devam adevam isham" or, Narayana is the only lord and beyond him there is no other. Therefore, great sages like Devarshi Narada always chant "Narayan, Narayan" and "Sriman Narayan".
• Narayan in the Narayana Sukta mantras is held to be the primeval Lord from whom everything originates. It is also said that from the Universal form of Narayana, Brahma, Hari and Siva are created for creation, preservation and destruction of the whole cosmos. To protect the universe it is said, he took 21 incarnations. The universal form of Narayana is mentioned in the Maha Narayana Upanisad as "Om sahasra sreesam devam vishwakhyam vishwa sambhubam, viswam Narayana devam aksharam paramam padam" meaning, the universal form of Narayana has thousands of heads, eyes, limbs and he is the indestructible seed whose feet are the ultimate shelter for all.
• The book, Sri Ramanuja, His Life, Religion, and Philosophy, states that the name "Narayana" means, "He who is the dwelling place i.e. the source, support and dissolving ground of all Jivas or souls, including inert matter."
• While performing a puja, people often say all the 108 names of Narayana.

A verse that confers the Devas' subordinate status comes from the Vishnu sahasranama, whose concluding verses state: "The Rishis (great sages), ancestors, the Devas, the great elements, in fact, all things moving and unmoving constituting this universe have originated from Narayana." This verse indicates that the Devas are subordinate to Vishnu, but Vishnu is often named a Deva. (Vasudeva, Narasimhadeva, etc.)

Rarity of devotees of Narayana

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Vedas say that devotees of Narayana, Vishnu are quite rare, and still more rare are those who are pure devotees (of Vishnu, Narayana, Krishna). "nava-kotyas tu devanam rishayah sapta-kotayah narayanayanah sarve ye kecit tat-parayanah" "There are ninety million demigods and seventy million sages,^{[disambiguation needed ]} who are all called narayanayana, devotees of Lord Narayana. Among them, only a few are called narayana-parayana/direct devotees are called narayana-parayanas/."

Secular uses

This unreferenced section requires citations to ensure verifiability.

• Among the many people with the name Narayan are the novelist R.K. Narayan, the 10th President of India K. R. Narayanan, Infosys founder and Non-Executive Chairman of the board N. R. Narayana Murthy, the political activist Jayaprakash Narayan, the singer Udit Narayan and the Indo-Fijian stateswoman Irene Jai Narayan. Prithvi Narayan Shah founded the kingdom of Nepal

• There is also song "Narayan" by The Prodigy on their The Fat of the Land album, with the lyrical line "Om Namah Narayana". The song is co-composed and sung by Crispian Mills, singer and frontman of the English psychedelic rock band Kula Shaker. Kula Shaker covers the song in a version named "Song of Love/Narayana" in their Strangefolk album.

• In the video game Grand Theft Auto 2 from the Grand Theft Auto series, Narayana is the name of a neighbourhood occupied by the Hare Krishna street gang.

• In the video game Myst III: Exile, the final age to which the player travels is called Narayan. It consists of an ocean extending to the horizon, beneath a clouded sky in which float trees, suspended by bubbly "pearls" released periodically by the ocean.

• The name of the Siamese king Narai (r. 1656-1688) is a Thai pronunciation of Narayana.

See also

References

External links

• Name of Narayana even at the time of death can save a great sinner, Ajamila.
• http://www.srivaishnavan.com/ans_secrets.html (See Answer #14.)
• http://www.ayurvedacollege.com/articles/drhalpern/om_namo_narayanaya Om Namo Narayana and Ayurveda

v t e Avatars of Vishnu Dashavatara Matsya Kurma Varaha Narasimha Vamana Parashurama Rama Krishna Balarama1 Buddha1 Kalki Other avatars Catursana Narada Nara-Narayana Kapila Dattatreya Yajna Rishabha Prithu Dhanvantari Mohini Vyasa Prsnigarbha Hayagriva Hamsa 1 Buddha or Balarama is considered the avatar of Vishnu, depending on the tradition. In North India, Buddha is included and in South India, Balarama.