Difference between Vishnu and Narayana?

Sirona

Hindu Wannabe

• Apr 8, 2019

• #1

Namaste,

could somebody explain to me the difference between Vishnu and Narayana? Thanks!

 

Jainarayan

ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय

Staff member

Premium Member

• Apr 8, 2019

• #2

Nārāyaṇa is Nirguna Brahma (Brahman without attributes/form). Basically he is Vishnu as the Supreme Being, Brahman.

 

Viraja

Jaya Jagannatha!

• Apr 8, 2019

• #3

Also Narayana dwells on the water, Vishnu pervades all over the Universe.

 

Vinayaka

devotee

Premium Member

• Apr 8, 2019

• #4

I always thought they were essentially the same.

 

Viraja

Jaya Jagannatha!

• Apr 8, 2019

• #5

Vinayaka said:

I always thought they were essentially the same.

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I'm inclined to think one signifies paratva (being one with Brahman, as Jai-ji asserts), whereas the other is archa (the form easily available to and accessible while on earth). I don't know further details.

 

Jainarayan

ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय

Staff member

Premium Member

• Apr 8, 2019

• #6

Vinayaka said:

I always thought they were essentially the same.

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I think for all intents and purposes, yes. om namo narayanaya is probably used as much as om namo bhagavate vasudevaya as popular Vaishnava mantras. Personally I think these are fine theological and philosophical points the everyday bhakta isn't going to bother about.

 

Viraja

Jaya Jagannatha!

• Apr 8, 2019

• #7

One thing I noticed is that while Narayana is sleeping with the Adisesha head towering behind his own, Vishnu is represented standing with a coiled and huge serpent around his feet.

 

ManSinha

Well-Known Member

• Apr 8, 2019

• #8

They are used so closely that any difference in between would be semantic - there is a quote in SGGS from Bhagat Trilochan as well as in the compositions of Guru Nanak and Guru Arjan, referring to Narayan as synonymous with the Universal Truth