To me there’s always been some confusion about the relationship between Narayana and Vishnu. In many cases they are considered the same being, but is there a difference? And if so, what is it? I set about to find our more about that. And here’s what I learned. First a review of information about Narayana/Vishnu, then the answer I found for the relationship of Narayana to Vishnu. Finally a little about Narayana when joined by Lakshmi. Enjoy!
Who Is Narayana?
Most sources, when responding to that question, begin this way: Lord Narayana, known as Vishnu, is the Vedic Supreme God worshiped most devotedly in Vaishnavism. The Vedas, the Puranas, and the Bhagavad Gita regard Him as the Supreme Lord or Purushottama, which means He is the greatest Godhead. Sacred texts regard Him as the Infinite One who pervades everywhere—in the biggest figure and in the tiniest speck of the universe.
Hari, or Purushottama, as Lord Narayana is also known, is depicted by the Vedas and the Puranas as a divinely blue-complexioned Godhead with four arms carrying sacred objects: a Padma (lotus flower), a Shankha (conch), a Mace, and the Sudarshana Chakra (discus as a weapon). Bhagavata Purana refers to Him as Para Brahman (Supreme Lord) and Bhagavad Gita affirms Him as Vishvarupa (having the form of the universe).
Narayana is extolled as Parabrahman, Paramatma, and Parameshwar by the Scriptures, which render Him the great supreme force. The divine invocation Antar Vahisca Sarvam Vyapta Narayana Stitaha means Narayana encompasses the entire universe in all its dimensions inside and out.
Several meanings can be attributed to Lord Narayana’s name. The root word ‘nara’ means man, although it refers to water when associated with the Lord, as He is infinite as the ocean. In Sanskrit, water connotes ‘Naara” and ‘Ayana’ means the resting place. The Supreme Lord Vishnu (Narayana) is often depicted standing, sitting, or lying on an ocean. Chanting the holy name Narayana is believed to reinforce good and annihilate vice.
Narayana is also revered as Mukunda, which means 'God who gives mukti (Moksha) or freedom from the material world.'' Lord Narayana has infinite powers to accomplish that. He is the Supreme, and nothing exists beyond him. He is known to live in the heavenly planet, Vaikuntha, which is His supreme abode where divine bliss prevails. In the epic Mahabharata, Krishna is often addressed as Narayana and Arjuna is referred to as Nara. Lord Narayana is also addressed as Hari or Vasudeva on numerous occasions.
Goddess Lakshmi is the consort of Lord Narayana, hence Lakshmi Narayana refers to Lord Narayana when He is with Goddess Lakshmi. Their union is usually depicted as the Goddess being seated at Narayana’s feet as he rests under the celestial serpent Shesha’s hoods floating in Kshira Sagara (the Ocean of Milk).
As Vishnu, Narayana is known as the Preserver within the Trimurti, the triple deity of supreme divinity that includes Brahma and Shiva. In Vaishnavism, Vishnu is the supreme being who creates, protects, and transforms the universe. In the Shaktism tradition, the Goddess, or Adi Shakti, is described as the supreme Para Brahman, yet Vishnu is revered along with Shiva and Brahma. Tridevi is stated to be the energy and creative power (Shakti) of each, with Lakshmi being the equal complementary partner of Vishnu.
According to Vaishnavism, the supreme being is with qualities (Saguna), and has definite form, but is limitless, transcendent and unchanging absolute Brahman, and the primal Atman (Self) of the universe. There are many both benevolent and fearsome depictions of Vishnu. In benevolent aspects, he is depicted as an omniscient being sleeping on the coils of the serpent Shesha (who represents time) floating in the primeval ocean of milk called Kshira Sagara with his consort, Lakshmi.
To make it all a bit more confusing, one source on Vaishnavism says that Narayana is one of the 108 names of Krishna, meaning: "The Refuge Of Everyone” The sources are given as these: • In Pure Bhakti: Bhagavad-gita (4th edition) 'Nārāyaṇa (नारायण) refers to “the four-armed expansion of Śrī Kṛṣṇa and the all-opulent Lord of Vaikuṇṭha'. (cf. Glossary page from Śrīmad-Bhagavad-Gītā). • In Pure Bhakti: Brihad Bhagavatamritam 'Nārāyaṇa (नारायण) refers to the shelter (ayana) for mankind (nāra); an expansion of Kṛṣṇa; the Lord of Vaikuṇṭha.' (cf. Glossary page from Śrī Bṛihad-bhāgavatāmṛita).
Finally I found a source that gave a distinction between Vishnu and Narayana. It stated that in the commentaries on the Scriptures the name Narayana is mostly used for Lord Vishnu, but in the original divinely inspired texts it is not. • ‘Narayana alone was there initially. Neither Brahma, nor Shankara. With the thought to create, he resolved. From then, everyone including Brahma, Agni, Yama, Varuna, Vishnu, Rudra, and Indra were born.’ (from Paingi Rahasya Brahmana, Rig Veda). • Tattiriya Aranyaka says 'Paramatman dwells in the middle of that flame. (Although He is thus limited) still He (Narayana) is the four-faced creator of Brahmā, Siva, Hari (Vishnu), Indra, the material and efficient cause of the Universe and the Supreme Self-luminous Pure Consciousness’.
But the name can be given to other deities also. In Kurma Purana: 'Hear then how the deity, the beholder of the name Náráyána, the great parent of the world, Brahmá, created all existent things.'
And in the Rig Veda 1.164.46: ‘For learned priests call the One Truth by many names.’
'Narayana is the supreme being, the infinite and eternal Brahman. He is the creator, preserver, and destroyer of the universe. He is also the source of all avatars, including Vishnu.' (Vishnu Purana, Book 1, Chapter 2)
This verse makes it clear that Narayana is the supreme being, and Vishnu is one of His many manifestations.
Finally, in the Bhagavata Purana, it says: 'Narayana is the one and only God. He is the source of all existence, the embodiment of all truth, and the ultimate goal of all spiritual seekers.' (Bhagavata Purana, Book 1, Chapter 3)
This verse leaves no doubt that Narayana is the supreme being, and that all other deities are subordinate to him.
How it all shakes out for me My current clearest understanding is this: Narayana is the pervasive aspect of all beings, including Vishnu, and is the transcendental form. Vishnu means all-pervasive, but his goal is to protect the universe from harm, hence he is also the preserver. The best way to see it is Narayana refers to the transcendental aspect of the lord, while Vishnu refers to Him active in the world, still being all-pervading, but being a protector and guardian. So similar, but different as well.
Lakshmi Narayana Lakshmi Narayana is the dual representation of the Hindu deities Vishnu, also known as Narayana, and his consort, Lakshmi, traditionally featured in their abode, Vaikuntha. The goddess of prosperity and beauty, Lakshmi, is depicted as standing next to Vishnu, or in the service of Narayana, who reclines on the cosmic serpent Shesha, floating in the Kshira Sagara, the Ocean of Milk.
The most significant Lakshmi-Narayana myth that appears in various Puranas is the Samudra Manthana, where Vishnu assumes his Kurma avatar to assist the devas and the asuras in the churning the Ocean of Milk. Lakshmi emerges as one of the many treasures that are the product of the churning. The devas request that Vishnu marry her, and hence her auspiciousness is wed to his divinity, restoring cosmic order.
The Vishnu Purana describes this legend thus: 'The goddess Sri of vibrant beauty rose from this milk, standing in a blossoming lotus with a lotus in her hand ... Wearing celestial garlands and garments, bathed and adorned with ornaments, with all the gods looking on, she went to Hari's chest. While resting on Hari's chest, Lakshmi made the gods know immediate supreme bliss, O Maitreya, just by looking at them.’ (Vishnu Purana, Verses 1.9.100; 106; 107)
[Above is a painting of the wedding of Vishnu and Lakshmi, from the Koodal Alagar Temple, Madurai]
There is a special legend about the two in Tirumala. It goes like this: the sage Bhrigu is selected to choose the deity to whom a yajna wouldl be dedicated. After rejecting Brahma, Indra, and Shiva, he arrives at Vaikuntha, where he observes Lakshmi massaging the feet of Vishnu who is reclined on Shesha.
Bhrigu is angered by this and kicks the chest of Vishnu with his foot. A calm Vishnu is concerned for the sage, and receives him with honor. Pleased, Bhrigu decides that the yajna should be offered to Vishnu. But Lakshmi is greatly enraged, the chest being the region of Vishnu most associated with her, and because her consort had not risen to the insult.
She descends upon the earth as Padmavati, the daughter of a Chola king, and her consort assumes the form of Srinivasa. Srinivasa finds Padmavati, marries her once more and is hailed as the primary deity of Tirumala.
In literature, Lakshmi and Narayana are often offered epithets stemming from their relationship - Vishnu is hailed as Lakshmipati, the husband of Lakshmi, while Lakshmi is called Vishnupriya, the favorite of Vishnu, as well as Vaishnavi and Narayani, the greatest female devotee of Vishnu.
In the Prapanna Parijata, Lakshmi declares that the duality of her consort and herself represents Brahman:
'God, Narayana, is the essence of existence; and I, the Supreme Lakshmi, am the attribute (be-ness) of it. Hence what is known as Lakshmìnârâyana is the Brahman which is the eternal One.' — Prapanna Parijata
In the South Indian tradition of Sri Vaishnavism, the deity Narayana is worshiped as the supreme deity, and his consort Lakshmi as the supreme goddess. Lakshmi is regarded as the source of salvation, Narayana, and is hence revered by adherents in order to reach God.
The origin of the tradition's name is sometimes associated with the goddess herself, who is also called Sri. The devotees of this tradition primarily worship Lakshmi-Narayana as the ultimate duality, though they also revere their incarnations in the Dashavatara, including Sita-Rama and Rukmini-Krishna. The Urdhva Pundra, the sacred mark they wear on their bodies, is conceived to be a combination of the white feet of Vishnu, while the red streak in between represents Lakshmi.
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