From Nara to Narayana: The Journey of Self-Realization
In Hindu thought, every human being is referred to as nara, a term that reflects our current state of limited perception and bound existence. This name is not a mere label but a profound reminder of our journey, shaped by past actions and destined for a higher realization. Until we awaken to our divine nature, we remain nara—led by karma and subject to the cycles of birth and death.
Human Being is Nara because he has not realized that he is Narayana.
The day he realizes he is Narayana – he attains moksha – then there is no
second. Everything is Narayana – there is no separation. There is nothing to
gain or lose. Until then human being Nara caught in the cycle of birth and
death.
The Meaning of Nara
The Sanskrit root of nara suggests "to lead". It underscores the fact that a person is guided into each life by the momentum of past deeds. As long as one is unaware of one’s true identity, one remains a seeker, a mortal soul navigating the world of forms and experiences. The term highlights both our vulnerability and our potential: vulnerable because we are carried by forces beyond immediate control; potential because the same forces can guide us back to our source.
The Role of Karma
Karma, often translated as "action" or "deed," operates like a cosmic ledger. Every thought, word and deed leaves an imprint that shapes future circumstances. According to the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna tells Arjuna:
"As the fire reduces wood to ashes, so does the fire of knowledge burn to ashes all reactions to material activities."
This fire of knowledge gradually purifies accumulated karmas. Until this purification is complete, the soul continues to take many forms—human and otherwise—experiencing joys and sorrows dictated by its past.
The Path to Self-Realization
While karma binds us, there is a way out: self-realization. Realization dawns when one recognizes that the individual self (jiva) is not separate from the Supreme Self (Narayana). Sri Adi Shankaracharya, the great exponent of nondual Vedanta, declared:
*"Brahma satya, jagat mithya, jivo brahmaiva naparah"—
"Brahman alone is real, the world unreal, and the individual soul non-different from Brahman." Through discrimination (viveka), dispassion (vairagya) and dedicated practice, one removes the ignorance that veils this truth.
Teachings from the Bhagavad Gita
The Bhagavad Gita offers practical guidance on this inner journey. Key paths include:
Karma Yoga: Selfless action without attachment to results.
Bhakti Yoga: Devotion to God as the supreme refuge.
Jnana Yoga: Discriminative wisdom that discerns the eternal from the ephemeral.
Krishna emphasizes balance, teaching that no single path suffices in isolation. By integrating action, devotion and wisdom, the heart becomes a pure vessel for divine grace.
Insights from the Upanishads
The Upanishads, the bedrock of Hindu philosophy, reveal the ultimate identity of nara. In the Mandukya Upanishad, the four states of consciousness—waking, dreaming, deep sleep and turiya—illustrate the layers of self-awareness. While waking and dreaming bind us to external and mental worlds, deep sleep hints at a state beyond duality. Turiya, the silent witness, is none other than Narayana.
Through meditation on the sacred syllable OM and the guidance of these texts, aspirants recognize the unbroken thread of consciousness that connects them to the Divine.
Guidance from the Gurus
Throughout history, enlightened masters have embodied and conveyed this journey. Sri Ramakrishna exhorted seekers to experience God personally, transcending rituals. Swami Vivekananda urged service to humanity as worship of the divine in all beings. Modern teachers continue this lineage, offering retreats, satsangs and scriptural commentaries to illuminate the path.
Moksha: The Ultimate Liberation
Moksha, or liberation, is not a distant reward but the very nature of the self. When the final strands of karma are exhausted, the soul abides in the eternal bliss of unity. No longer called nara, it is recognized as Narayana itself—beyond birth and death, beyond duality and bondage.
This liberation is described in the Gita as:
"That which pervades all creatures, lies hidden in their hearts, know that to be indestructible, that supreme Self."
Final Thoughts
The term nara beautifully encapsulates our present condition: a being led by the consequences of past actions. Yet the story does not end there. Through the balanced practice of yoga, the study of scripture, the guidance of realized teachers and the burning away of karma by the fire of knowledge, one transcends the limited self. Realizing one’s true nature as Narayana, one attains moksha, the state of undivided oneness. Until that moment arrives, we walk the earth as nara, ever guided toward the eternal light within.