The concept of Narayan in Hindu religion is based on deep symbolism which is often forgotten by many Hindus. Here is a look at the symbolism of Narayana based on Narayana Suktam of Swami Akshara.
Narayana is not a God who can be held captive in the confines of one religion. He is not just a Hindu God.
We are 100 percent sure about which God carries what in each of their hands and which stotra or which mantra to chant for each God. The purpose of Narayana Suktam is to understand how Narayana looks at this world. If you start to see this world the way Narayana looks at it, then you will function with full responsibility.
The word Narayana can be split into two; Nara – meaning human being and Ayana – meaning the one who resides within or who has taken his abode within; that which is present in the bosom of the human being.
While Shiva represents renunciation, Narayana represents participation.
Narayana drives you to be active and ambitious. If in front of Narayana, you can sit quietly, and not pray or ask anything, at that very moment, the best of possible worlds will come to you. If you meditate on Narayana, in the moments of silence, you achieve the highest wealth of wisdom.
Narayana brings the knowledge of truth. He enlightens you.
“Sahasra Seersham Devam Vishwaksham Vishwashambhuvam.” One cannot go searching out there to find a Narayana who looks like the image in the Vishwaroopa Darshan. The thousand heads referred to in the first line which means ‘a being of light with thousand heads,’ in fact refers to thousands of heads; the thinking faculty of all human beings collectively, which is an expression of Narayana.
This whole world that one sees comes to light during night and day, because of the power of Narayana that enlivens the vision and other sensory perceptions.
Narayana as Virupaksha, or the three-eyed one, is Shiva. This shows that Narayana and Shiva are one and the same. There are no differences among the Gods. It is human beings who create politics among the Gods!
Can women chant the Narayana Suktam? - Everyone is essentially Narayana. Your consciousness is Narayana and it resides in you. You are neither man nor woman. Those are just the outer coverings. Only if you think you are a woman will such rules and regulations apply to you.
Swami Akshara
(Source : An article in New Indian Express on 20 July, 2009 by Swahilya on a workshop by Swami Akshara title Ananthashayanam)