Narayana Sukta Meaning

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE NARAYANA-SUKTA
The Narayana-Sukta, is in a way, the mystical appendix to the Purusha-Sukta of the Veda, the only difference between the Purusha-Sukta and the Narayana-Sukta being the definition of the Deity addressed by them. The Purusha-Sukta beholds the Supreme Being as the All-encompassing, Impersonal Purusha, while the Narayana-Sukta addresses the Lord as Narayana. The Purusha-Sukta, thus, is a hymn addressed to the Purusha extending beyond the Cosmos, though, at the same time, present within Creation, and the Narayana-Sukta is a devout, touching, feelingful and personal address to the Creator of the Universe. In the Narayana-Sukta some clarification of the hidden meaning of the Purusha-Sukta is to be discovered. Narayana is the thousand-headed one, thousand-eyed, and thousand-limbed. But Narayana is not merely the Father or Creator of the Cosmos, beyond Creation, but is also hidden in the heart of everyone. Like a resplendent flame in the heart of the individual, Narayana can be visualised in deep meditation. In the lotus of the heart there is the Citadel of the Cosmos, the Palace of the Creator of the Universe. Thus, the worshipper of the Supreme Narayana need not necessarily look up to the sky to behold Him and adore Him. One can as well see the same Narayana within himself, in his own heart. While Narayana creates the world from outside, He also impels everyone through feeling and action from within. Through every nerve-current, life flows and vibrates. This vibration, this flow of life, is the Chaitanya, or Consciousness, of Narayana moving in Creation. Narayana is adored as the One Being extending beyond Brahma, Vishnu, Siva, Indra and all the gods and angels, while Himself appearing as every one of them - the Imperishable, Self-Existent All. Whatever is all this Universe - Yacca kincit jagat sarvam - seen or unseen, in its depths, or is merely heard of - within and without all these, Narayana is enveloping everyone. May Narayana bless us, and bestow upon us glory.




THE NARAYANA-SUKTA

This universe is the Eternal Being (Narayana), the imperishable, the supreme, the goal, multi-headed and multi-eyed (i.e., omnipresent and omniscient), the resplendent, the source of delight for the whole universe.
Note:- With this verse commences a famous hymn of the Vedic group, stating the characters of the Absolute in its manifestation as this creation.
This universe is the Supreme Being (Purusha) alone; hence it subsists on That, the Eternal which transcends it (in every way) - the Omnipresent Absolute which destroys all sins
The protector of the universe, the Lord of all souls (or Lord over Self), the petpetual, the auspicious, the indestructible, the Goal of all creation, the Supreme object worthy of being known, the Soul of all beings, the Refuge unfailing (is He).

The Lord Narayana is the Supreme Absolute; Narayana is the Supreme Reality; Narayana is the Supreme Light; Narayana is the Supreme Self; Narayana is the Supreme Meditator; Narayana is the Supreme Meditation.

Whatever all this universe is - seen or heard of - pervading all this from inside and outside alike, stands supreme the Eternal Divine Being (Narayana).

He is the Limitless, Imperishable, Omniscient, residing in the ocean of the heart, the Cause of the happiness of the universe, the Supreme End of all striving, (manifesting Himself) in the ether of the heart which is comparable to an inverted bud of the lotus flower.

Below the Adam's apple, at a distance of a span, and above the navel (i.e., the heart which is the relative seat of the manifestation of Pure consciousness in the human being), effulges the Great Abode of the universe, as if adorned with garlands of flames.

Surrounded on all sides by nerve-currents (or arteries), suspends the lotusbud of the heart in an inverted position. In it is a subtle space (a narrow aperture, the Sushumna-Nadi), and therein is to be found the Substratum of all things.

In that space within the heart resides the Great Flaming Fire, undecaying, all-knowing, with tongues spread out in all directions, with faces turned everywhere, consuming all food presented before it, and assimilating it into itself.

His rays, spreading all round, side ways as well as above and below, warm up the whole bodv from head to foot. In the Centre of That (Flame) abides the Tongue of Fire as the topmost among all subtle things.

Note:- Due to the attachments and entanglement of the Jiva in worldly enjoyment and suffering, the Consciousness is enshrouded in potential as well as expressed objectivity, and hence it appears like a tiny streak of flame within the dark clouds of ignorance. But when the Jiva rises above worldliness the Consciousness is realised as the Infinite.
Brilliant like a streak of lightning set in the midst of the blue rain-bearing clouds, slender like the awn of a paddy grain, yellow (like gold) in colour, in subtlety comparable to the minute atom, (this Tongue of Fire) glows splendid.
In the Middle of That Flame, the Supreme Self dwells. This (Self) is Brahma (the Creator), Siva (the Destroyer), Hari (the Protector), Indra (the Ruler, the Imperishable, the absolute, the Autonomous Being.

Prostrations again and again to the Omni Formed Being, the Truth, the Law, the Supreme Absolute, the Purusha of blue-decked yellow hue, the Centralised-Forced Power, the All-Seeing One.

We commune ourselves with Narayana; and meditate on Vasudeva; May that Vishnu direct us (to the Great Goal).



Om; May there be Peace, Peace, Peace.