Hundred Names of Narayana Worship

Hundred Names of Naaraayana (నారాయణ శతనామావళి)

The following introduction is taken from https://religion.fandom.com/wiki/Narayana

Maha-Narayana is a Vedic Supreme God in Hinduism, venerated as the Supreme Being in Vaishnavism. He is also known as Vishnu and Hari and is venerated as Purushottama or Supreme Purusha in Hindu sacred texts such as the Bhagavad Gita, the Vedas and the Puranas. Narayana is the name of the Supreme God in His infinite all pervading form. He is the Supreme Purusha of Purusha Sukta. The Puranas present a seemingly divergent, but accurate description of Narayana. The fifth verse of the Narayana Sukta, a hymn in Yajurveda, states that Narayana pervades whatever is seen or heard in this universe from inside and outside alike. Another important translation of Narayana is The One who rests on Water. The waters are called narah, [for] the waters are, indeed, produced by Nara [the first Being]; as they were His first residence [ayana], He is called Narayana. In Sanskrit, "Nara" can also refer to all human beings or living entities. Therefore, another meaning of Narayana is Resting place for all living entities. The close association of Narayana with water explains the frequent depiction of Narayana in Hindu art as standing or sitting on an ocean.

Below are hundred ways Naaraayana can be associated with things that we consider as sacred and worship. I came up with these association when asking myself "Where from the universe originated?" Whatever I looked up points to a single source that is variously called as God, Brahman, etc. I chose Naaraayana as the name to chant. Also I couldn't come across a శతనామావళి for Naaraayana.

1	లక్ష్మీ నారాయణ	Goddess Lakshmi is His consort
2	శ్రీమన్ నారాయణ	Associated with Goddess Lakshmi
3	వేద నారాయణ	He is the essence of vEda
4	ధైర్య నారాయణ	He inspires courage
5	దక్షిణ నారాయణ	He is associated with Lord Dakshina Moorthi
6	ధర్మ నారాయణ	He follows dharma and incarnates when it is under attack
7	సత్య నారాయణ	He always says truth
8	గరుఢారూఢ నారాయణ	He rides on an eagle
9	కపిధ్వజ నారాయణ	His flag has Hanuma's/monkey's image
10	నివృత్తి నారాయణ	He enables us to withdraw senses inward
11	ప్రవృత్తి నారాయణ	He is responsible for wordly involvement of our senses
12	దమశమాది నారాయణ	He helps us control our senses
13	సుషుప్త నారాయణ	In deep sleep He protects us
14	శౌర్య నారాయణ	He is the epitome of courage
15	శంకర నారాయణ	Lord Siva or Sankara is His associate
16	బ్రహ్మ నారాయణ	Lord Brahma is His associate
17	హనుమా నారాయణ	Hanuma is His associate
18	సహస్రార నారాయణ	He helps us realize the chakra on top of head at the time of meditation
19	మూలాధార నారాయణ	He is the chakra below the spine that holds every thing
20	స్వాధిష్ఠాన నారాయణ	He is the chakra in the abdomen
21	పాన నారాయణ	Breathing in is because of Him
22	అపాన నారాయణ	Breathing out is enabled by Him
23	వ్యాన నారాయణ	He circulates air/oxygen around the blood
24	ఉదాన నారాయణ	He circulates air/oxygen around the body
25	సమాన నారాయణ	He balances the motion of different air currents in the body
26	అనాహిత నారాయణ	He is the chakra in the torso
27	వెంకట నారాయణ	He is associated with Lord VekatEswara
28	గోవింద నారాయణ	He is associated with Lord VenkatEswara also known as Govinda
29	శేషశైల నారాయణ	He rests on Seshu the serpant
30	జయవిజయ నారాయణ	The door to His inner abode is guarded by Jaya and Vijaya
31	గజేంద్ర నారాయణ	Gajendra the elephant is associated with Him
32	మత్స్య నారాయణ	He incarnated as a fish to protect vEdas
33	కూర్మ నారాయణ	He incarnated as a wild boar to protect Earth
34	రామ నారాయణ	He is associated with Lord Rama
35	సీతా నారాయణ	He is associated with Goddess Sita dEvi
36	ఇన్ద్ర నారాయణ	Lord Indra is associated with Him
37	వరుణ నారాయణ	The Lord for rain Varuna is His associate
38	అగ్నితేజ నారాయణ	The Lord of fire or Agni is His subject
39	వైశ్వానర నారాయణ	He is associated with the Lord of wakefulness
40	తైజస నారాయణ	He is associated with the Lord for dreams
41	ఈశ్వర నారాయణ	Eeswara is associated with Him
42	మను నారాయణ	He is Manu the progenitor of humans
43	ప్రజాపతి నారాయణ	He is associated with the creator
44	లలితా నారాయణ	He is associated with Lalita dEvi who vanquished Bhandasura
45	హిరణ్యగర్భ నారాయణ	He is associated with the god of kaarana sareera or causal body
46	విరాట్ పురుష నారాయణ	He is associated with the proto human
47	జరామరణవర్జిత నారాయణ	He has no old age or death
48	స్వప్రకాశ నారాయణ	He is self effulgent
49	పరమాత్మ నారాయణ	He is the aatma in all of us
50	ప్రహ్లాద నారాయణ	He is associated with Prahlaada, the son of Hiranyakasipa
51	నరసింహ నారాయణ	He incarnated as half lion and half human to kill Hiranyakasipa
52	క౦సా౦తక నారాయణ	He vanquished King Kamsa
53	శ్రీకృష్ణ నారాయణ	He incarnated as Sri Krishna
54	వామన నారాయణ	He incarnated as Vamana to vanquish King Bali
55	ధరతి నారాయణ	He is associated with earth
56	విద్యా నారాయణ	He is associated with academics
57	కౌసల్య నారాయణ	He is associated with skills
58	రమ నారాయణ	He is associated with Goddesses Sita and Lakshmi
59	సూర్య నారాయణ	He is associated with the Sun
60	చంద్ర నారాయణ	He is responsible for the Moon
61	సాహస నారాయణ	He gives courage to act
62	వైకుంఠ నారాయణ	His abode is Vaikuntha
63	పరమహంస నారాయణ	He is the leader of saints and yOgis
64	అన్నమయ్య నారాయణ	He incarnated as poet Annamayya
65	త్యాగరాజ నారాయణ	He incarnated as poet Tyagaraja
66	దిక్పాల నారాయణ	He protects us from all directions
67	సాయి నారాయణ	He incarnated as Sai Baba
68	ప్రజ్ఞాన నారాయణ	He is the giver of vEdic knowledge
69	సంగీత నారాయణ	He is the giver of music
70	వేమన నారాయణ	He incarnated as poet Vemana
71	సాహిత్య నారాయణ	He is associated with all literary activities
72	కళాపోషక నారాయణ	He blesses us with the nurturing of fine arts
73	గోపిక నారాయణ	GOpika's or Sri Krishna's friends are associated with Him
74	విఘ్నేశ నారాయణ	He removes obstacles
75	విష్ణు నారాయణ	He is primarily known as Lord Vishnu
76	నారద నారాయణ	He is associated with Naarada
77	యోగ నారాయణ	All yOga is because of Him
78	విశ్వవ్యాప్త నారాయణ	He is omni present
79	అపరిచ్చిన్న నారాయణ	He is unbreakable
80	సద్గురు నారాయణ	He incarnates as the good teacher
81	వైద్య నారాయణ	He is associated with medicine and healing
82	కౌస్థుభ నారాయణ	He carries the crest jewel koushthubha
83	శక్తి నారాయణ	He is the giver of strength
84	శంఖ నారాయణ	He carries Paanchajanya or conch
85	చక్ర నారాయణ	He carries Sudarsana disc
86	బల నారాయణ	He is the giver of energy
87	పురుషసూక్త నారాయణ	He is described in Purusha Sookta in vEdas
88	గీత నారాయణ	Because of Him bhagavad gita came
89	భాగవత నారాయణ	His escapades are described in Bhagavatam
90	రామాయణ నారాయణ	The epic Raamaayana is associated with Him
91	విశుద్ధ నారాయణ	He is ever pure
92	విముక్తిప్రదాత నారాయణ	He releases our aatma from rebirth
93	కార్తికేయ నారాయణ	He is associated with KaartikEya or Kumaara Swamy
94	అనాహిత నారాయణ	He is associated with the chakra near heart
95	కౌసల్య నారాయణ	He is associated with Lord Rama's mother Kousalya dEvi in Raamaayana
96	భారత నారాయణ	He is the subject of the epic Mahaabhaaratha
97	విజ్ఞాన నారాయణ	He is the giver of skill-based knowledge
98	జగన్మోహన నారాయణ	He mesmerizes the world
99	ధన్వంతరి నారాయణ	He heals us like Dhanvantari
100	సర్వం నారాయణ	He is everything that exists, is visible and is invisible

Vignaana Nouka - Sloka 6

Sloka#6

yadaananda lESai stadaananda viswam
yadaabhaana sattvE tadaabhaati sarvam
yadaalOchanaa roopa manyat samastam
param brahma nityam tadE vaaha masmi

yadaananda lESai=on account of whose blissful form
tat viswam=a world of such greatness
aanandi=rejoices
tat=on whose
aabhaana sattvE=effulgent knowledge
tat sarvam=the whole world
aabhaati=existence is cognized
anyat samastam=the rest
yat=(conjunction)
aalOchanaa roopam=the form of aatma
nityam=permanent
param=the biggest and greatest
tadEva brahma=such a Brahman
aham asmi=I exist

Literal Translation

On account of whose bliss, the world is rejoicing; on account of whose effulgence the world is shining brightly; and the rest is whose cognition; I am being Him

Commentary

Almost all of us desire material comforts and carry out actions to acquire them. When the desires are not met, the consequence is dukha or sadness. We usually can handle smaller or bigger comfort but not sadness in any quantity.

Since bondage results in sadness, we think by acquiring wordly comforts it can be overcome. This leads to a vicious circle where more and more comforts are desired with corresponding sadness when the desires are not met.

Wordly Comforts

Wordly comforts are fleeting because our focus on material comforts keeps shifting. Sometimes we fulfill our desire with focus and acquire comfort. Soon it will fade away or our focus shifts to another.

We desire an object in order to enjoy it and gain comfort from it. When a coveted object is obtained, there could be a temporary sense of joy. It is temporary because there can be side-effects that enjoin sadness. So we cannot say worldly comforts are permanent. However, any worldly thing that is felt as comfortable is because of aatma. Therefore, a transient comfort that is perceived as a comfort is making aatma comfortable for a limited period.

Permanent Comfort

The only permanent thing in this world is aatma. When we say we gained comfort from an object, it is because of our aatma. That's why we say "We are comfortable" but not "Comfort is within me."

Despite this, we run away from aatma seeking fleeting comforts and joy. Sooner or later we have to realize that aatma is the source of pure joy, security and comfort. Without this knowledge we cannot be blissful. We run after things of the world only to return to aatma. Hence wordly things are called maaya.

Light and Shadows

When we say world exists, it is because we perceive it with our senses. The proof is not found in the world but within us. Our senses can interact with the world but the cognition has to take place within our mind. Before seeing a never seen object we are not conscious of it. But when our senses interact with a never seen object, we become conscious of it. On the other hand, when we are in deep sleep, there is no consciousness.

Therefore for consciousness, including the lack of it in deep sleep, the substratum and basis are aatma. While we can prove that the world exists with our senses, we cannot prove aatma exists without the scriptural reference or vEda pramaana.

Great Resolution

There is no greater cause for this world than paramaatma. The world, including us, are dependent on paramaatma for our existence. There could be a different nurturer than the mother for a jiva (sentient being). But for this world the originator and nurturer are one and the same paramaatma.

The world operates on dharma or that which amplifies good karma. This is because the progenitor for various dharmas is paramaatma. No thought is incongruous with the grand design of the paramaatma whose existence precedes that of the world and who subsumes and transcends the world.

Vignaana Nouka - Sloka 3

Introduction

Adi Sankara composed vignaana nouka (the boat of knowledge) with 8 slOkas -- as ashtapadi. Swami Sundara Chaitanyaananda translated the slOkas to Telugu. I translated the relevant portions. Enjoy!

Sloka#3

yadaananda roopam prakaasa swaroopam
nirasta prapancham paricchEda Soonyam
aham brahma vruttyaika gamyam tureeyam
param brahma nityam tadE vaaha masmi

yadaananda roopam=the blissful form
prakaasa swaroopam=the resplendent form
nirasta prapancham=the one that refutes universe as non-uniform in form and shape
paricchEda Soonyam=the one that is not limited by space and time
aham brahma vruttyaika gamyam=the goal of the conception as "I am brahman"
tureeyam=transcending wakefulness, dreams and deep sleep
param=exalted
nityam=ever present
yat=(conjunction)
brahma=the brahman
tadEva=such brahman 
aham=I
asmi=thus I exist

Literal Translation

The one being the nature of bliss refutes the world as non-uniform and non-homogenous nor limited by time and space; cognizes oneself as brahman; attains tureeyam by transcending wakeful, dream and deep sleep; is what I call my existence.

Prologue

A guru teaches about aatma when a disciple is dejected with

• karma and its fruits
• dharma-artha-kaama or worldly pursuits
• bondage and relationships
• heaven and its comforts and pleasures

Blissful Form

We think in order for aatma to be blissful, it must be devoid of dukha or sadness. Bliss is not an object that can be traded or stored in manas or mind. aatma doesn't need a crutch as it is self-supporting and ever happy. It provides the experience of bliss just by meditation. It doesn't change in form and content like objects in the world that are evanescent.

Effulgent Form

For aatma the pramaana or proof is vEda. We think aatma exists because vEdas say so. Some say aatma is swataha or cognized without logic, even though our senses cannot grasp it. We experience its effulgence when the stream of thoughts seizes to exist because aatma is the witness to all of our thoughts. All thoughts originate from it and are cognized by it.

Refutation of the World

Some think aatma and world have a mutual dependence and co-existence. This can lead to a logical contradiction as both may not exist at some point. Hence we have to conclude that the world is mithya or hallucination. Like in rajju-sarpa (rope-snake) drushtaanta we can understand that the world is a projection of Brahman and it has no independent existence.

Thou Art Brahman

When we attain the realization that Brahman, which is the ultimate reality and existence, and jeeva (sentient being) are one and the same, we have reached the culmination of gnaana or scriptural knowledge. It is unlike the worldly knowledge that is transient and subject to modification. As such scriptural knowledge elevates us to omnipresence and omniscience, it is worth knowing. Such a state is called tureeyam in vEdaas.