Narayana

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This article is about form of Vishnu. For the divine sage, see Nara-Narayana. For other uses, see Narayan (disambiguation).
Narayana
Protector of the Worlds
Bhudevi, and Niladevi

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Vaishnavism
Closeup of Vishnu, seated in the lotus position on a lotus. From depiction of the poet Jayadeva bowing to Vishnu, Gouache on paper Pahari, The very picture of devotion, bare-bodied, head bowed, legs crossed and hands folded, Jayadeva stands at left, with the implements of worship placed before the lotus-seat of Vishnu who sits there, blessing the poet.
Supreme deity
Vishnu / Krishna / Rama
Important deities
Dashavatara
Other forms
Consorts
Related
Holy scriptures
Puranas
Sampradayas
Others
Teachers—acharyas
Related traditions

Narayana (

masculine principle and associated with his role of creation.[3] He is also known as Purushottama, and is considered the Supreme Being in Vaishnavism.[4][5][6][7]

Etymology

Narayan Aiyangar states the meaning of the Sanskrit word 'Narayana' can be traced back to the Laws of Manu (also known as the Manusmriti, a Dharmaśāstra text),[8] which states:

The waters are called narah, (for) the waters are, indeed, the offspring of Nara; as they were his first residence (ayana), he thence is named Narayana.

— Chapter 1, Verse 10[9]

This definition is used throughout post-Vedic literature such as the Mahabharata and the Vishnu Purana.[10][8] 'Narayana' is also defined as the 'son of the primeval man',[11] and 'Supreme Being who is the foundation of all men'.[12]

  • 'Nara' (Sanskrit नार) means 'water' and 'man'[13]
  • 'Yana' (Sanskrit यान) means 'vehicle', 'vessel', or more loosely, 'abode' or 'home'[14]

L. B. Keny proposes that Narayana was associated with the

Indus Valley Civilisation, prior to his syncretism with Vishnu. To this end, he states that the etymology of the deity is associated with the Dravidian nara, meaning ‘water’, ay, which in Tamil means "to lie in a place", and an, which is the masculine termination in Dravidian languages. He asserts that this is also the reason why Narayana is represented as lying on a serpent in the sea. He quotes, "This Nārāyana of the Āryan pantheon seems to be the supreme being of the Mohenjo-Darians, a god who was probably styled Ān, a name still kept in Tamil literature as Āndivanam, the prototype of the historic Siva".[15][16][17]

Description

In the Vedas and the Puranas, Narayana is described as having the divine blackish-blue color of water-filled clouds, four-armed, holding a Padma (lotus), Kaumodaki (mace), Panchajanya shankha (conch), and the Sudarshana Chakra (discus).

Hinduism

Badami Cave Temples in Karnataka
Main article: Hinduism

As stated in the epic Itihāsa, the Mahabharata:

I am Narayana, the Source of all things, the Eternal, the Unchangeable. I am the Creator of all things, and the Destroyer also of all. I am

Kasyapa
the lord of the created things. And, O best of regenerate ones, I am he called Dhatri, and he also that is called Vidhatri, and I am Sacrifice embodied. Fire is my mouth, the earth my feet, and the Sun and the Moon are my eyes; the Heaven is the crown of my head, the firmament and the cardinal points are my ears; the waters are born of my sweat. Space with the cardinal points are my body, and the Air is my mind...

...And, O Brahmana, whatever is obtained by men by the practice of truth, charity, ascetic austerities, and peace and harmlessness towards all creatures, and such other handsome deeds, is obtained because of my arrangements. Governed by my ordinance, men wander within my body, their senses overwhelmed by me. They move not according to their will but as they are moved by me.

— Mahabharata (translated by Kisari Mohan Ganguli, 1883-1896), Book 3, Varna Parva, Chapter CLXXXVIII (188)[10]

As per texts like the Vishnu Purana, Bhagavata Purana, Garuda Purana, and the Padma Purana, Narayana is Vishnu himself, who incarnates in various avatars.

According to the

Supreme Personality of Godhead, who engages in the creation of 14 worlds within the universe Brahma who is Deity of rajas-guna, himself sustains, maintains and preserves the universe as Vishnu by accepting sattva-guna. Narayana himself annihilates the universe at the end of Maha-Kalpa as Kalagni Rudra who is presiding deity of tamas-guna
.

According to the

Narayana Sukta, and the Narayana Upanishad
from the Vedas, he is the ultimate soul.

According to

Dvaita schools of Vedanta. They are mechanisms by which the universe is ordered, was created, and evolves. Narayana possesses the chatur-vyuha aspects of Vasudeva, Sankarshana, Pradyumna, and Aniruddha, who evolve one after the other in the development of the universe. In the Mahabharata, Krishna is also synonymous with Narayana and Arjuna is referred to as Nara.[19] 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.[20]

Narayana is also described in the Bhagavad Gita as having a universal form (Vishvarupa) which is beyond the ordinary limits of human perception or imagination.[21]

In the Narayana Sukta, Narayana is essentially the supreme force and/or essence of all: 'Nārāyaṇa parabrahman tatvam Nārāyaṇa paraha'.[22]

Narayana's eternal and supreme abode beyond the material universe is

Shesha in his reclining ananta shayana form,[24]
is also perceived as Vaikuntha within the material universe.

The Śruti texts mention Narayana as the primordial being who was present even when Brahma and Ishana (Shiva) were not present. He is conceived as the Supreme Soul in the texts.[25]

Buddhism

The Mahāsamaya Sutta (DN 20) of the

Gautama Buddha by celebrating the joy experienced by those who follow the Dhamma. He also makes brief mention of Manu.[26]

Buddhas
are sometimes described as having a firm body like Nārāyaṇa.

The

Kāmadhātu and is veneration for the acquisition of power. Chapter 41 adds that he has eight arms that wield various "Dharma weapons" (dharmayuda) with which he subjugates the asuras
.

He appears as an

Kāraṇḍavyūha Sūtra
, Sarvapuṇyasamuccayasamādhi Sūtra and the Nārāyaṇaparipṛcchā Dhāraṇī.

He is also mentioned in several places in the

Gautama Buddha
. It is said that The Buddha "is endowed with the great strength of Nārāyaṇa, he is called the great Nārāyaṇa himself."

The

Śākyamuni, Jesus, and Mani.[30]

Jainism

Main article: Jainism

Balabhadra and Narayana are mighty half-brothers, who appear nine times in each half of the time cycles of the Jain cosmology and jointly rule half the earth as half-chakravarti. Ultimately Prati-naryana is killed by Narayana for his unrighteousness and immorality. Narayana are extremely powerful and are as powerful as 2 Balabhadras. Chakravartins are as powerful as 2 Narayanas. Hence Narayanas become half-chakravartins. Tirthankaras are much more powerful than Chakravartins. In Jain Mahabharata, there is a friendly duel between cousin brothers Neminatha (Tirthankara) and Krishna (Naryana) in which Neminath defeats Krishna without any effort at all. There is also a story of Neminatha lifting the conch of Krishna and blowing it without any effort. In the Jain Mahabharata, the conflict between Krishna and Jarasandha is described, who is killed by Krishna.

Literature

Narayana is hailed in certain parts of the Vedas like the Narayana Suktam and the Vishnu Suktam. He is also hailed in selective Vaishnava Upanishads like the Narayana Upanishad, Mahanarayana Upanishad, and the Nrisimha Tapaniya Upanishad.[31]

The Padma Purana relates an episode where Narayana grants Rudra (Shiva) a boon. The destroyer deity seeks two boons. Firstly, he wishes to be the greatest of the devotees of Narayana, as well as bearing the reputation of the same throughout the world. Secondly, he desires the ability to offer salvation to whoever seeks refuge in him.[32]

The prowess of Narayana is described in the Ramayana:[33]

Narayana, like unto a luminous cloud, with his excellent shafts loosed from His bow, as so many lightning strokes, exterminated those rangers of the night with their hair dishevelled and streaming in the wind. Their parasols broken, their rich apparel torn by the shafts, their entrails ripped open, their eyes wide with fear, those warriors, throwing away their arms, fell into a frenzy of terror. Resembling elephants attacked by a lion, those night-rangers with their mounts emitted cries whilst fleeing from that Primeval Lion [i.e., Vishnu’s incarnation as Nrsimha—half man, half lion], who pursued them.

— Valmiki, Ramayana, Book 7, Chapter 7

Ramanuja's prayer of surrender to Narayana in the Sharanagati Gadyam of the Tiruvaymoli was and is significant to his Sri Vaishnava adherents, as it became a model prayer for future generations. In this prayer, Ramanuja describes Narayana to be the "beloved consort of Sri and of Bhumi and Nila". He is stated to reside in his abode of Vaikuntha, where he assumes the role of the creation, preservation, as well as the destruction of the universe. Narayana is extolled to be the same as the Ultimate Reality, Brahman. He is regarded to be the refuge of all creation, the master of spiritual as well as material entities, as well as the dispeller of the miseries of his devotees. He ends his prayer by saluting Narayana and his consort Sri, to whom he surrenders to his "lotus-like feet".[34]

  • Narayan Temple on Narayanhiti palace premises, Kathmandu, Nepal
    Narayan Temple on Narayanhiti palace premises, Kathmandu, Nepal
  • Oldest Sridhar Narayan statue at Naksaal, Kathmandu
    Oldest Sridhar Narayan statue at Naksaal, Kathmandu
  • The bow of Royal Barge Narai Song Suban HM Rama IX of Thailand, it carved an image of Narayana riding a Garuda
    The bow of
    Rama IX of Thailand, it carved an image of Narayana riding a Garuda
  • Sculpture of Narayana around 14/15th century, found at the Devasathan, inner Bangkok, Thailand
    Sculpture of Narayana around 14/15th century, found at the Devasathan, inner Bangkok, Thailand
  • Sculpture of Narayana ride a Garuda built in Khmer art style in front of InterContinental Bangkok, Phloen Chit Road, it is one of the most respected Hindu shrines in the Ratchaprasong neighbourhood alike Erawan Shrine
    Sculpture of Narayana ride a Garuda built in Khmer art style in front of InterContinental Bangkok, Phloen Chit Road, it is one of the most respected Hindu shrines in the Ratchaprasong neighbourhood alike Erawan Shrine
  • Drawing of sleeping Narayana on Sheshanaga while the four-headed Brahma springs from his navel
    Drawing of sleeping Narayana on
    Sheshanaga while the four-headed Brahma
    springs from his navel
  • Statue of Narayana in Thai art style stands on Mount Mandara within Suvarnabhumi Airport, Samut Prakan, Thailand
    Statue of Narayana in Thai art style stands on Mount Mandara within Suvarnabhumi Airport, Samut Prakan, Thailand
  • Khmer lintel depicting Narayana sleeping upon the Sheshanaga in the middle of Milky Ocean, Bangkok National Museum
    Khmer lintel depicting Narayana sleeping upon the Sheshanaga in the middle of
    Milky Ocean, Bangkok National Museum

See also

Pāñcarātra system[35][36][37]
Vyūhas Image Attributes Symbol[38][39] Direction Face Concept
Narayana
Vishnu 		Vāsudeva Chakra Wheel
Gadā Mace
Shankha Conch 		Garuda Eagle East Saumya
(Placid/ benevolent) 		Jṅāna Knowledge
Samkarsana
 Lāṅgala
Pestle

Wine glass 		Tala Fan palm South Simha Lion Bala Strength
Pradyumna Cāpa Bow
Bāṇa
 Arrow 		Makara Crocodile West Raudra Kapila Aiśvaryā Sovereignty
Aniruddha Carma Shield
Khaḍga Sword 		Ṛṣya (ऋष्य) White-footed antelope North Varaha Boar Śakti Power

References

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  2. ^ "Narayana, Nārāyaṇa, Nārāyana, Narāyana, Nara-ayana, Nara-yana: 40 definitions". June 2008.
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  8. ^ a b Narayan Aiyangar (1901). Essays on Indo Aryan Mythology. pp. 196.
  9. ^ "The Laws of Manu I". www.sacred-texts.com. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
  10. ^ a b "The Mahabharata, Book 3: Vana Parva: Markandeya-Samasya Parva: Section CLXXXVIII". www.sacred-texts.com. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
  11. ^ "Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary -- n". faculty.washington.edu. Archived from the original on 7 May 2020. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
  12. ISBN 0-19-280271-2
    , page 11
  13. ^ "Sanskrit Dictionary for Spoken Sanskrit: 'nara'". spokensanskrit.org. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
  14. ^ "Sanskrit Dictionary for Spoken Sanskrit 'yana'". spokensanskrit.org. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
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  19. ^ Vaisnavism Saivism and Minor Religious Systems, Ramkrishna Gopal Bhandarkar. Published by Asian Educational Services, p.46.
  20. ISBN 0-7914-0249-5. p61
  21. Prabhupada, AC Bhaktivedanta. "Bhagavad-gita As It Is Chapter 11 Verse 3". vedabase.net. Archived from the original
    on 15 May 2008. Retrieved 10 May 2008. "see the cosmic manifestation"
  22. ^ "॥ नारायणसूक्तम् सार्थ ॥ - .. Narayana Sukta .. - Sanskrit Documents". sanskritdocuments.org. Retrieved 21 October 2015.
  23. ^ "Sapthagiri". Archived from the original on 15 May 2007. Retrieved 21 May 2007.
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  25. ^ "Upanishads".
  26. ^ "SN 2.12: With Vishnu —Bhikkhu Sujato". SuttaCentral. Retrieved 25 December 2019.
  27. ^ "那羅延". Digital Dictionary of Buddhism. 2009. Retrieved 25 December 2019.
  28. ^ Giebel, Rolf W. (translator) (2005). The Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi Sūtra (PDF). BDK America, Inc. {{cite book}}: |first1= has generic name (help)
  29. ^ Roberts, Peter Alan; Tulku Yeshi (2013). "The Basket's Display". 84000: Translating the Words of the Buddha. Retrieved 25 December 2019.
  30. ISSN 2077-1444
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  31. ^ "Narayanastra – Defending Vaishnavism as the supreme Vedic position". narayanastra.blogspot.in. Retrieved 21 October 2015.
  32. ^ www.wisdomlib.org (26 September 2019). "Nārāyaṇa Grants Boons to Rudra [Chapter 2]". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
  33. ^ www.wisdomlib.org (27 September 2020). "The Combat between Vishnu and the Rakshasas [Chapter 7]". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
  34. ^ Makarand Joshi. The Tamil Veda Pillan Interpretation Of Tiruvaymoli J Carman And V Narayanan 1989 OCR.
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  36. ^ A Comprehensive History of India: pt. 1-2. A.D. 300-985. Orient Longmans. 1982. p. 866.
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  38. ^ "A shrine of Aniruddha, the fourth of the 'vyuhas', which had within its precincts a 'rsyadhvaja', i. e. a column bearing on its top the figure of a 'rsya' or a white antelope which was his characteristic 'lanchana'." in Journal of the Indian Society of Oriental Art. Indian Society of Oriental Art. 1937. p. 16.
  39. ^ Gupta, Vinay K. "Vrishnis in Ancient Literature and Art". Indology's Pulse Arts in Context, Doris Meth Srinivasan Festschrift Volume, Eds. Corinna Wessels Mevissen and Gerd Mevissen with Assistance of Vinay Kumar Gupta: 80–81.

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