Om Namo Narayanaya
Om Namo Narayanaya (
Origin
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In the Samaveda, 'Om Namo Narayanaya' is said to have been taught by Vedic sages to the seekers who came to them for wisdom. It is traditionally believed that this mantra revealed its significance and meaning to these sages through their penances, after which they shared it with seekers as a means of self-realisation.[4]
Literature
Om Namo Narayanaya is heavily featured in
According to the Tarasara Upanishad, om is the divine sacred syllable that represents the nature of Brahman, the Ultimate Reality that is unchanging and eternal. Namo can be translated from Sanskrit as “to bow to” or “to pay homage to”, as well as refer to an individual's name. Narayanaya is a term that may be translated as "to or of Narayana". Nara refers to “water”, and anaya means “abode” or “shelter.” Narayana is an epithet of Vishnu, whose celestial realm is Vaikuntha, amid the cosmic waters of creation. Hence, it is a mantra that is associated with submission to God, accepting one's existence in the grand design, as well as seeking the protection of Vishnu.[7]
The sage and philosopher Yajnavalkya provides an explanation of the breakdown of the components of the mantra:[8]
Syllable | Symbolism | Invocation |
---|---|---|
Om | Atma | Brahma |
Na/Ma | Prakrti | Vishnu/Rudra |
Na/Ra/Ya/Na/Ya | Parabrahman | Ishvara/Virata/Purusha/Bhagavan/Paramatma |
In the Vaishnava Upanishads, the Samashti-Yantra, the words described over Ananta, the seat of Vishnu, bear the ashtakshara.[9]
The Narada Purana furnishes the following details regarding the chanting of this mantra: If a man performs the japa of chanting the mantra in the banks of the river Ganga, he would achieve moksha.[10]
The Narayana Upanishad also remarks upon the mantra, stating that one attains Vaikuntha by chanting it.[11]
The mantra is also often associated with Prahlada, a daitya devotee of Narayana, and the son of Hiranyakashipu. Despite repeated instruction by his instructors to chant the invocation, "Hiranyaya namaha" (glory to Hiranya), the devotee sticks to his favoured mantra, "Om Namo Narayanaya Namaha" (glory to Narayana).[12]
Historical usage
Periyalvar, an Alvar, a poet-saint of the Sri Vaishnava tradition, invoked the mantra to convince the Pandya king of Madurai of the supremacy of Vishnu. He proclaimed that Narayana was the supreme deity, all-merciful and all-bountiful, and that he was the path towards the achievement of bliss.[13]
According to the Sri Vaishnava narrative, the theologian Ramanuja is regarded to have revealed this secret mantra from the tower of the Tirukoshtiyur temple to the crowd gathered outside the shrine.[14]
Significance
The mantra is held in supreme regard by the
The Linga Purana states that chanting the mantra is the means for achieving all objects, and hence must be invoked for every occasion.[17]
In Sri Vaishnavism, the chanting of the mantra was part of the panchasamskaras of Ramanuja, the five sacraments that initiated him into the tradition by his guru, Periyanambi.[18]
According to Vaishnava theology, it is held that whoever studies this ashtakshara of Narayana and recites it constantly attains a full life, supremacy over men, enjoys the pleasures of royalty, and becomes the master of all souls. Whoever chants this mantra is held to attain moksha, according to the teachings of the Samaveda.[19]
See also
References
- ISBN 978-1642499018.
- ISBN 978-93-89012-69-9.
- ISBN 978-1-136-77468-3.
- ISBN 978-93-91149-73-4.
- ^ Makarand Joshi. Varaha Purana ENG 2 Volumes In 1 File OCR Motilal Banasirdass 1960.
- ^ "General view of the façade of the Yamapuri or Mahishasuramardhini Cave Temple, Mamallapuram". Online Gallery of British Library. Retrieved 23 October 2012.
- ^ Narayanasvami Aiyar, K. (1914). Thirty minor Upanishads. Robarts - University of Toronto. Madras : Printed by Annie Besant at the Vasanta Press.
- ^ Narayanasvami Aiyar, K. (1914). Thirty minor Upanishads. Robarts - University of Toronto. Madras : Printed by Annie Besant at the Vasanta Press. p. 124.
- ^ Brahmayogin, Upanishad. 108 Upanishads with Sanskrit Commentary of Upanishad Brahma Yogin. Adyar Library.
- ^ Makarand Joshi. Narada Purana ENG 05 1952 OCR Motilal Banasirdass. p. 1766.
- ^ 108 Upanishad.
- ISBN 978-81-901481-4-6.
- ^ Shuddhananda Bharati (1942). Alvar Saints. pp. 13–14.
- ISBN 978-1-4051-3251-0.
- )
- ^ Narayanasvami Aiyar, K. (1914). Thirty minor Upanishads. Robarts - University of Toronto. Madras : Printed by Annie Besant at the Vasanta Press. p. 126.
- ISBN 978-0-7914-8848-5.
- ISBN 978-81-260-1833-8.
- )