Narayana

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For twin avatars of Vishnu, see Nara-Narayana.

Narayana (Sanskrit: नारायण; nārāyaṇa) or Narayan is an important Sanskrit name for Vishnu and is in many contemporary vernaculars, a common Indian name. The name is also associated with Brahman. He is also identified as the original man, Purusha. The Puranas present divergent views on the doctrine of Narayana. In Kumara Purana he is identified with Brahman and Krishna-Vishnu. In Brahmavaivarta Purana, Narayana is considered different from Krishna and in the same text he is considered part of Krishna. ^[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] Followers of Lord Swaminarayan believe that Lord Narayan manifested himself as Lord Swaminarayan.^[4]

Furthermore, the name Narayana is a Sanskrit tatpurusha compound, with the members nara, which means "human, man", and ayana "eternal, without ending (a-yana)".^{[citation needed]} Tradition associates the nara element with another meaning of "water", explaining the name as indicating the all-pervasive nature of Narayana as that of an infinite ocean in which the never-ending movement of birth, life and death of the cosmos occurs. Narayana according to this etymology is the one who moves in the infinite waters and is also the water itself. This close association of Narayana with water explains the frequent depiction of Narayana in Hindu Art as standing or sitting on an ocean. An another important translation of Narayana is "The supreme Man who is the foundation of all men".^{[citation needed]}

1 Mantra
2 Variations
3 Religious uses
4 Secular uses
5 References
6 External links

[edit] Mantra

This mantra is considered the most powerful remedy for those who have atmakaraka either Saturn or one that it's dispositor is Saturn.

Another interpretation of the word Narayana sees "Nara" meaning human and "Ayana" read as direction/goal. Hence Narayana refers to the "direction of a human" (or the one that helps a human to his/her goal) -- that towards moksha. Nara is related to moksha as both are rooted to the Water element (Ap) (one of the Great Elements (Mahābhūta) -- also see pancha bhootam/Tattva).

[edit] Variations

Narayanasamy
Narayanaswamy
Narayan
Narayanan

[edit] Religious uses

Narayana is another name for Vishnu or the Hindu name for God and appears as the 245th name in the Vishnu sahasranama. For more information, see Vaishnava Theology.
The book, Sri Ramanuja, His Life, Religion, and Philosophy, published by Sri Ramakrishna Math, Chennai, India, 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."
One of the most famous mantras, "Om Namo NārāyaNāya" is chanted by Hindus. This mantra, along with Om Namah Shivāya, and the Gayatri mantra are the most sacred prayers by Hindus.

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." (i.e., Vishnu.) This verse, if proof was necessary, indicates that the Devas are subordinate to Vishnu or God. However even Vishnu is often named a Deva: Vasudeva, Narasimhadeva, etc.

[edit] Secular uses

Among the many people with the name Narayan are the novelist R.K. Narayan, the political activist Jayaprakash Narayan, the singer Udit Narayan T.R., and the Fijian stateswoman Irene Jai Narayan T.R.. Prithvi Narayan Shah founded the kingdom of Nepal

There is also song called 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 neighborhood 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 that extends infinitely throughout the age, with trees rising from the water's surface to support life.

[edit] References

^ Raghavan, V. (1982). International Sanskrit Conference v.4. The Ministry. ISBN Page 142.
^ Vaisnavism Saivism and Minor Religious Systems By Ramkrishna Gopal Bhandarkar Published by Asian Educational Services, p.46.
^ Hiltebeitel, Alf (1990). The ritual of battle: Krishna in the Mahābhārata. Albany, N.Y: State University of New York Press. ISBN 0-7914-0249-5. p61
^ Lord Narayan manifested himself as Lord Swaminarayan.