King Nimi poses the question to sage Drumila, “Please tell us the tales of all those actions of the Supreme Lord in various manifestations, what he did or caused others to do.”
The sage replies, “The intellect of the one who tries to count the qualities and actions of the supreme being must be of a child. One will be able to count the particles of dust on the earth at some point of time. But one can never ever calculate or know fully the glories of the supreme being.”
The Adi Deva or the primary being is called Narayana. Adi means the beginning of creation and Deva means the one who shines. The perception of Deva is as one who illuminates. The collective perceptions of all the beings put together is called Adi Deva, which existed even before creation. Adi Deva is called Narayana or the abode of all beings. Just as all rivers empty into the ocean, all our energies and faculties empty themselves into this collective ocean of energy called Prana which is the life force that sustains this universe. One of the many names that describe this source is Narayana or Narasya Ayana—the path that humans take. Narayana functions within the five elements of earth, water, fire, air and space. In this state, he gets the name of Purusha or one who resides in all beings.
The body of Narayana comprises all the three worlds of visible experiences—the material world in the waking state, the dream world and deep sleep. Narayana is the very consciousness from which the sense and actions of all organs originate. This force is the source of all strength, light and energy and desire through the qualities of mental tranquillity, dynamism and inertia. Associated with dynamism, this Prana became Brahma, which created the universe. With tranquility it became Vishnu, which preserves all that is created, and with inertia Rudra.
The supreme being manifested first as Nara and Narayana. They gave the people the ways of actions that lead to realisation. Indra once, taken aback by Narayana’s greatness and fearing his glory, sent a bevy of beautiful damsels along with Kama Deva, the Lord of Love, to seduce him. Instead of being perturbed, Narayana Rishi welcomed all of them to the ashram at Badri and said, “Do not worry or panic. Rest here and fill this place with your presence.” This story goes to point out how Narayana Rishi had risen above desire and was able to look at the world with compassion rather than fear. brni.sharanyachaitanya@gmail.com