Reading Notes: 7 Secrets of The Hindu Calendar: Narayan's Secret - Part B

Summary

For this reading I continued learning more about Hinduism through Epified's '7 Secrets from the Hindu Calendar Art' series.

One thing that I like about this series is the focus on the imagery in the stories. These are pieces are full of information and I would never know what they truly symbolized without the explanations provided in these videos. This video was about the God Narayan. According to the story the world exists when Narayan is awake. Also, is ceases to exist when Narayan is asleep. This is very interesting concept to take in, because for us, the world continues as we sleep. The concept was explained further by returning to the point of view that was discussed in the Ganesha video. There is a key difference between 'the world' and 'my world'. When people sleep the world to them does cease to exist. We are cut off, entirely unknowing of the world, until we awake again to observe it. As Narayan is a supreme being there is nothing left when he is asleep as there is no one left to observe the world, well, other than Shesha.

Symbolism

The video goes into great depths about the symbols surrounding Narayan. I will summarize them here.
  • Brahma - The mind, organization
  • Shiva - Participation, Withdrawal
    • Physical - Kartikeya
    • Intellectual - Ganesha
  • Tumburu - Positive emotions
  • Narada - Negative emotions
  • Hanuman and Garuda - Problem Solving
The picture as a whole symbolizes the birth of a new world. As Narayan is waking up to a new day. This same world will also be destroyed the next time he goes to sleep.


Sheshashayi Vishnu
Narayan is also known as Vishnu when awake. (Source)

Bibliography

7 Secrets from Hindu Calendar Art - Chapter 2 Narayan's Secret

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