Nara-Narayana

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For the 16th-century ruler of the Kamata Kingdom, see Nara Narayan.

Nara Narayana
NarNarayan-Kalupur.jpg
The twin form of Nara Narayana Deva at the Swaminarayan Temple Ahmedabad
Devanagariनर-नारायण
Sanskrit transliterationnara-nārāyaṇa
AffiliationAvatar of Vishnu
AbodeBadrinath

Nara-Narayana (Sanskrit: नर-नारायण; Nara-nārāyaṇa) is a Hindu deity pair. Nara-Narayana is the twin-brother avatar of the god Vishnu on Earth, working for the preservation of Dharma or righteousness.

The Hindu scripture Mahabharata identifies the god Krishna with Narayana and Arjuna with Nara in the divine pair.[1] The legend of Nara-Narayana is also told in the scripture Bhagavata Purana. Hindus believe that the pair dwells at Badrinath, where their most important temple stands.


The Nara-Narayana pair is frequently worshipped in temples of the Swaminarayan Faith, as the followers of the sect believe that their founder Swaminarayan resides in the murti of Naranarayan Dev in Kalupur Mandir.

Etymology[]

Narayana on the left and Nara on the right, Deogarh, Uttar Pradesh, ca. 5th century AD

The name "Nara-Narayana" can be broken into two Sanskrit terms, Nara and Narayana. Nara[disambiguation needed] means Male Being, and Narayana refers to the name of the deity.

Monier-Williams dictionary says Nara is "the primeval Man or eternal Spirit pervading the universe always associated with Narayana, "son of the primeval man"; both are considered either as gods or sages and accordingly called देवौ, ऋषी, तापसौ. In epic poetry, they are the sons of Dharma by Murti or Ahimsa and emanations of Vishnu, Arjuna being identified with Nara, and Krishna with Narayana.- Mahabharata, Harivamsa and Purana".[2] Narayana and Nara both are forms of Vishnu.

The Mahabharata suggests that by Saluting Lord Krishna (the Omniscient Narayana), his friend and the highest of all male beings Arjuna, the Goddess of Learning Saraswati and Lord Vyasa the orator, and destroying demonic possessions and conquering the conscience, one should recite the epic Mahabharata.[3]

Depiction[]

Nara-Narayana are depicted jointly or separately in images. When depicted separately, Nara is portrayed with two hands and wearing deer skin while Narayana is shown on the right in the usual form of Vishnu.

Sometimes, both of them are depicted identical to each other. They are depicted four-armed holding a mace, a discus, a conch and a lotus, resembling Vishnu.

Legends[]

Krishna, Arjuna at Kurukshetra. Krishna gives the discourse of the Bhagavad Gita. 18-19th century painting. Freer Sackler Gallery.

Arjuna and Krishna are often referred to as Nara-Narayana in the Mahabharata,[4] and are considered reincarnations of Nara and Narayana respectively, according to the Devi Bhagavata Purana.[5]

In a previous life, the duo were born as the sages Nara and Narayana, and who performed great penances at the holy spot of Badrinath. Nara and Narayana were the Fourth Avatar of Vishnu. The twins were sons of Dharma, the son of Brahma and his wife Murti (Daughter Of Daksha) or Ahimsa.[6] They live at Badrika performing severe austerities and meditation for the welfare of the world. These two inseparable sages took avatars on earth for the welfare of mankind. Legend has it that once Shiva tried to bring the fame of Nara and Narayana before the entire world. To do that, he hurled his own potent weapon Paashupathastra at the meditating rishis. The power of their meditation was so intense that the astra lost its power before them. Shiva stated that this happened since the duo were jnanis of the first order constantly in the state of Nirvikalpa Samadhi.

Birth of Urvashi[]

The Bhagavata Purana tells the story of the birth of Urvashi from the sages Nara-Narayana.[7] Once, sages Nara-Narayana were meditating in the holy shrine of Badrinath situated in the Himalayas. Their penances and austerities alarmed the gods, so Indra, the King of Devas, sent Kamadeva, Vasanta (spring) and apsaras (nymphs) to inspire them with passion and disturb their devotions. The sage Narayana took a flower and placed it on his thigh. Immediately there sprung from it a beautiful nymph whose charms far excelled those of the celestial nymphs, and made them return to heaven filled with shame and vexation. Narayana sent this nymph to Indra with them, and from her having been produced from the thigh (uru in Sanskrit) of the sage, she was called Urvashi. Having sent back the nymphs back, the divine sages continued to meditate. [8][9]

Badrinath[]

Badrinath temple

According to the Bhagavata purana, "There in Badrikashram (Badrinath) the Personality of Godhead (Vishnu), in his incarnation as the sages Nara and Narayana, had been undergoing great penance since time immemorial for the welfare of all living entities." (3.4.22)

In Badrinath Temple's sanctorium, to the far right side of the stone image of Badri-Vishala (or Badri-Narayana), are the images of Nara and Narayana. Also, the Nara and Narayana peaks tower over Badrinath.

Mahabharata[]

Nara Narayana as per Mahabharata

According to Bhandarkar, the gods Nara-Narayana must have been very popular at the time of the composition of the Mahabharata, since in the opening stanzas of various parvas (constituent books) of the epic, obeisance is made to these two gods. In Vanaparvan (12. 46, 47), Krishna says to Arjuna,"O invincible one, you are Nara and I am Hari Narayana, and we, the sages Nara-Narayana, have come to this world at the proper time.." In the same Parva, chapter 40 (verse 1); Shiva says to Arjuna — "In former birth you were Nara and with Narayana as your companion, performed austerities for thousands of years at Badari".[10]


Swaminarayan sect[]

In the Swaminarayan sect, Nara and Narayana, are called Nara-Narayana Deva. They are believed to reside at Badrikashram and to be the prime controllers of the destiny of all beings, depending on their karma. Nara-Narayana Deva are believed to have manifested at Narayana Ghat on the banks of river Sabarmati at Ahmedabad. Therefore, their images were installed by Swaminarayan at the first Swaminarayan temple, Swaminarayan Mandir, Ahmedabad (India).

Members of this group interpret the events that took place at Badarikashram, the abode of Nara Narayana, that led to the incarnation of Swaminarayan. They believe that Narayana took birth as Swaminarayan due to a curse of sage Durvasa which he accepted at his own will. The curse led to Narayana taking the form of an avatar on Earth to destroy evil and establish ekantik-dharma, religion based on morality, knowledge, detachment and devotion.[11]

See also[]

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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.
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Notes[]

  1. ^ "Twin incarnation of the Lord". The Hindu. 27 September 2015. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 28 June 2021.
  2. ^ [1][2]
  3. ^ "Sankshipt Mahabharat Vol 1 Gita Press Gorakhpur".
  4. ^ "The Mahabharata, Book 1: Adi Parva: Section I". www.sacred-texts.com. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
  5. ^ Vijnanananda 2004, p. 250
  6. ^ According to Vamana Purana, Chapter 6 - Bhandarkar p.46
  7. ^ The Goddess in India: The Five Faces of the Eternal Feminine By Devdutt Pattanaik, Published 2000, Inner Traditions / Bear & Company, 176 pages, ISBN 0-89281-807-7 p.66
  8. ^ Tales from the Puranas By Mahesh Sharma, pp.60-62, Diamond Pocket Books (P) Ltd.,ISBN 81-288-1040-5
  9. ^ Vijnanananda 2004, pp. 267–272
  10. ^ "The Mahabharata, Book 3: Vana Parva: Kairata Parva: Section XL". www.sacred-texts.com. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
  11. ^ "History of Incarnation of Lord Shree Swaminarayan". Archived from the original on 10 September 2009.

References[]

  • Bhandarkar, Ramkrishna Gopal (1995). Vaisnavism Saivism and Minor Religious Systems. Asian Educational Services. p. 238. ISBN 81-206-0122-X.
  • Vijnanananda, Swami (2004). The Sri Mad Devi Bhagavatam: Books One Through Twelve Part 1. Kessinger Publishing. p. 624. ISBN 0-7661-8167-7.
  • Swaminarayan Temple Cardiff - Murtis - NarNarayan Dev

External links[]

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