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Nārāyaṇa

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Hinduism and Tribal Religions

Part of the book series: Encyclopedia of Indian Religions ((EIR))

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Synonyms

Nara Nārāyaṇa; Puruṣa Nārāyaṇa; Puruṣottama

Definition

Nārāyaṇa is important God of Vaiṣṇava cult. It is generally referred as another name of Viṣṇu. Historically Nārāyaṇa was different God than Viṣṇu which later got identified with Viṣṇu and also got intermingled into Vaiṣṇava pantheon. In later literature, Nārāyaṇa and Viṣṇu are used alternatively to refer to same deity.

Introduction

Nārāyaṇa and Viṣṇu are considered almost synonymous in Purāṇas and later Upaniṣads. Rāmānuja considered Nārāyaṇa-Viṣṇu as Parabrahman. He became the important god in Purāṇic period and attained the status in Trinity of Hinduism. Nārāyaṇa was the main god of Pañcarātra sampradāya. Syncretic deity Nārāyaṇa-Viṣṇu got associated with Bhāgavata sampradāya particularly and Vaiṣṇavism in general. Nārāyaṇa is also mentioned as inseparably associated with the sage Nara.

Nara – Nārāyaṇa

Nārāyaṇa is also known as one among two ṛṣis known as Nara-Nārāyaṇa. Dharma, son of Brahmā was his father. Dharma...

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References

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Sanskrit, University of Mumbai, Mumbai, India

    Shakuntala Gawde

Authors
  1. Shakuntala Gawde
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Shakuntala Gawde .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept of Anthropology, The University of North Texas Dept of Anthropology, Denton, TX, USA

    Pankaj Jain

  2. The Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley, CA, USA

    Rita Sherma

  3. Jamia Millia Islamia, Centre for the Study of Comparative Reli Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, India

    Madhu Khanna

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Gawde, S. (2020). Nārāyaṇa. In: Jain, P., Sherma, R., Khanna, M. (eds) Hinduism and Tribal Religions. Encyclopedia of Indian Religions. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-024-1036-5_194-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-024-1036-5_194-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-024-1036-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-024-1036-5

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Religion and PhilosophyReference Module Humanities and Social SciencesReference Module Humanities

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