The Narayana Upanishad (Sanskrit: नारायण उपनिषद्) is one of the minor Upanishads, listed as number 18 in the extended anthology of 108 Upanishads mythically recited by Rama to Hanuman. It is listed as number 33 in the early 19th-century Henry Thomas Colebrooke anthology. The text is not a Vedic era text, was composed in the medieval era, but its author and chronology is unclear. It is written in Sanskrit language, attached to the Krishna (Black) Yajurveda, is one of 14 Vaishnava Upanishads, and it recommends the Bhakti of Lord Narayana (Vishnu).
The Upanishad is, states Paul Deussen, among those that can be described as "cult of formula", where meditation shifts from objects and philosophy to that of a specific formula. The Narayana Upanishad posits the formula, "Aum Namo Narayanaya", a mantra as a means of reaching salvation, which is communion with Vishnu. The text is classified as one of the Mantra Upanishads.
The Narayana Upanishad asserts that "all gods, all Rishis and all beings are born from Narayana, and merge into Narayana". The text, suggests Deussen, is probably compiled from passages from different era and texts.
The Upanishad is short, and has five chapters.
Chapter 1: Everything was born in Narayana, everything ends in Narayana
The Upanishad asserts in Chapter 1 that Narayana created the Prana (life essence, breath), the senses, and the mind (Chit and the consciousness). He created the elements of the universe, namely the wind (Vayu), the light (Jyoti), the water (Ap), the fire (Agni), the ether (Kha) and the Prithvi (earth). From him was born Brahman, Rudra, Prajapati, the twelve Adityas, Indra, the eight Vasus, the meters of verses, all Rishis, and all beings. Everyone is born from Narayana, and ultimately merges back into Narayana.
Chapter 2: Narayana is one god
Chapter 2 declares that Narayana is one without a second, eternal god, same as Brahman, Shiva, Indra, time, the corporal, the uncorporal, the inner, the outer, this whole universe, what was, what is to be.
Chapter 3, 4 and 5: Narayana formula
Chapters 3 and 4 state that studying the Narayana Upanishad is the path to fearless life, achieving immortality, entering Brahmanhood. The mantra to study, states the text, is "Aum Namo Narayanaya", which is of 1-2-5 syllable construct, which when studied delivers one a long life and all material and non-material desires.
Chapter 5 states that the one who worships with the formula, "Aum Namo Narayanaya", goes to Vishnu's heaven, becomes free from birth and Samsara. A person who recites this Upanishad expiates sins and attains communion with Narayana. It adds,
Narayana merged with one with the inner bliss, the Brahman, the Purusha,
the holy syllable consisting of A, U, and M, it became the sound Aum.Narayana Upanishad 5.1 — Translated by Paul Deussen
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