Narayana

  नारयणः परो व्यक्तादंडमव्यक्तसंभवम् ।अंड्स्यांतस्त्विमे लोकः सप्त द्वीप च मोदिनि॥

Om, nArAyaNaH paro ‘vyaktaadaMDamavyaktasaMbhavam |

aMDsyaaMtastvime lokaH sapta dvIpa ca modini ||

    In the prayer eulogizing nArAyaNa* the supreme Lord, of whom ShrI kriSNa here is an incarnation, it is stated that the entire universe is the manifest form of the Unmanifest parabrahmn and this nArAyaNa is higher (paramam) than the Unmanifest. The word anDasyAnta means, the ‘cosmic seed’ (hiraNyagarbha)- the Golden Egg, the Sun. The Sun is the First manifest form, svayaMbhu manu vivasvAn. This is the beginning of the universe for us for all practical purposes. It is the bhu, bhuvaH, and the sv ar. Subsequently, the family of this svayaMbhu manu, the Father of mankind, manu vivasvAn (the Sun), the Mother Earth, and the other members (that includes all the planets and their satellites of the Solar System) are formed out of the Stellar matter (ejected material of the Sun). Thus, the earth with its ‘seven Islands’ (sapta dvIpa) emerging from the unmanifest ‘parabrahmn’ is symbolic presentation of the souramandala (‘Solar System’) with the Sun at its centre. Hence, nArAyaNa, Aditya, BAskara, surya, ravi, teja, prakasha, or call it by any name, is the Self-effulgent, omniscient, sovereign power that provides ‘Energy’ to the Stars- the Sun and a million or trillions of them!

    Aditya, surya, ghruNI is the Veda mantra. Besides, there are many larger stars than the Sun and much bigger, giant Stars like the puShya nakShatra in our galaxy, the Milky Way! The source of all these is nArAyaNa is ‘eko devaH, the only God, the unmanifest supreme Consciousness from which emanate sat, cit and ananda. This and that as well as here and there begin here. He, She and it start here. The sage nara-nArAyaNa are portrayed as the First Rishi. The term nArAyaNa is derived from nara and ayana. The term vAsudEva is mentioned as a god along with nArAyaNa and viShNu (taitteeriya upaniShat, 10.1.6).

   According to SrI SaMkara, ‘nara’ refers to all the moving and non-moving (caracara) bodies and ‘nAra’ to ‘individual souls (Atman); nArAayaNa is supreme Consciousness and it is reflected (pratibimba) in all beings as indivudual consciousness. This is the underlying force that ordains, supports, and maintains the Jiva as the inner Controller (yama).

    The supreme power behind the Stars are the one ‘parabrahmn’, nArAyaNa. This nArAyaNa is supreme Consciousness. Thus, nArAyaNa is eulogised as mahajnyeya, the omniscient. He is Shree Krishna- the all-knowing, eternal, immortal, undiminishing one- acyuta; he is Unborn, Eternal, Immortal, and Undiminishing ananta.

     The ‘Unmanifest One’ that manifests as many is called ‘mAya’, akShara brahmn, the Immutable. It emanates as the ashTa-prakRuti- the Five Senses, Mind, Intellect And the ego, manifest form of Lord Shree Krishna. knows Him! The bhagavad-gItA is that part of the Vedic Literature where the lord is

    SrIman nArAyaNa is eulogized as vAsudeva, the Lord of the universe- bhu, bhuvaH and svaH.* He is called as gOviMda, viShNu and a thousand other names! The “Nameless One’ is called by a thousand names and the ‘Formless One’ is seen in a thousand forms by the Rishis. Eko dEva vipra bahudha vadaMti |

  जगत्प्रभुं देवदेवमनंतं पुरुषोत्तमं। स्तुवन्नामसहस्रेण पुरुषः सततोत्थितहः॥

   jagatprabhuM devadevamanaMtaM puruShottamam | 

   stuvannaamasahasreNa puruShaH satatotthitahaH ||

Sri Hari Narayana exists everywhere at the same time in any form He desires!

Even the Gods and Rishis cannot know Him. But, one who always chants His name can!