The Significance and Meaning of Narayana – By Sri Tridandi Chinna Srimannarayana Ramanuja Jeeyar Swamiji
Narayana is the Supreme Being – this is what is explained in
the Bhagavad Gita. In the 10th and the 11th chapters of the Bhagavad Gita, the
Lord clearly says that He is present in each and every object and is
responsible for its survival. There is no being or object without Him. He is
present in and is the cause of support for every atom that exists. Thus He is
in everything, not just in heaven or space.
Arjuna was scared upon seeing the universal form of the
Lord. He could see neither the beginning nor the end of it. In the 10th and the
11th chapters, the Lord clearly explains how He is in everything and everything
is within Him.
These two chapters explain the meaning of the word NARAYANA.
RA in Sanskrit means that which perishes; NARA means that which never perishes – but
only changes its name, color, place or form. NARA
means all such objects (to explain the plurality, the word NARA becomes Naara.
AYANA means support –from within and outside. Support to
what? The answer follows...to all the Naarass.
If we have to call such a Supreme Being by name, in
Sanskrit, the best word would be NARAYANA.
Source – BHAKTHINIVEDANA – January 2012 issue