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
ജലങ്ങളെ ‘നാരാ’ എന്നു പറയുന്നു; വാസ്തവത്തിൽ ജലങ്ങൾ നരന്റെ പുത്രന്മാരെന്നു പ്രസിദ്ധം. ആ ജലങ്ങളാണ് അവന്റെ ‘അയനം’—ആശ്രയസ്ഥാനം—ആകയാൽ അവൻ ‘നാരായണൻ’ എന്നു സ്മരിക്കപ്പെടുന്നു।
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.