Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 15
मन्वन्तर-कल्प-प्रश्नोत्तरम् / Discourse on Manvantaras, Kalpas, and Re-creation
आपो नारा इति प्रोक्ता आपो वै नरसूनवः । अयनं तस्य ता यस्मात्तेन नारायणः स्मृतः
āpo nārā iti proktā āpo vai narasūnavaḥ | ayanaṃ tasya tā yasmāttena nārāyaṇaḥ smṛtaḥ
«المياه» تُسمّى “نارا”؛ حقًّا يُقال إنّ المياه من نسلِ نارا. ولأنّ تلك المياه هي “أَيَنَه” له—موضعُ سُكنى وراحة—فلهذا يُذكَر باسمِ نارايانا.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Sadyojāta
Sthala Purana: Etymological nirukti: ‘nārā’ = waters; ‘ayana’ = abode—thus Nārāyaṇa as the one whose resting-place is the cosmic waters (primordial causal ocean).
Significance: Contemplation of the causal waters as māyā’s subtle field can mature vairāgya and turn the mind toward the transcendent Lord beyond the waters.
Mantra: āpo nārā iti proktā āpo vai narasūnavaḥ | ayanaṃ tasya tā yasmāttena nārāyaṇaḥ smṛtaḥ
Role: creative
Cosmic Event: Causal-ocean cosmology (pre-creation/creation-ground imagery)
FAQs
It explains a traditional nirukti (etymological meaning) of the name “Nārāyaṇa,” showing how divine names encode cosmological principles—here, the waters as a primal support—while Shaiva Siddhanta ultimately places the Supreme Lord (Pati, Shiva) beyond all elemental supports.
By defining a deity through an abode and cosmic function (waters as ayana), the text models how Saguna forms are understood through attributes; in Linga worship, devotees similarly contemplate Shiva as immanent support of the cosmos while knowing His transcendence as Nirguna Pati.
A practical takeaway is contemplative japa with meaning (artha-bhāvanā): while reciting a divine name, meditate on its import—cosmic support and refuge—then turn the mind to Shiva as the ultimate refuge beyond the elements.