NARAYANA: (Sanskrit: नारायण, IAST: Nārāyaṇa) is known as one who is in yogic slumber on the celestial waters, referring to Lord Maha Vishnu. He is also known as The "Purusha" and is considered as the Supreme being in Vaishnavism.
Other meaning: The two Rishis Nara and Narayana (Avatars of Vishnu) , born in the the house of Dharma : "From Narayana's asceticism was born a great Muni of the name of Nara, equal to Narayana himself. Know that Arjuna is none else than that Nara. Those two Rishis, said to be older than the oldest gods, take their births in every Yuga for serving the purposes of the world." (The Mahabharata, Book 7: Drona Parva: Drona-vadha Parva: Section CCI).
"Those old deities, Nara and Narayana, have become incarnate in the world of men to accomplish the business of the celestials. They are called on earth Arjuna and Vasudeva." (The Mahabharata, Book 1: Adi Parva: Khandava-daha Parva: Section CCXXVI).
"Vaisampayana said, 'Then Indra had a consultation with Narayana about the latter's descent on the earth
from heaven with all the gods according to their respective parts. And, having commanded all the
dwellers in heaven, Indra returned from the abode of Narayana. And the dwellers in heaven gradually
became incarnate on earth for the destruction of the Asuras and for the welfare of the three worlds.
The Mahabharata, Book 1: Adi Parva: Sambhava Parva: Section LXVII (extract):
And he, called Vasudeva, endued with great valour, was among men a portion of him called Narayana--the god of gods--eternal. And Valadeva of exceeding strength was a portion of the Naga, Sesha... And a portion of Sri herself became incarnate on earth, for the gratification of Narayana, in the line of Bhishmaka. And she was by name the chaste Rukmini. And the faultless Draupadi, slender-waisted like the wasp, was born of a portion of Sachi (the queen of the celestials), in the line of Drupada.
The Mahabharata, Book 1: Adi Parva: Vaivahika Parva: Section CLXLIX (extract):
Accompanied by all those Indras, the god Isana then went unto Narayana of immeasurable energy, the
Infinite, the Immaterial, the Uncreate, the Old, the Eternal, and the Spirit of these universes without
limits. Narayana approved of everything. Those Indras then were born in the world of men. And Hari
(Narayana) took up two hairs from his body, one of which hairs was black and the other white. And
those two hairs entered the wombs of two of the Yadu race, by name Devaki and Rohini. And one of
these hairs viz., that which was white, became Valadeva. And the hair that was black was born as
Kesava's self, Krishna.
The Mahabharata, Book 3: Vana Parva: Markandeya-Samasya Parva: Section CLXXXVIII (extract):
In ancient times I called the waters by the name of Nara; and because the waters have ever been my ayana or home, therefore have I been called Narayana (the waterhomed). O best of regenerate ones, I am Narayana, the Source of all things, the Eternal, the Unchangeable. I am the Creator of all things, and the Destroyer also of all. I am Vishnu, I am Brahma and I am Sakra, the chief of the gods. I am king Vaisravana, and I am Yama, the lord of the deceased spirits. I am Siva, I am Soma, and I am Kasyapa the lord of the created things. And, O best of regenerate ones, I am he called Dhatri, and he also that is called Vidhatri, and I am Sacrifice embodied. Fire is my mouth, the earth my feet, and the Sun and the Moon are my eyes; the Heaven is the crown of my head, the firmament and the cardinal points are my ears; the waters are born of my sweat. Space with the cardinal points are my body, and the Air is my mind.
The Mahabharata, Book 8: Karna Parva: Section 79 (extract):
He (Arjuna) is, again, protected by that Keshava of great energy, who is Narayana himself and who is without a rival, that high-souled Vasudeva, that evervictorious Vishnu armed with conch, discus, and mace, whose attributes all the world united together, cannot (in narrating) exhaust in 10,000 years.
The Mahabharata, Book 12: Santi Parva: Rajadharmanusasana Parva: Section XLVIII (extract):
Thou art without birth and death. Thou art Divine. Thou art self-created. Thou art eternal. Thou art invisible and beyond ken. Thou art called Hari and Narayana, O puissant one. The Vedas declare thee to be the Creator of the universe and the Lord of everything existing in the universe. Thou art the Supreme protector of the universe. Thou knowest no eterioration and thou art that which is called the highest.
