https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Nara-NarayanaNara-Narayana - Revision history2026-08-18T14:17:26ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.43.6https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nara-Narayana&diff=378525&oldid=prev2405:201:402D:904A:A9CC:6DD8:9B0C:14C at 18:08, 26 November 20222022-11-26T18:08:44Z<p></p>
<a href="//en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nara-Narayana&diff=378525&oldid=143959">Show changes</a>2405:201:402D:904A:A9CC:6DD8:9B0C:14Chttps://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nara-Narayana&diff=143959&oldid=previmported>Redtigerxyz: /* top */ add ref2021-06-28T16:08:02Z<p><span class="autocomment">top: </span> add ref</p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{short description|Hindu twin brother deity pair}}<br />
{{for|the 16th-century ruler of the Kamata Kingdom|Nara Narayan}}<br />
{{EngvarB|date=March 2017}} <br />
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2017}}<br />
{{Refimprove|date=March 2017}}<br />
{{Infobox deity<!--Wikipedia:WikiProject Hindu mythology--><br />
| type = Hindu<br />
| image = NarNarayan-Kalupur.jpg<br />
| caption = The twin form of Nara Narayana Deva at the [[Swaminarayan Temple Ahmedabad]]<br />
| name = Nara Narayana<br />
| Devanagari = नर-नारायण<br />
| Sanskrit_transliteration = {{IAST|nara-nārāyaṇa}}<br />
| affiliation = [[Avatar]] of [[Vishnu]]<br />
| god_of = <br />
| abode = [[Badrinath]]<br />
| weapon = <br />
| consort = <br />
| mount = <br />
| planet = <br />
}}<br />
'''Nara-Narayana''' ({{lang-sa|नर-नारायण}}; Nara-nārāyaṇa) is a [[Hinduism|Hindu]] deity pair. Nara-Narayana is the twin-brother [[avatar]] of the god [[Vishnu]] on Earth, working for the preservation of [[Dharma]] or righteousness. <br />
<br />
The Hindu scripture ''[[Mahabharata]]'' identifies the god [[Krishna]] with Narayana and [[Arjuna]] with Nara in the divine pair.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2015-09-27|title=Twin incarnation of the Lord|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/religion/religion-twin-incarnation-of-the-lord/article7695022.ece|access-date=2021-06-28|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> The legend of Nara-Narayana is also told in the scripture ''[[Bhagavata Purana]]''. Hindus believe that the pair dwells at [[Badrinath]], where their most important [[Badrinath Temple|temple]] stands.<br />
<br />
The Nara-Narayana pair is frequently worshipped in temples of the [[Swaminarayan Faith]], as the followers of the sect believe that their founder Swaminarayan resides in the murti of Naranarayan Dev in Kalupur Mandir.<br />
<br />
==Etymology==<br />
[[File:Nara narayana.jpg|230px|thumb|Narayana on the left and Nara on the right, [[Deogarh, Uttar Pradesh]], ca. 5th century AD]]<br />
The name "Nara-Narayana" can be broken into two [[Sanskrit language|Sanskrit]] terms, ''Nara'' and ''Narayana''. Nara means Human, and [[Narayana]] refers to the name of the deity.<br />
<br />
[[Monier-Williams]] dictionary says Nara is "the primeval Man or eternal Spirit pervading the universe always associated with Narayana, "son of the primeval man"; both are considered either as gods or sages and accordingly called देवौ, ऋषी, तापसौ. In epic poetry, they are the sons of [[Dharma]] by Murti or Ahimsa and emanations of [[Vishnu]], [[Arjuna]] being identified with Nara, and [[Krishna]] with Narayana.- [[Mahabharata]], [[Harivamsa]] and [[Purana]]".<ref>[http://www.sanskrit-lexicon.uni-koeln.de/cgi-bin/serveimg.pl?file=/scans/MWScan/MWScanjpg/mw0528-nabhoyoni.jpg][http://www.sanskrit-lexicon.uni-koeln.de/cgi-bin/serveimg.pl?file=/scans/MWScan/MWScanjpg/mw0529-narakapAla.jpg]</ref> Narayana and Nara both are forms of [[Vishnu]].<br />
<br />
==Depiction==<br />
Nara-Narayana are depicted jointly or separately in images. When depicted separately, Nara is portrayed with two hands and wearing deer skin while Narayana is shown on the right in the usual form of Vishnu.<br />
<br />
Sometimes, both of them are depicted identical to each other. They are depicted four-armed holding a mace, a discus, a conch and a lotus, resembling Vishnu.<br />
<br />
==Legends==<br />
[[File:Krishna and Arjun on the chariot, Mahabharata, 18th-19th century, India.jpg|thumb|300px|[[Krishna]], [[Arjuna]] at [[Kurukshetra]]. Krishna gives the discourse of the [[Bhagavad Gita]]. 18-19th century painting. Freer Sackler Gallery.]]<br />
[[Arjuna]] and [[Krishna]] are often referred to as Nara-Narayana in the [[Mahabharata]],<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Mahabharata, Book 1: Adi Parva: Section I|url=https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01002.htm|access-date=2021-01-11|website=www.sacred-texts.com}}</ref> and are considered part incarnations of Nara and Narayana respectively, according to the [[Devi Bhagavata Purana]].<ref name=Vijnanananda250>{{Harvnb|Vijnanananda|2004|p=250}}</ref><br />
<br />
In a previous life, the duo were born as the sages Nara and Narayana, and who performed great penances at the holy spot of [[Badrinath]]. Nara and Narayana were the Fourth [[Avatar]] of Vishnu. The twins were sons of [[Dharma]], the son of [[Brahma]] and his wife Murti (Daughter Of [[Daksha]]) or Ahimsa.<ref>According to [[Vamana]] Purana, Chapter 6 - Bhandarkar p.46</ref> They live at [[Badrinath|Badrika]] performing severe austerities and meditation for the welfare of the world. These two inseparable sages took avatars on earth for the welfare of mankind. Legend has it that once [[Shiva]] tried to bring the fame of Nara and Narayana before the entire world. To do that, he hurled his own potent [[weapon]] Paashupathastra at the meditating [[rishis]]. The power of their [[meditation]] was so intense that the astra lost its power before them. Shiva stated that this happened since the duo were [[Jnana|jnanis]] of the first order constantly in the state of [[Nirvikalpa]] [[Samadhi]].<br />
<br />
===Birth of Urvashi===<br />
The [[Bhagavata Purana]] tells the story of the birth of [[Urvashi]] from the sages Nara-Narayana.<ref>''The Goddess in India: The Five Faces of the Eternal Feminine'' By Devdutt Pattanaik, Published 2000, Inner Traditions / Bear & Company, 176 pages, {{ISBN|0-89281-807-7}} p.66</ref> Once, sages Nara-Narayana were meditating in the holy shrine of Badrinath situated in the [[Himalayas]]. Their penances and austerities alarmed the gods, so [[Indra]], the King of [[Deva (Hinduism)|Deva]]s, sent [[Kamadeva]], [[Vasanta (Ritu)|Vasanta]] (spring) and [[apsaras]] (nymphs) to inspire them with passion and disturb their devotions. The sage Narayana took a flower and placed it on his thigh. Immediately there sprung from it a beautiful nymph whose charms far excelled those of the celestial nymphs, and made them return to heaven filled with shame and vexation. Narayana sent this nymph to Indra with them, and from her having been produced from the thigh (uru in [[Sanskrit]]) of the sage, she was called [[Urvashi]]. Having sent back the nymphs back, the divine sages continued to meditate. <ref>''Tales from the Puranas'' By Mahesh Sharma, pp.60-62, Diamond Pocket Books (P) Ltd.,{{ISBN|81-288-1040-5}}</ref><ref name=Vijnanananda267>{{Harvnb|Vijnanananda|2004|pp=267–272}}</ref><br />
<br />
==Badrinath==<br />
[[File:Badrinath temple.jpg|thumb|260px|right|[[Badrinath temple]]]]<br />
According to the Bhagavata purana, "There in Badrikashram ([[Badrinath]]) the Personality of Godhead ([[Vishnu]]), in his incarnation as the sages Nara and Narayana, had been undergoing great penance since time immemorial for the welfare of all living entities." (3.4.22)<br />
<br />
In [[Badrinath Temple]]'s sanctorium, to the far right side of the stone image of Badri-Vishala (or Badri-Narayana), are the images of Nara and Narayana. Also, the Nara and Narayana peaks tower over Badrinath.<br />
<br />
==Mahabharata==<br />
[[File:Nara Narayana 1.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Nara Narayana as per Mahabharata]]<br />
<br />
According to Bhandarkar, the gods Nara-Narayana must have been very popular at the time of the composition of the [[Mahabharata]], since in the opening stanzas of various [[Mahabharata#The_18_parvas_or_books|''parvas'']] (constituent books) of the epic, obeisance is made to these two gods. In [[Vana_Parva|Vanaparvan]] (12. 46, 47), Krishna says to Arjuna,"O invincible one, you are Nara and I am Hari Narayana, and we, the sages Nara-Narayana, have come to this world at the proper time.." In the same Parva, chapter 40 (verse 1); [[Shiva]] says to Arjuna — "In former birth you were Nara and with Narayana as your companion, performed austerities for thousands of years at Badari".<ref name="Bhandarkar">{{Cite web|url=https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m03/m03040.htm|title=The Mahabharata, Book 3: Vana Parva: Kairata Parva: Section XL|website=www.sacred-texts.com|access-date=2019-12-11}}</ref><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
==Swaminarayan sect==<br />
In the [[Swaminarayan]] sect, Nara and Narayana, are called ''Nara-Narayana Deva''. They are believed to reside at Badrikashram and to be the prime controllers of the destiny of all beings, depending on their [[karma]]. Nara-Narayana Deva are believed to have manifested at Narayana Ghat on the banks of river [[Sabarmati]] at [[Ahmedabad]]. Therefore, their [[murti|images]] were installed by Swaminarayan at the first Swaminarayan temple, [[Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Ahmedabad|Swaminarayan Mandir, Ahmedabad]] ([[India]]).<br />
<br />
Members of this group interpret the events that took place at [[Badrinath|Badarikashram]], the abode of [[Nara Narayana]], that led to the incarnation of Swaminarayan. They believe that Narayana took birth as Swaminarayan due to a curse of sage [[Durvasa]] which he accepted at his own will. The curse led to Narayana taking the form of an avatar on Earth to destroy evil and establish ''ekantik-[[dharma]]'', religion based on morality, knowledge, detachment and devotion.<ref name="Badrikashram">{{cite web | url= http://www.swaminarayansatsang.com/library/lordswaminarayan/literaturestory.asp?StoryID=233 | title= History of Incarnation of Lord Shree Swaminarayan | url-status= dead | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090910011046/http://www.swaminarayansatsang.com/library/lordswaminarayan/literaturestory.asp?StoryID=233 | archive-date= 10 September 2009 | df= dmy-all }}</ref><br />
<br />
==See also==<br />
{{Vaishnavism}}<br />
{{commons category|Nara Narayana}}<br />
*[[Vishnu]]<br />
*[[Narayana]]<br />
<br />
==Notes==<br />
{{reflist}}<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
* {{Cite book | last = Bhandarkar | first = Ramkrishna Gopal| author-link = Ramakrishna Gopal Bhandarkar| year = 1995| pages = 238 | title = Vaisnavism Saivism and Minor Religious Systems | publisher = Asian Educational Services | isbn = 81-206-0122-X }}<br />
* {{Cite book | last = Vijnanananda| first = Swami | author-link = Swami Vijnanananda| year = 2004 | pages = 624 | title = The Sri Mad Devi Bhagavatam: Books One Through Twelve Part 1 | publisher = Kessinger Publishing | isbn = 0-7661-8167-7 }}<br />
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080420155619/http://www.swaminarayanwales.org.uk/Murtis/murtis.asp Swaminarayan Temple Cardiff - Murtis - NarNarayan Dev]<br />
<br />
==External links==<br />
* [http://bhagavata.org/bh/bhagavatam-canto11.html#4 Nara Narayana]<br />
<br />
{{VishnuAvatars}}<br />
{{Swaminarayan Sampraday}}<br />
{{HinduMythology}}<br />
<br />
<!-- inter wiki links---><br />
<br />
[[Category:Hindu gods]]<br />
[[Category:Forms of Vishnu]]<br />
[[Category:Forms of Krishna]]<br />
[[Category:Divine twins]]<br />
[[Category:Rishis]]<br />
[[Category:Swaminarayan Sampradaya]]</div>imported>Redtigerxyz