ॐ Hindu Of Universe ॐ
“God’s light is within you, It never leaves you.”
Narada Muni story: Narada and Nara Narayana rishis
A Segment of the Santi Parva of Mahabharata
Next, Bhishma related this history. During a Satya-yuga of the Svayambhuva manvantara, the great sage Dharma had begotten four incarnations of Lord Narayana. These were Nara, Narayana, Hari and Krishna. Hari and Krishna were to first to undergo severe austerities at Badari, and then, later on, Nara and Narayana also did so.
Narada Muni once came to see Nara and Narayana and asked, “O foremost of rishis, who is it that you are worshiping?”
Narayana Rishi replied, “My dear Narada, we are meditating upon Lord Vishnu, for He is the Supreme Absolute Truth.”
After hearing this, Narada Muni made up his mind to go to Svetadvipa to see the Supreme Lord directly. After worshiping Nara and Narayana Rishis and receiving worship from them, Narada Muni set out, and when he arrived at the peak of Mount Meru, he rested for awhile. From there, Narada Muni could see Svetadvipa within the ocean of milk, toward the northwestern direction. In that transcendental abode of the Supreme Lord, all of the residents have four arms and effulgent white complexions.
At this point, Maharaja Yudhisthira interrupted because he wanted to hear more about the residents of Svetadvipa. In reply, Bhishma referred to the talks of the great sages Ekata, Dvita and Trita with Brihaspati.
Ekata, Dvita and Trita said, “After being born from Lord Brahma’s mind, we had gone to the North. There, we had performed austerities for thousands of years, and at last we began to stand upon one leg, just like stakes in the ground. While standing on the shore of the Milk Ocean, north of Mount Meru, we desired to see Lord Narayana in His original transcendental form.”
“At last, when our austerities became mature, we heard a very deep and sweet voice speak to us from the sky, and that transcendental sound filled our hearts with great joy. The voice informed us, ‘O rishis, there is a white island known as Svetadvipa near the northern shore of the Milk Ocean. There, Lord Narayana lives along with His pure devotees, who have no other desire or engagement than service at His lotus feet. You should go there and see how the Supreme Absolute Truth is being revealed in His personal, transcendental form.’”
“After hearing this, we journeyed to Svetadvipa in great eagerness, but after arriving there, we could not sec anything because of the Supreme Lord’s blinding effulgence. Thus, we could understand that no one is able to see the personal feature of the Supreme Personality of Godhead unless he is sufficiently qualified. Being undaunted, however, we sat down there to worship Lord Vishnu and perform austerities to further purify ourselves.”
“Finally, after one hundred celestial years, we began to see wonderfully effulgent personalities having white complexion and possessed of all auspicious bodily features. They kept their hands joined as if they were praying, and we could hear them constantly chant the holy names of the Lord.”
“Next, we saw an intensely concentrated effulgence approaching and all of the residents of Svetadvipa began to joyfully run toward it with their hands joined in a reverential attitude. We began to lose consciousness, however, due to the great energy that emanated from that concentrated effulgence, and because of this, we also lost our vision. We could only feel the fragrant breezes and hear the combined sounds of the devotees as they glorified the Lord. Thus, even though the Supreme Lord was present before us, we could not see His personal form because it was covered by His Yogamaya potency.”
“In this way, we had the chance to personally experience what we had already learned from shastra–that the Absolute Truth, although non-dual, is realized progressively in three features–as Brahman, Paramatma, and Bhagavan.”
“This can be compared to the progressive stages by which one understands the sun. First of all, one can see the glaring all-pervading sunshine. Then, one can understand that this energy is coming from a localized source. In other words, that which had appeared to be formless is realized as emanating from a specific form. Finally, if one is able to enter the sun planet and receive the mercy of the presiding deity, Surya, then he can understand that in reality, everything is emanating from him.”
“Similarly, the brahmajyoti is the all-pervading effulgence of the Supreme Lord’s transcendental body. Paramatma is the Lord’s localized expansion upon whom the yogis meditate within the region of the heart. Bhagavan is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Krishna, who resides in His own abode and who expands Himself unlimitedly.”
“Thereafter, when the Lord left that place, the fragrant breezes stopped blowing and the sounds of glorification ceased. After regaining our senses, we opened our eyes and saw that we were amongst thousands of the Lord’s devotees, although none of them paid the slightest attention to us. We were already very weak because of our prolonged austerities, and due to being neglected like this, we became somewhat depressed.”
“Then, from the sky, a voice informed us, ‘O rishis, only those that are qualified by unalloyed devotion are able to see the personal form of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Such pure devotion is characterized by one’s being devoid of any desire other than to render undeviating service to the Supreme Lord with one’s body, mind and words. In other words, the pure devotee has no desire to materially benefit by engaging in fruitive activities, nor does he wish to become liberated by merging into the Lord’s effulgence. The pure devotees only desire to serve the Supreme Lord, without personal motivation, in any condition of life, whether it is in the material or spiritual world. Due to having developed unalloyed love for the Supreme Lord, the pure devotee has no room in his heart for any other desire than to simply please Him. This elevated condition of life can only be achieved when one surrenders unto a pure devotee of the Lord and receives his mercy. Only in this way can one hope to one day come face to face with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. My dear sons of Brahma, please return home now.’”
Bhishma resumed the narration that had been interrupted by Yudhisthira’s request to hear more about the residents of Svetadvipa.
From the peak of Mount Meru, Narada Muni resumed his journey to Svetadvipa. Upon his arrival, the devarshi met all of the residents of that white island, and after worshiping them, he accepted their worship in return. Then, in the hopes of meeting Lord Narayana, Narada Muni began to perform austerities by keeping his arms upraised, and as he did so, he recited prayers in glorification of the Supreme Lord.
Before long, Lord Narayana appeared before Narada Muni in a wonderful form possessing hundreds of heads, arms and trunks. As Narada Muni bowed down with great awe and veneration, the Lord spoke to him: “My dear son of Brahma, the rishis Ekata, Dvita and Trita had come here in the hopes of seeing Me, but they were unable to do so. In fact, no one is able to see Me unless his heart has become completely purified by having rendered loving devotional service unto Me.”
“My dear Narada, I consider you to be the best of My pure devotees. Therefore, I am ready to fulfill whatever your heart may desire.”
Narada Muni replied, “My dear Lord, just to see You is in itself the highest benediction, and I consider it to be ample reward for whatever austerities I may have performed.”
Lord Narayana then said, “Narada, I exist along with My associates in a transcendental position, beyond the manifest and unmanifest conditions of material nature. Therefore, I cannot be perceived by materially tinged senses. To come to Me in My eternal transcendental abode is the complete stage of liberation, whereas merging into My glaring effulgence is partial and impersonal. Indeed, it is a kind of punishment for those spiritualists that, out of envy, do not surrender unto Me.”
“O Narada, I have revealed My universal form to you so that you can graphically experience how the entire universe, and all of the living entities contained therein, from the tiny germ up to Lord Brahma and Lord Shiva, are all My parts and parcels, and are resting in Me.”
After describing Himself in this way, Lord Narayana suddenly disappeared from Narada’s vision. Narada Muni then went to Badari, to see Nara and Narayana Rishis. Thereafter, Narada Muni recited Lord Narayana’s words to the Siddhas residing in Brahmaloka, and this treatise became known as the Pancharatra shastra.
Nara-Narayana
Nara-Narayana (Sanskrit: नर-नारायण; nara-nārāyaṇa) is a Hindu deity pair. Nara-Narayana is the twin-brother avatar of the God Vishnu on earth, working for the preservation of dharma or righteousness. In the concept of Nara-Narayana, the human soul Nara is the eternal companion of the Divine Narayana.
The Hindu epic Mahabharata identifies the God Krishna (an avatar of Vishnu) with Narayana and Arjuna – the chief hero of the epic – with Nara. 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 temple stands.
The name “Nara-Narayana” can be broken into two Sanskrit terms, Nara and Narayana. Nara means human, and Narayana refers to the name of the deity.
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”.
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 Lord Vishnu. The twins were sons of Dharma, the son of Brahma and his wife Murti (Daughter Of Daksha) or Ahimsa. They live at 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 Lord 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. Lord Shiva stated that this happened since the duo were Jnanis of the first order constantly in the state of Nirvikalpa Samadhi.
The Bhagavata Purana tells the story of the birth of Urvashi from the sages Nara-Narayana. 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 Devas, sent Kamadeva, 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.
Nara and Narayana are twin sages who are the incarnated avatars of Lord Vishnu. Nara means human, and Narayana refers to the supreme Lord. Their purpose of the incarnation was to maintain Dharma on earth. Ancient texts mentioned them as the twin sages who came to earth to eradicate evils and establish virtue and righteousness.
They were widely known as Krishna and Arjuna in Mahabharata, who fought against evils to protect Dharma on earth. Bhagavata Purana mentions Nara-Narayana as the fourth incarnation of Lord Vishnu on earth.
Background History
Various Hindu texts state the sages were the sons of the Dharma (one of the mind-born sons of Lord Brahma) and Murti (daughter of Daksha).
Since their childhood, these twins have been inseparable. Nara and Narayana went to Badrinath, where they spent their lifetime performing deep austerities for the welfare of humankind. To test them, even Lord Shiva threw his most destructive divine weapon, Pashupatastra, at them. However, the weapon lost its power as it reached near them because of their intense penance and devotion. Lord Shiva realized that they were at the highest level of Samadhi.
Stories of Nara and Narayana
There are stories about Nara and Narayana in Bhagavata Purana and Mahabharata, here are a few such stories about these beautiful twin sages.
Celestial nymph Urvashi’s birth
Urvashi is a heavenly nymph well-known as the most beautiful apsara (nymph) with excellent dancing skills. The Bhagavat Purana describes her birth story.
Once Lord Nara and Narayana were doing austerity in the Badrinath. Their energy was so intense that it scared the Lord of heaven, Indra. So, to interrupt the twin sages from their penance, Lord Indra sent Kamadeva (the god of love and lust) and celestial nymphs (Apsaras).
Apsaras tried their best efforts to disturb Nara and Narayana but failed. Instead, Lord Narayana placed a flower on his thigh from which a beautiful apsara emerged. Her beauty and charm were so overpowering, making even the heavenly apsaras and Kamadeva return to heaven in shame. Since the apsara originated from the thigh (Uru) of Narayana sage, she was named Urvashi.
Knowing the intention of Kamadeva, Basanta (spring), and apsaras, Nara-Narayana was not angry with them. Instead, they requested to take Urvashi with them to heaven.
Badrinath
According to Bhagavata Purana, the Badrinath region or Badrikashram is the sacred place where the twin avatar of Lord Vishnu, Nara-Narayana, are still meditating since ancient times for the well-being of living beings. Nearby the Badrinath temple, there are statues dedicated to the great Nara-Narayana.
In Mahabharata
The epic Mahabharata mentioned Lord Krishna as the supreme Lord and Arjuna as Nara, the companion of Narayana. Chandra Deva (the moon god) said to all Devas that in Dwapar Yuga, sage Nara would be born as Indra’s son, and his son would be Arjuna’s mighty son Abhimanyu. Even the sage Veda Vyasa validated in Bhagavata Purana that Arjuna and Krishna as the incarnation of Nara Narayana in Dwapar Yuga.
In Vana Parva (the book of the forest), Lord Krishna also talks about this to Arjuna.
You belong to me and I belong to you. Everything mine is yours and yours is mine. Those who dislike you, dislike me too. You are Nara and I am Narayana. We are the twin sages who came to this earth with a great purpose. Finally, I came from you and you came from me. So, there is no one that can distinguish you and me.
Shri Krishna
Even Lord Shiva told Arjuna about his previous life, which he failed to remember. Therefore, In Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna himself told Arjuna, “Oh dear Arjuna! we both took numerous births which you have no memories of, but I remember everything.”
Nara-Narayana and Karna
In Treta Yuga, King Dambhodabhava turned evil to become the supreme being in the universe. So, he performed severe penance for thousands of years to please the Surya Deva. Pleased with the king, the Sun-god offered him a thousand pieces of armor attached to his body. To kill him, one has to do penance for a thousand years, and each time one armor got destroyed, that person died.
With such immense power, he started creating destruction all over the world. So, to eradicate him, Nara-Narayana challenged him to a fight. Nara fought with Sahasrakavacha while Narayana meditated for a thousand years. Both of them alternatively took turns to fight against Sahasrakavacha and meditate.
Finally, leaving Sahasrakavacha with the last armor. To avoid his death, Sahasrakavacha asked the sun god for assistance. The sun god promised Sahasrakavacha for protection.
At the same time, there was Yuga change which provided Sahasrakavacha with an opportunity to escape death. The very moment Narayana declared both he and Nara would reincarnate as Krishna and Arjuna to eliminate Karna (Sahasrakavacha) in the Dwapar Yuga.
During the Mahabharata war, Lord Indra took the form of a brahmin and asked for his armor which Karna donated easily. Without protection from the last armor, Arjuna was able to kill Karna.
Nara-Narayana and Prahlad
The son of Asura King Hiranyakashipu, Prahlad was one of the greatest devotees of Lord Vishnu. Once, he asked the Chyavan rishi, “which is the most sacred place on earth for pilgrimage?”. The sage replied that Naimisharanya was the one. So Prahlad went with his followers, and there they saw the twin sages meditating under a tree pierced by arrows. Prahlad asked the sages about the weapons, and in their response, the sages replied those who work as per their abilities earn respect. Such responses angered Prahlad, and they all started fighting for thousands of years.
At last, Prahlad got defeated and went to Vaikuntha (resident of Lord Vishnu) and asked Lord Vishnu about his defeat. The Lord said one of the sages, Narayana, was himself. Knowing the facts, Prahlad went to Nara and Narayana and apologized for his mistake.
The Story of Nara-Narayana & Karna
Nara-Narayana is the twin-brother avatar of the God Vishnu on earth, working for the preservation of dharma or righteousness. In the concept of Nara-Narayana, the human soul Nara is the eternal companion of the Divine Narayana. In the Mahabharata, Krishna, addressing Arjuna, says, “Thou wast Nara in a former body, and, with Narayana for thy companion, didst perform dreadful austerity at Badari for many myriads of years.”
The twins were sons of Dharma, the son of Brahma and his wife Murti (Daughter Of Daksha) or Ahimsa. They live at 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.
The mountains around Badrinath are mentioned in the Mahabharata, when the Pandavas were said to have expired one by one, when ascending the slopes of a peak in western Garhwal called Swargarohini.(literal meaning – the ‘Ascent to Heaven’). The Pandavas passed through Badrinath and the town of Mana, 4 km north of Badrinath, on their way to Svarga(heaven). There is also a cave in Mana where Vyasa, according to legend, wrote the Mahabharata.
The area around Badrinath was celebrated in Padma Purana as abounding in spiritual treasures.
The Story of Nara-Narayana and Karna
An interesting story is told that once an asura, who had pleased Brahma with his devotion, was granted a boon by the Creator of this universe, “Your life exists in the thousand kavachas (armours) that I have bestowed upon you and because of which none can kill you. But, if any one of your enemies were to remove the kavachas from your body, then you would lose all your powers. I also grant you another boon-one who takes away even one kavacha from you will have to fight you for a hundred years.”
With such powerful boons granted to an asura, it was enough reason for this to go to his head. He began to exercise his powers for both good and evil purposes, as a result of which all came to dread him and gave him the name Sahasrakavacha (a hundred armours). The devas were so disgusted with his behaviour that they decided to approach Lord Vishnu to seek his intervention. On hearing their pleas, Lord Vishnu agreed to help them and descended on earth in the form of two men, named Nara and Narayana.
Now these two men challenged Sahasrakavacha to a battle, which the asura willingly accepted, conscious as he was of his prowess and the hundred kavachas that he wore.
The day of the battle arrived. Nara engaged Sahasrakavacha in the confrontation for a hundred years while Narayana sat down to do penance. After a hundred years, Nara managed to force one kavacha off from the asura’s body by piercing through it and then embarked on penance. Meanwhile, Narayana took up the battle from where Nara had left. Thus alternating with each other, Nara and Narayana continued fighting with the asura, till he was left with only one kavacha upon his body.
Now Sahas-rakavacha realised that he was left with the last kavacha and if that too was ripped off his body, he would die. So, he went and hid himself behind the Sun-god. With Sahasrakavacha having left the field, Nara and Narayana returned to heaven.
After a long time, a son was born to Kunti with the blessings of the Sun-god. The child was named Karna and he was born wearing a single kavacha upon himself. This evidently proved to the shocked people around him that Karna was none other than Sahasrakavacha who had taken rebirth as Karna.
As we all know, in the battle of Mahabharata, Karna supported Duryo-dhana. Lord Indra disguised himself as a poor Brahmin and approached Karna for alms. Karna was a kind-hearted man, so he willingly took out his kavacha to hand over to the poor Brahmin. With the last kavacha off, Karna went to the battlefield and was killed by an arrow directed at him by Arjuna, who rode his chariot with Lord Krishna driving it. Arjuna and Krishna were Narayana and Nara respectively, in earlier life and were responsible for killing Karna.
Thus, as promised by Brahma, Sahasrakavacha lived so long as he wore the kavachas.
Nara-Narayana (Sanskrit: नर-नारायण; nara-nārāyaṇa) is a Hindu deity pair. Nara-Narayana is the twin-brother incarnation of the preserver-god Vishnu on earth, working for the preservation of dharma or righteousness. In the concept of Nara-Narayana, the human soul Nara is the eternal companion of the Divine Narayana.
The Hindu epic Mahabharata identifies god Krishna with Narayana and Arjuna – the chief hero of the epic – with Nara. 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 temple stands.
The Nara-Narayana pair is frequently worshipped in temples of the Swaminarayan Faith. The followers of the sect believe that their founder Swaminarayan is an incarnation of Narayana.
Etymology
Narayana on the left and Nara on the right, Deogarh, Uttar Pradesh, ca. 5th century
The name “Nara-Narayana” can be broken into two Sanskrit terms, nara and Narayana. Nara means human, and Narayana refers to the deity of the name.
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”.[1]
Depiction
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.
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.
[edit] Legends
Krishna, Arjuna at Kurukshetra. Krishna gives the discourse of the Bhagavad Gita. 18-19th century painting. Freer Sackler Gallery.
Krishna and Arjuna are often referred to as Nara-Narayana in the Mahabharata and are considered part incarnations of Narayana and Nara respectively, according to the Bhagavata Purana
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 Fifth Avatar of Lord Vishnu. The twins were sons of Dharma, the son of Brahma and his wife Murti (Daughter Of Daksha) or Ahimsa [3].They live at 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 and to punish the wicked ones. The sages defeated a demon called Sahasrakavacha (“one with a thousand armours”).[4]. Legend has it that once Lord 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 it’s power before them. Lord Shiva stated that this happened since the duo were jnanis of the first order constantly in the state of Nirvikalpa Samadhi.
Birth of Urvashi
The Bhagavata Purana tells the story of the birth of Urvashi from the sages Nara-Narayana.[5] 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 Devas, sent Kamadeva, 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.[6][7]
Badrinath
Badrinath temple
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)
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.
[edit] Mahabharata
Narayana (left) with Nara, both of them are depicted identical to each other, holding a mace, a discus, a conch and a lotus.
According to Bhandarkar, the gods Nara-Narayana must be very famous at the time of the composition of the Mahabharata, since in the opening stanzas of different books obeisance is made to these two gods. In 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 proper time..” In the same Parva, chapter 30 (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”.
In Swaminarayan sect
In Swaminarayan Sampraday sect, Nara and Narayana, called as Nara-Narayana Deva, are again identified with Arjuna and Krishna as Swaminarayan mentions in verse 110 of the Shikshapatri. 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 images were installed by Swaminarayan at the first Swaminarayan temple, Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Ahmedabad (India).
Followers of Swaminarayan believe that it was events that took place at Badarikashram, that led to the incarnation of Swaminarayan. It is believed 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. Swaminarayan followers specifically interpret the Visvaksena Samhita, 11th part of the Brahma Purana, as well as the Skanda Purana as giving a direct reference to Narayana taking birth in the form of Swaminarayan.
Nara and Narayana – Twin-brother Avatar of Lord Vishnu
Nara and Narayana are twin sages who’re the incarnated avatars of Lord Vishnu. Nara means human, and Narayana refers back to the supreme Lord. Their goal of the incarnation was to take care of Dharma on earth. Ancient texts talked about them as the dual sages who got here to earth to eradicate evils and set up advantage and righteousness.
They had been broadly generally known as Krishna and Arjuna in Mahabharata, who fought towards evils to guard Dharma on earth. Bhagavata Purana mentions Nara-Narayana because the fourth incarnation of Lord Vishnu on earth.
Background History
Various Hindu texts state the sages had been the sons of the Dharma (one of many mind-born sons of Lord Brahma) and Murti (daughter of Daksha).
Since their childhood, these twins have been inseparable. Nara and Narayana went to Badrinath, the place they spent their lifetime performing deep austerities for the welfare of humankind. To check them, even Lord Shiva threw his most damaging divine weapon, Pashupatastra, at them. However, the weapon misplaced its energy because it reached close to them due to their intense penance and devotion. Lord Shiva realized that they had been on the highest degree of Samadhi.
Stories of Nara and Narayana
There are tales about Nara and Narayana in Bhagavata Purana and Mahabharata, listed below are a couple of such tales about these lovely twin sages.
Celestial nymph Urvashi’s delivery
Urvashi is a heavenly nymph well-known as probably the most lovely apsara (nymph) with wonderful dancing expertise. The Bhagavat Purana describes her delivery story.
Once Lord Nara and Narayana had been doing austerity within the Badrinath. Their vitality was so intense that it scared the Lord of heaven, Indra. So, to interrupt the dual sages from their penance, Lord Indra despatched Kamadeva (the god of affection and lust) and celestial nymphs (Apsaras).
Apsaras tried their finest efforts to disturb Nara and Narayana however failed. Instead, Lord Narayana positioned a flower on his thigh from which an attractive apsara emerged. Her magnificence and appeal had been so overpowering, making even the heavenly apsaras and Kamadeva return to heaven in disgrace. Since the apsara originated from the thigh (Uru) of Narayana sage, she was named Urvashi.
Knowing the intention of Kamadeva, Basanta (spring), and apsaras, Nara-Narayana was not offended with them. Instead, they requested to take Urvashi with them to heaven.
Badrinath
According to Bhagavata Purana, the Badrinath area or Badrikashram is the sacred place the place the dual avatar of Lord Vishnu, Nara-Narayana, are nonetheless meditating since historical instances for the well-being of residing beings. Nearby the Badrinath temple, there are statues devoted to the good Nara-Narayana.
In Mahabharata
The epic Mahabharata talked about Lord Krishna because the supreme Lord and Arjuna as Nara, the companion of Narayana. Chandra Deva (the moon god) stated to all Devas that in Dwapar Yuga, sage Nara could be born as Indra’s son, and his son could be Arjuna’s mighty son Abhimanyu. Even the sage Veda Vyasa validated in Bhagavata Purana that Arjuna and Krishna because the incarnation of Nara Narayana in Dwapar Yuga.
In Vana Parva (the ebook of the forest), Lord Krishna additionally talks about this to Arjuna.
You belong to me and I belong to you. Everything mine is yours and yours is mine. Those who dislike you, dislike me too. You are Nara and I’m Narayana. We are the dual sages who got here to this earth with an important goal. Finally, I got here from you and also you got here from me. So, there isn’t a one that may distinguish you and me.
Shri Krishna
Even Lord Shiva informed Arjuna about his earlier life, which he failed to recollect. Therefore, In Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna himself informed Arjuna, “Oh dear Arjuna! we both took numerous births which you have no memories of, but I remember everything.”
Nara-Narayana and Karna
In Treta Yuga, King Dambhodabhava turned evil to turn into the supreme being within the universe. So, he carried out extreme penance for 1000’s of years to please the Surya Deva. Pleased with the king, the Sun-god supplied him a thousand items of armor connected to his physique. To kill him, one has to do penance for a thousand years, and every time one armor acquired destroyed, that individual died.
With such immense energy, he began creating destruction everywhere in the world. So, to eradicate him, Nara-Narayana challenged him to a battle. Nara fought with Sahasrakavacha whereas Narayana meditated for a thousand years. Both of them alternatively took turns to battle towards Sahasrakavacha and meditate.
Finally, leaving Sahasrakavacha with the final armor. To keep away from his demise, Sahasrakavacha requested the solar god for help. The solar god promised Sahasrakavacha for defense.
At the identical time, there was Yuga change which offered Sahasrakavacha with a possibility to flee demise. The very second Narayana declared each he and Nara would reincarnate as Krishna and Arjuna to remove Karna (Sahasrakavacha) within the Dwapar Yuga.
During the Mahabharata warfare, Lord Indra took the type of a brahmin and requested for his armor which Karna donated simply. Without safety from the final armor, Arjuna was capable of kill Karna.
Nara-Narayana and Prahlad
The son of Asura King Hiranyakashipu, Prahlad was one of many biggest devotees of Lord Vishnu. Once, he requested the Chyavan rishi, “which is the most sacred place on earth for pilgrimage?”. The sage replied that Naimisharanya was the one. So Prahlad went along with his followers, and there they noticed the dual sages meditating below a tree pierced by arrows. Prahlad requested the sages in regards to the weapons, and of their response, the sages replied those that work as per their skills earn respect. Such responses angered Prahlad, and so they all began preventing for 1000’s of years.
At final, Prahlad acquired defeated and went to Vaikuntha (resident of Lord Vishnu) and requested Lord Vishnu about his defeat. The Lord stated one of many sages, Narayana, was himself. Knowing the details, Prahlad went to Nara and Narayana and apologized for his mistake.
Nara Narayana are two ancient Rishis who are considered to be the twin incarnations of Lord Vishnu. It is said in the Bhagavad Purana that they were the sons of Dharma and Ahimsa. The name Nara Narayana is also sometimes applied to Arjuna and Krishna in the Mahabharata. The stories of Nara Narayana are found in the Bhagavad Purana and the Vamana Purana. Symbolically, Nara, human, and Narayana, the Supreme Being, are always in a divine union. Only few lucky souls realize it.
Legend has it that Nara and Narayana, the two sages, were undergoing penances and austerities (Tapas) at Badrinath in the Himalayas. Demons (Asuras) and Devas (Demigods) wanted to know what Nara and Narayana were seeking.
Asuras according to their innate character thought the two Saints were seeking power. Demons send an army to fight them but the two saints refused to fight. Due to the powerful Tapas conducted by them the grass around the two rishis protected them and those demons that tried to attack them were burned down.
Indra, the king of the Devas, according to his innate character thought that the two wanted to overthrow him and rule over the heaven. So he sent Apsaras (nymphs) to disturb the two saints with sexual passion. Seeing the Apsaras, Narayana placed a flower in his thigh and immediately sprung from it a voluptuous nymph whose charms far excelled those nymphs sent by Indra. Since this beautiful nymph came out of the thigh she was called Urvashi.
Finally, Nara and Narayana revealed that there Tapas was to seek the ultimate goal of Moksha and they were not after power and pleasure which are temporary.