Narayana
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/* Secular uses */
{{for|twin avatars of Vishnu|Nara-Narayana}}
'''Narayana''' ([[Sanskrit]]: नारायण; ''{{IAST|nārāyaṇa}}'') or '''Narayan''' is an important [[Sanskrit]] name for [[Vishnu]] and is in many contemporary vernaculars, a common [[India]]n 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]]. <ref name=Raghavan1982>{{cite book
| author = Raghavan, V.
| year = 1982
| title = International Sanskrit Conference v.4
| publisher = The Ministry
| isbn = Page 142
| url=http://books.google.ie/books?id=aT49AAAAIAAJ&q=Narayana+sri+Bhagavan+svayam&dq=Narayana+sri+Bhagavan+svayam&client=firefox-a&pgis=1}}</ref>
In the [[Mahabharata]], Krishna is often referred to as Narayana and [[Arjuna]] as Nara.
<ref>''Vaisnavism Saivism and Minor Religious Systems'' By Ramkrishna Gopal Bhandarkar Published by Asian Educational Services, p.46.</ref> 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.<ref> {{cite book |author=Hiltebeitel, Alf |title=The ritual of battle: Krishna in the Mahābhārata |publisher=State University of New York Press |location=Albany, N.Y |year=1990 |pages= |isbn=0-7914-0249-5 |oclc= |doi= |accessdate=}} [http://books.google.ie/books?id=vwWGX08JAx8C&pg=PA61 p61]</ref> Followers of [[Lord Swaminarayan]] believe that Lord Narayan manifested himself as Lord Swaminarayan.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.swaminarayanwales.org.uk/Murtis/murtis.asp | title=Lord Narayan manifested himself as Lord Swaminarayan}}</ref>
Furthermore, the name Narayana is a [[Sanskrit]] [[tatpurusha]] compound, with the members ''nara'', which means "human, man", and ''ayana'' "eternal, without ending (a-yana)".{{Fact|date=April 2008}} 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".{{Fact|date=April 2008}}
==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 [[Ap (water)|Water element (Ap)]] (one of the [[Mahābhūta|Great Elements (Mahābhūta)]] -- also see pancha bhootam/[[Tattva]]).
==Variations==
Narayanasamy<br />
Narayanaswamy<br />
Narayan<br />
Narayanan
==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 Namo Shivah|Om Namah Shivāya]], and the [[Gayatri]] mantra are the most sacred prayers by Hindus.
A verse that confers the [[Deva (Hinduism)|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.
==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 [[Fiji]]an stateswoman [[Irene Jai Narayan T.R.]]. [[Prithvi Narayan Shah]] founded the [[Kings of Nepal|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)|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 [[D'ni Ages|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.
==References==
<references />
==External links==
* [http://www.chennaionline.com/festivalsnreligion/religion/religion33.asp 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.)
{{HinduAvatars}}
[[Category:Forms of Vishnu]]
[[Category:Vaishnavism]]
[[Category:Sanskrit words and phrases]]
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