The ''Narayana Upanishad'' () is one of the minor
Upanishads
The Upanishads (; , , ) are late Vedic and post-Vedic Sanskrit texts that "document the transition from the archaic ritualism of the Veda into new religious ideas and institutions" and the emergence of the central religious concepts of Hind ...
, listed as number 18 in the extended anthology of 108 Upanishads recited by
Rama
Rama (; , , ) is a major deity in Hinduism. He is worshipped as the seventh and one of the most popular avatars of Vishnu. In Rama-centric Hindu traditions, he is considered the Supreme Being. Also considered as the ideal man (''maryāda' ...
to
Hanuman
Hanuman (; , ), also known as Maruti, Bajrangabali, and Anjaneya, is a deity in Hinduism, revered as a divine ''vanara'', and a devoted companion of the deity Rama. Central to the ''Ramayana'', Hanuman is celebrated for his unwavering devotio ...
in
Hindu literature. It is listed as number 33 in the early 19th-century
Henry Thomas Colebrooke anthology. It is written in the
Sanskrit
Sanskrit (; stem form ; nominal singular , ,) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan languages, Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in northwest South Asia after its predecessor languages had Trans-cultural ...
language, attached to the Krishna (Black)
Yajurveda.
[ It is one of the 14 Vaishnava Upanishads, and it recommends the bhakti of Narayana (Vishnu).
The Upanishad is, states Paul Deussen, among those that can be described as "cult of formula", where meditation shifts from objects and philosophy to that of a specific formula.][ The Narayana Upanishad posits, "'' Om Namo Narayanaya"'', an eight-syllabled mantra, as a means of reaching salvation, which is communion with ]Vishnu
Vishnu (; , , ), also known as Narayana and Hari, is one of the Hindu deities, principal deities of Hinduism. He is the supreme being within Vaishnavism, one of the major traditions within contemporary Hinduism, and the god of preservation ( ...
. The text is classified as one of the Mantra Upanishads.[K. Narayanasvami Aiyar, ''Thirty Minor Upanishads'', University of Toronto Archives, , pp. viii, 128–129]
The Narayana Upanishad asserts that "all gods, all rishi
In Indian religions, a ''rishi'' ( ) is an accomplished and enlightened person. They find mention in various Vedic texts. Rishis are believed to have composed hymns of the Vedas. The Post-Vedic tradition of Hinduism regards the rishis as "gre ...
s, and all beings are born from Narayana, and merge into Narayana".[Paul Deussen (Translator), ''Sixty Upanisads of the Veda'', Vol. 2, Motilal Banarsidass, (2010 Reprint), pp. 803–805]
Contents
The Upanishad is short, and has five chapters.[
]
Chapter 1: Everything was born in Narayana, everything ends in Narayana
The Upanishad asserts in Chapter 1 that Narayana created the prana
In yoga, Ayurveda, and Indian martial arts, prana (, ; the Sanskrit word for breath, " life force", or "vital principle") permeates reality on all levels including inanimate objects. In Hindu literature, prāṇa is sometimes described as origin ...
(life essence, breath), the senses, and the mind (Chit and the consciousness). He created the elements of the universe, namely the wind (Vayu
Vayu (; ), also known as Vata () and Pavana (), is the Hindu deities, Hindu god of the winds as well as the divine messenger of the gods. In the ''Vedic scriptures'', Vayu is an important deity and is closely associated with Indra, the king o ...
), the light (''Jyoti''), the water ( Apas), the fire ( Agni), the ether ( Akasha) and the Prithvi (earth).[॥ नारायणोपनिषत् ॥]
Sanskrit text of Narayana Upanishad, SanskritDocuments Archives (2009), Quote: खं वायुर्ज्योतिरापः पृथिवी विश्वस्य धारिणी । From him were born Brahma
Brahma (, ) is a Hindu god, referred to as "the Creator" within the Trimurti, the triple deity, trinity of Para Brahman, supreme divinity that includes Vishnu and Shiva.Jan Gonda (1969)The Hindu Trinity, Anthropos, Bd 63/64, H 1/2, pp. 212– ...
, Rudra, Prajapati, the twelve Adityas, Indra
Indra (; ) is the Hindu god of weather, considered the king of the Deva (Hinduism), Devas and Svarga in Hinduism. He is associated with the sky, lightning, weather, thunder, storms, rains, river flows, and war. volumes
Indra is the m ...
, the eleven Rudras, the eight Vasus, the meters of verses, all sages, and all beings. Everyone is born from Narayana, and ultimately merges back into Narayana.[
]
Chapter 2: Narayana is the one God
Chapter 2 declares that Narayana is one without a second, eternal god, same as Brahma
Brahma (, ) is a Hindu god, referred to as "the Creator" within the Trimurti, the triple deity, trinity of Para Brahman, supreme divinity that includes Vishnu and Shiva.Jan Gonda (1969)The Hindu Trinity, Anthropos, Bd 63/64, H 1/2, pp. 212– ...
, Shiva
Shiva (; , ), also known as Mahadeva (; , , Help:IPA/Sanskrit, ɐɦaːd̪eːʋɐh and Hara, is one of the Hindu deities, principal deities of Hinduism. He is the God in Hinduism, Supreme Being in Shaivism, one of the major traditions w ...
, Sakra, time, the corporal, the uncorporeal, the inner, the outer, this whole universe, what was, and what is to be.[
]
Chapter 3, 4, and 5: Narayana Mantra
Chapters 3 and 4 state that studying the Narayana Upanishad is the path to fearless life, achieving immortality, becoming a part of Brahman
In Hinduism, ''Brahman'' (; IAST: ''Brahman'') connotes the highest universal principle, the ultimate reality of the universe.P. T. Raju (2006), ''Idealistic Thought of India'', Routledge, , page 426 and Conclusion chapter part XII In the ...
. The mantra to study, states the text, is '' Om Namo Narayanaya'', which is of 1-2-5 syllable construct, which when studied delivers one a long life and all material and non-material desires.[
Chapter 5 states that the one who worships with the formula, "Om Namo Narayanaya", goes to Vishnu's heaven, ]Vaikuntha
Vaikuntha (), also called Vishnuloka (), and Tirunatu (Tirunāṭu) in Tamil language, Tamil, is the abode of Vishnu, the Parabrahman , supreme deity in the Vaishnavism, Vaishnava tradition of Hinduism,Gavin Flood, An Introduction to Hinduism' ( ...
, becomes free from birth and samsara. A person who recites this Upanishad expiates sins and attains communion with Narayana. It adds,
References
Bibliography
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{{Mukhya Upanishads
Upanishads