Wednesday, September 20, 2017

What does “Narayana “ mean?

What does “Narayana “ mean?

By
P.R,Ramachander



(This is an old folk tale. I remembered it after  reading  the face book post of Kumar Ramanathan
 . Thanks to him)  

Sage Narada   who keeps on chanting “Narayana”
Suddenly    had a doubt-“What does “Narayana “ mean?”
One great scholar whom he   approached told him,
“Naara” means water and “ayana” , means abode ,
And so  “Narayana “ means “He whose  abode is water”
Another scholar  greatly differed    and he said  ,
“Nara” means  man  and “Ayana” means abode ,
And so “Narayana” means “Man’s final abode”,
Another  devotee shook   his head  vigourously,
“Ayana “ means “goal”  and so “Narayana” means “goal of man”.
Not at all  said another “It means “ Shelter of the universe”
Another scholar laughed “It means, ”He who resides in everything he creates”

And poor sage   got   terribly confused ,
And decided  to ask “Lord Narayana  himself”.

Lord Narayana   requested Sage Narada ,
To go to banks of river Narmada  and ask a bee there,
And sage Narada   went to the bee and said,
“Narayana , means  what?” but as soon as,
He said  “Narayana that   bee  died,

Sage Narada  went back   to is lord  , perplexed ,
And Lord Narayana then sent him   to approach  a parrot,
And as soon as he started” Narayana”, that  parrot died,
And Lord Vishnu    sent him to a  just born calf,
And it also   died  as soon as it hear , “Narayana”,
And without hesitation  Lord Narayana ,
Sent Narada   to the  just born  prince of Benares,
And with great reluctance   the sage approached  the prince,
And the prince replied,”I was the bee , the parrot and the calf”
And till you told    them   those being had not heard “Narayana”
And as soon they heard , they died  and got rebirth  as higher being,
And since there  is no other   higher birth , I will keep on chanting,
The word “Narayana” that you taught me and attain salvation,
Please know “Narayana” means, “He who gives prosperity while alive”
And “He who   cures   the disease of Samsara” in this earth.



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