[Advaita-l] Narayanaya in Advaita

[H S Chandramouli]

HS Chandramouli

So many shruti vakyas have been cited in this thread to highlight the
advaitic concept of Narayana. However there are so many references in our
shastras , shruti/purana etc , to Narayana with a definite form, endowed
with ayudhas/ornaments etc , and involved in so many activities . Many of
my advaita friends have always had a doubt on advaita's stand regarding the
reality status of this Narayana vis a vis rest of the creation. This has
been eulogized so much that while they have no difficulty in accepting the
mithyatvam of rest of the creation ( mostly interpreted as unreal/false )
same is not so with regard to this Narayana. Sri Ramanujacharya cites the
Narayanasukta which according to him refers to this Narayana as the only
authoritative shruti to identify the Highest Truth ( supported by Sri
Vishnumaha Purana ) . Ofcourse in most of their discourses the dvaitins do
not forget to mention that advaita does not  accept the reality of even
such a Narayana !!!!!!!! Perhaps there is a need to answer the question
with specific reference to this Narayana. I have tried to answer them as
follows.

<< Narayana as distinct from/different from/ separate from / independant of
I the Consciouness is Mithya.

     Narayana as same as / nondifferent from / nondistinct from / identical
with I the Consciouness is Sathya  >>

May be better ways are available to answer the question.

Regards


On Wed, Feb 5, 2014 at 6:09 PM, Venkatesh Murthy <vmurthy36 at gmail.com>wrote:

> Namaste
>
> The Narayana name is very holy because Mahabharata and Bhagavata say -
> Naaraayanam Namaskrutya Naram Chaiva NarOttamam. In Bhagavata the story of
> Ajamila is given. He was a great sinner. But he called his son's name
> Narayana at the time of death when Yama Dootas were pulling him but God
> Narayana protected him.
> The Naaraayana Ashtakshari Mantra is compulsory for Vaishnavas. When they
> do the Purusha Sukta homa also they say every line from Pursha Sukta and
> then Om Namo Naaraayanaaya Swaahaa" after each line. It gives a good effect
> for Purusha Sukta Homa.
>
> In Advaita Naaraayana is Brahman only. Narayana Upanishad is saying
> 'Naaraayana Evedagm Sarvam Yadbhutam Yacca Bhavyam. Nishkalo Niranjano
> Nirvikalpo Niraakhyaataha Shuddho Deva Eko Naaraayanaha. Na Dviteeyo Asti
> Kashchit. Ya Evam Veda. Sa Vishnureva Bhavati. Sa Vishnureva Bhavati.
> Everything in past, present and future is Naraayaana only. He who knows
> this becomes Vishnu. He becomes Vishnu. The Naaraayana Ashtakshara is given
> next by the Upanishad.
>
> Complete text of Upanishad.
> http://www.sathyasaiottawa.org/pdf/Vedam/Narayana_Upanishad.pdf
>
> Namo Naaraayanaaya. Namo Venkateshaaya.
>
>
> --
> Regards
>
> -Venkatesh
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