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{{Short description|A Hindu mantra}}[[File:Lord Vishnu.jpg|thumb|Statue of Narayana, the addressee of this mantra|300x300px]]

'''Om Namo Narayanaya''' ({{Lang-sa|ॐ नमो नारायणाय|lit=I bow to the Ultimate Reality, Narayana|translit=Om Namo Nārāyanāya}}),<ref>{{Cite book |last=Krishnamurthy |first=V. |url=https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/Thoughts_of_Spiritual_Wisdom/pOFaDwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=om+namo+narayanaya+meaning&pg=PA129-IA128&printsec=frontcover |title=Thoughts of Spiritual Wisdom |publisher=[[Notion Press]] |date=2018-05-16 |isbn=978-1642499018 |page=129}}</ref> also referred to as the '''Ashtakshara''' (eight syllables), and the '''Narayana Mantra''', is among the most popular [[mantra]]s of [[Hinduism]], and the principal mantra of [[Vaishnavism]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Jayaraman |first=Dr P. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UpmeDwAAQBAJ&dq=om+namo+narayanaya+vaishnavism&pg=PA16 |title=A Brief History of Vaishnava Saint Poets : The Alwars |date=2019 |publisher=Vani Prakashan |isbn=978-93-89012-69-9 |language=en}}</ref> It is an invocation addressed to [[Narayana]], the god of preservation, the form of [[Vishnu]] who lays in eternal rest beneath the [[Kshira Sagara|cosmic waters]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Werner |first=Karel |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mldcAgAAQBAJ&dq=narayana+cosmic+waters&pg=PA135 |title=Love Divine: Studies in 'Bhakti and Devotional Mysticism |date=2013-12-16 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-136-77468-3 |pages=135 |language=en}}</ref>

== Origin ==
{{Vaishnavism}}
In the [[Samaveda|Sama Veda]], '''Om Namo Narayanaya'<nowiki/>'' is said to have been taught by [[Historical Vedic religion|Vedic]] sages to the seekers who came to them for wisdom. It is traditionally believed that this mantra revealed its significance and meaning to these sages through their penances, after which they shared it with seekers as a means of self-realisation.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Debroy |first=Bibek |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tM49EAAAQBAJ&dq=sama+veda+om+namo+narayanaya&pg=PT311 |title=Brahma Purana Volume 1 |date=2022-01-24 |publisher=Penguin Random House India Private Limited |isbn=978-93-91149-73-4 |language=en}}</ref>

== Literature ==
[[File:Hindoo Gods; Wallpaper.jpg|thumb|A painting of Narayana]]
''Om Namo Narayanaya'' is heavily featured in [[Hindu texts|Hindu literature]], especially in the [[Upanishads]] and the [[Puranas]]. The mantra is often specified as being invoked by the characters of these scriptures to gain salvation from the deity, and as an instruction to the devotees of Narayana in the performance of rituals.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Makarand Joshi |url=http://archive.org/details/varahapuranaeng2volumesin1fileocrmotilalbanasirdass1960 |title=Varaha Purana ENG 2 Volumes In 1 File OCR Motilal Banasirdass 1960}}</ref>

According to the [[Tarasara Upanishad]], ''om'' is the divine sacred syllable that represents the nature of [[Brahman]], the Ultimate Reality that is unchanging and eternal. ''Namo'' can be translated from Sanskrit as “to bow to” or “to pay homage to”, as well as refer to an individual's name. ''Narayanaya'' is a term that may be translated as "to or of Narayana". ''Nara'' refers to “water”, and ''anaya'' means “abode” or “shelter.” Narayana is an epithet of Vishnu, whose celestial realm is [[Vaikuntha]], amid the cosmic waters of creation. Hence, it is a mantra that is associated with submission to [[Brahman|God]], accepting one's existence in the grand design, as well as seeking the protection of Vishnu.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Narayanasvami Aiyar |first=K. |url=http://archive.org/details/thirtyminorupani00xxxxuoft |title=Thirty minor Upanishads |date=1914 |publisher=Madras : Printed by Annie Besant at the Vasanta Press |others=Robarts - University of Toronto}}</ref>

The sage and philosopher [[Yajnavalkya]] provides an explanation of the breakdown of the components of the mantra:<ref>{{Cite book |last=Narayanasvami Aiyar |first=K. |url=http://archive.org/details/thirtyminorupani00xxxxuoft |title=Thirty minor Upanishads |date=1914 |publisher=Madras : Printed by Annie Besant at the Vasanta Press |others=Robarts - University of Toronto |pages=124}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Syllable
!Symbolism
!Invocation
|-
|Om
|[[Ātman (Hinduism)|Atma]]
|[[Brahma]]
|-
|Na/Ma
|[[Prakṛti|Prakrti]]
|[[Vishnu]]/[[Shiva|Rudra]]
|-
|Na/Ra/Ya/Na/Ya
|[[Para Brahman|Parabrahman]]
|[[Ishvara]]/[[Hiranyagarbha|Virata]]/[[Purusha]]/[[Bhagavan]]/[[Paramatman|Paramatma]]
|}
In the [[Vaishnava Upanishads]], the ''Samashti-Yantra'', the words described over [[Shesha|Ananta]], the seat of Vishnu, bear the ''ashtakshara.''<ref>{{Cite book |last=Brahmayogin |first=Upanishad |url=https://archive.org/details/108_Upanishads_with_Sanskrit_Commentary_of_Upanishad_Brahma_Yogin |title=108 Upanishads with Sanskrit Commentary of Upanishad Brahma Yogin |publisher=Adyar Library |language=English}}</ref>

The [[Naradiya Purana|Narada Purana]] furnishes the following details regarding the chanting of this mantra: If a man performs the [[japa]] of chanting the mantra in the banks of the river [[Ganges|Ganga]], he would achieve [[moksha]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Makarand Joshi |url=http://archive.org/details/naradapuranaeng051952ocrmotilalbanasirdass |title=Narada Purana ENG 05 1952 OCR Motilal Banasirdass |pages=1766}}</ref>

The [[Narayana Upanishad]] also remarks upon the mantra, stating that one attains [[Vaikuntha]] by chanting it.<ref>{{Cite book |url=http://archive.org/details/108upanishad_201910 |title=108 Upanishad}}</ref>

The mantra is also often associated with [[Prahlada]], a [[daitya]] devotee of Narayana, and the son of [[Hiranyakashipu]]. Despite repeated instruction by his instructors to chant the invocation, "''Hiranyaya namah''" (glory to Hiranya), the devotee sticks to his favoured mantra, "''Om Namo Narayanaya Namah''" (glory to Narayana).<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Muthukumaraswamy |first1=M. D. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Xsrgg1Mel8UC&dq=om+namo+narayanaya+bhakti+movement&pg=PA203 |title=Folklore, Public Sphere, and Civil Society |last2=Kaushal |first2=Molly |date=2004 |publisher=NFSC www.indianfolklore.org |isbn=978-81-901481-4-6 |language=en}}</ref>
[[File:Arulmigu Sri Parthasarathyswamy Temple-Narayana Krishnaraja Puram,Triplicane,Chennai-Tamil Nadu 600005-DSC 0023 03.jpg|thumb|280x280px|Om Namo Narayanaya written in Tamil, [[Parthasarathy Temple, Chennai|Parthasarathy Perumal temple]], Chennai]]

== Historical usage ==
[[Periyalvar]], an [[Alvars|Alvar]], a poet-saint of the [[Sri Vaishnavism|Sri Vaishnava]] tradition, invoked the mantra to convince the [[Pandya dynasty|Pandya]] king of [[Madurai]] of the supremacy of Vishnu. He proclaimed that Narayana was the supreme deity, all-merciful and all-bountiful, and that he was the path towards the achievement of bliss.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Shuddhananda Bharati |url=http://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.68160 |title=Alvar Saints |date=1942 |pages=13–14}}</ref>
== Significance ==
[[File:Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangam si0589.jpg|thumb|267x267px|The [[Urdhva Pundra]], worn by adherents of Narayana. Wall painting in [[Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangam|Ranganathaswamy Temple]], Srirangam.]]
The mantra is held in supreme regard by the [[Vaishnavism|Vaishnavas]], the adherents of Vishnu who make up the dominant denomination within Hinduism.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Johnson |first=Todd M. |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/826899669 |title=The worlds religions in figures : an introduction to international religious demography |date=2013 |others=Gina A. Bellofatto |isbn=978-1-118-32303-8 |location=Chichester, West Sussex, UK |oclc=826899669}}</ref> The religious significance of chanting this incantation is described in the [[Tarasara Upanishad]], stating that he who chants the mantra is purified by the deities [[Agni]], [[Vayu]], [[Surya]], as well as [[Shiva]]. The merit attained by chanting it is described to be the equivalent of reciting the [[Itihasa|Itihasas]], the [[Puranas]], and all the mantras a hundred thousand times. It is also stated to be the equivalent of reciting the [[Gayatri Mantra|Gayatri mantra]] a hundred thousand times, and the syllable '[[Om]]' ten thousand times. It is stated to be powerful enough to purify ten of one's immediate ancestors, and ten of one's immediate descendants. Finally, it states that the recitation of the mantra allows one to attain the state of union with Narayana.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Narayanasvami Aiyar |first=K. |url=http://archive.org/details/thirtyminorupani00xxxxuoft |title=Thirty minor Upanishads |date=1914 |publisher=Madras : Printed by Annie Besant at the Vasanta Press |others=Robarts - University of Toronto |pages=126}}</ref>

The [[Linga Purana]] states that chanting the mantra is the means for achieving all objects, and hence must be invoked for every occasion.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Studholme |first=Alexander |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sxJWgldrIHoC&dq=om+namo+narayanaya&pg=PA177 |title=The Origins of Om Manipadme Hum: A Study of the Karandavyuha Sutra |date=2012-02-01 |publisher=SUNY Press |isbn=978-0-7914-8848-5 |pages=177 |language=en}}</ref>

In [[Sri Vaishnavism]], the chanting of the mantra was part of the ''panchasamskaras'' of [[Ramanuja]], the five sacraments that initiated him into the tradition by his guru, Periyanambi.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Narasimhacharya |first=Madabhushini |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4rW8nLogjekC&dq=om+namo+narayanaya&pg=PA22 |title=Sri Ramanuja |date=2004 |publisher=Sahitya Akademi |isbn=978-81-260-1833-8 |language=en}}</ref>

According to Vaishnava theology, it is held that whoever studies this ''ashtakshara'' of Narayana and recites it constantly attains a full life, supremacy over men, enjoys the pleasures of royalty, and becomes the master of all souls. Whoever chants this mantra is held to attain [[moksha]], according to the teachings of the Sama Veda.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/702548741 |title=Sixty Upaniṣads of the Veda |date=1997 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |others=Paul Deussen, V. M. Bedekar, Gajanan Balkrishna Palsule |isbn=81-208-0430-9 |edition=1st |location=Delhi |oclc=702548741}}</ref>

== See also ==

* [[Om Namo Bhagavate Vāsudevāya|Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya]]
* [[Om Namah Shivaya]]
* [[Hare Krishna (mantra)|Hare Krishna]]

== References ==

{{reflist}}{{Worship in Hinduism}}
[[Category:Vishnu]]
[[Category:Vaishnavism]]
[[Category:Vedas]]
[[Category:Upanishadic concepts]]
[[Category:Hindu mantras]]
[[Category:Om mantras]]
[[Category:Mantras]]

Om Namo Narayanaya - Revision history

ImportMaster: robot: Create/update articles in Category:Hindu gods.