Home > Indian History > Indian Puranas > Vaishnavism in Narada Purana
Vaishnavism in Narada Purana
Vaishnavism in Narada Purana considers preservation as the chief function of Lord Vishnu. Vaishnavism is given the utmost importance thereby keeping Lord Vishnu on topmost among the most worshipped deities.

Share this Article:

Vaishnavism in Narada PuranaGreatness of Lord Vishnu is emphasized in Narada Purana. Vaishnavism shares its aspects to many sources and religious advancement, tracing back to ages before the Vedic period. Vaishnavism in Narada Purana also illustrates various incarnations of Vishnu. According to the Narada Purana, Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva are only three manifestations of Narayana, Mahavishnu or the Supreme God. They perform the individual functions of creation, conservation and devastation of the. He occupies the spirit of every living thing. Vishnu"s position amid the deities of the Narada Purana is best understood from his relation to Shiva and Brahma. Vishnu offers his residence Kail to Shiva, to free latter"s sin of Brahmahatya. Bhagiratha was advised by Vishnu himself to propitiate Shiva, to liberate his ancestors from their evil deeds.

Thereafter Vishnu"s incarnations have been descripted. Incarnation is assuming form of man or animal and living on earth. In the Narada Purana, in connection with the Dasavatarakhya vrata, ten of them have been detailed. They are Matsya, Kurma, Varaha, Narasimha, Rama, Krishna, Bauddha and Kalki. Vishnu has been identified by various names like Sankhya – Yogesvara, Vedakarta. Among the ten incarnations of Vishnu, Narada gives detailed accounts Narasimha, Rama and Krishna. Narada describes Narasimha in different types. He also instructs the ways to worship Narasimha through mantras and tantric practices.

Narada considers Rama and his three brothers Bharata, Lakshmana and Shatrughna, to be a four fold incarnation of Vishnu. The worship of Rama with Sita, his brothers, and Hanuman has also had a mention here.

Narada relates story of Krishna`s boyhood and youth in brief. Lord Krishna figures along with Radha residing in world of cows keeping cowherds and cowherd-women in bliss. Narada considers Radha Krishna with the Supreme God and him to be Trinity"s main basis. Narada Purana shows the rise of Lord Krishna to the position of the Supreme God has been accepted by this time.

Narada states that for the purpose of creation, destruction and preservation of the world, Supreme God created Brahma from the right side of his body, Rudra from the middle and Vishnu. It is also stated that Vishnu took birth from the left side of the body of Krishna and Mahalaksmi from that of Radha. Then Krishna gave Mahalakshmi in marriage to Vishnu and set up him in Vaikuntha for world"s protection. The four-faced Brahma with is wife Savitri was born from Krishna`s navel, and he was allotted the work of creation. Additionally, Krishna divided himself into Krishna from the right half and Shiva from the left. Durga, was born out of the body of Krishna, was married to Shiva, who was engaged in world"s destruction.

According to Narada, Hanuman is son of Anjana, of Pavan, who meditates upon Rama"s feet. He is also considered as messenger of Rama and remover of Sita"s sorrows and destructor of Lanka"s buildings. He is characterised as Hari, the monkey, who is keeping his left hand on his knee, having Jnana Mudra on his heart and mind on Adhyatma, imparting knowledge to others and seated in plantain forests. He has also been portrayed as someone having a long tail wearing a loin cloth. Hanuman"s birth story has also been narrated by Narada. Here Narada also characterises him as an important deity.

Vishnu was the greatest of all gods to Narada. Vishnu worship is given the pride of place throughout the Narada Purana Narada`s devotion to Vaishnavism is so great that he has made Radha the chief presiding deity for Tantric practices, and the source of the Trinity. Another specialty is the all-embracing treatment given to Radha and Krishna. It cannot be ruled out that Narada"s immense importance laid in Vaishnavism is also a factor in leading to its growth.


Share this Article:

Related Articles

More Articles in Indian Puranas


Concept of Naraka in Vishnu Purana
Concept of Naraka has been discussed in the Vishnu Purana in an elaborate manner. It has been said that a person reaches hell if he commits an evil deed and the hell into which he reaches is determined by his actions.
Characters of Markandeya Purana
Markandeya Purana will give an idea about the mythological characters like Markandeya, Demon Mahisha, Dama, King Khaninetra and Khanitra.
Concept of Varna in Narada Purana
Concept of Varna in Narada Purana describes four basic varnas which include Brahmana, Kshatriya, Vaishya and Shudra. Varna has been classified as per deeds performed by them.
Characters of Padma Purana
Some of the Characters of Padma Purana are Vishnu, Rama, Sita and Shiva.
Characters of Brahma Purana
Brahma Purana will give an idea about the mythological characters like Surya, Vishnu, Shiva, Rama and Parvati.
Characters of Shiva Purana
Shiva Purana will give an idea about the mythological characters like Shiva, Parvati, Vishnu, Brahma and Krishna.
Adhyayas in Agni Purana
Adhyayas in Agni Purana are all encompassing. The chapters have dealt with a variety of subjects related to human lives. A large number of chapters have been dedicated to religious aspects of human life.
Ramayana in Agni Purana
Ramayana in Agni Purana has been described by Lord Agni in a vivid manner.
Puranic Deities of India
Puranic Deities in India are worshipped by the Hindus, they are of immense supremacy and are considered to be almighty.
Indian Puranic Tribes
The existence of Indian Puranic tribes is often mixed with mythology and fiction that depict them as superhuman or sub.
Puranic Texts
Puranic Texts are vital according to Hindu, Jain or Buddhist religion; they describe the history of the Universe.
Puranic Shaivism
Puranic Shaivism established during the Gupta Dynasty. This puranic religion developed and expanded, and was accompanied by the development of Brahmanical forms of worship. The stories of the Puranas spread rapidly through the singers and narrators.
Puranic Sources of ancient Indian history
In defining the ancient Indian history Puranic sources are indeed important.