User:Aravind srinidhi/sandbox

Vishnu, the supreme god (सर्वोत्तम) has infinite names. 24 of these names of The lord are present in a group called ‘chaturvimshati keshava namas’

Etymology
The word keshava Namas refers to the 24 names of lord Vishnu the first of which is keshava. It is often referred to as chaturvimshati namas (चतुर्विंशति नाम)

Background
The 24 Forms of vishnu seems to have been concieved in the Mahabharatha. Its Roopa and forms are first mentioned in Agni Purana, The Rūpamaṇḍana and the Aparājitapṛcchā. Apart from these they are also mentioned in vaishnava puranas such as Bhagavata and Vishnu purana. The keshava namas were thus well established during the ancient period of hinduism

Usage

 * The keshava namas are most sacred names for Vaishnavites which are recited and praised at the beginning of all Vedic pujas in Hinduism.
 * The Achamana is a ritual where the namas are used while simultaneously touching the numerous parts of the body to purify them.
 * It forms an important part of the bhakti devotional where bhaktas like Purandara Dasa have sung many devotional songs in praise of them
 * Archanas to lord Vishnu are incomplete without at least a single recitation of the namas

Iconography
The twenty-four varieties of standing Viṣṇu images symbolize his different visible forms. The only distinguishing point or difference between these images being merely the order of emblems held by the four hands, each variety deserves a separate des cription.
 * the 24 Names of Vishnu are all represented as standing and holding 4 of his emblems the chakra, shankha, gadaa,padma

== The 24 Names of keshava namas ==

keshava

 * One whose own forms are - Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva for the creation, maintenance and destruction of universe (by synthesis of ‘K’ for Brahma, ‘A’ for Vishnu, ‘isha’ for Shiva and ‘va’ for ‘svarupa’ form),
 * One who is endowed with the rays of light spreading within the orbit of the sun,
 * One who has good, soft, dense, black hair (Kesha),
 * One who destroyed the demon Keshi in the Krishna avatara
 * The lord of creation, preservation, and dissolution.

Narayana

 * order of emblems Padma,Gadha,shankha,Chakra
 * One who is the final refuge (ayana) of all Nara (living beings), One who resides (ayana) in all the jivas (nara), One who rests (ayana) on water (nara) within the universe
 * One who does not have any blemish, and complete with all gunas (qualities)
 * Naara – Water, Ayana – Resting place, The Supreme Lord Vishnu whose resting place is water is therefore called Naarayana.
 * Nara means humans and Ayana means shelter so Narayana means the shelter of all human beings.
 * Narayana is “The Supreme Being who is the foundation of all men.

Madhava

 * The goddess of wealth and prosperity. One who is the Lord of Knowledge One who is the Husband (Dhava) of Lakshmi
 * order of emblems: chakra, shanka, gada, padma
 * He is Lakshmipathi the consort of Ma, or Mahalaksmi, the Mother of the universe.
 * Jnaanadhipathi: One who is fit to be known through Madhu-vidya (kn or One who is the Lord of “Ma” or knowledge.
 * One who was born (descendant) in the tribe of Madhu (Yadu).
 * The Lord of Brahma Vidya: One who is the owner of all the attributes of Goddess of wealth
 * One who is bestower and source of sweetness (ultimate Ananda).

Govinda
One who is attainable by vedic chanting, One who is finally known by vedas, One who is protector of cows, One who is protector of Bhumi (Mother Earth)

Vishnu
One who is omnipotent and omnipresent - pervades everywhere in the universe, One who is present even within the atoms (anu) of the universe (vishva)

Madhusudanah
One who destroyed demons Madhu and Kaitabha in Hayagriva avatara to recover the stolen vedas

Trivikrama
One who measured the entire universe in three footsteps in Vamana avatara (a dwarf Brahmin incarnation)

Vamana
One who took Vamana avatara (a dwarf Brahmin incarnation) to help Indra and devas (gods) regain the lordship of heaven and upper worlds

Sridhar
One who sustains Goddess of Fortune Lakshmi (Shri) always, One on whose chest resides Lakshmi as a golden fine line

Hrishikesha
One who is the Lord (Esha) of senses (Hrishik), One who rules the senses

Padmanabha
One who has the lotus (Padma) in his navel (Nabha) which is the birthplace of Brahma the creator deity of 14 worlds within the universe, one whose navel is as beautiful as lotus flower

Damodar
(name of Krishna)|Damodara]] - One who was tied with a cord (daama) around his waist (udara) in Krishna avatara by his mother Yasoda, One who has entire universe as his abode.

Sankarshana
One who has both the powers of attraction and repulsion, Another name of Ananta Shesha (who is a part of Lord Vishnu) upon whom rests Lord Vishnu within the universe at Ksheera Sagara, One who is the Lord of Ahamkara (Individual Ego), Second amongst the four fold manifestation (Chatur-Vyuha) of Lord Vishnu (i.e. Vasudeva, Sankarshana, Pradyumna, Aniruddha)

Vasudeva
One who resides (Vasu) in all living beings and in turn all living beings reside (Vasu) in him, One who is the Lord of Chitta (Subconscious mind), Foremost & Supreme amongst the four fold manifestation (Chatur-Vyuha) of Lord Vishnu (i.e. Vasudeva, Sankarshana, Pradyumna, Aniruddha)

Pradyumna
One who is most wealthy, One who is most lovable, One who is the Lord of Buddhi (Intellect), Third amongst the four fold manifestation (Chatur-Vyuha) of Lord Vishnu (i.e. Vasudeva, Sankarshana, Pradyumna, Aniruddha)

Aniruddha
One who is uncontrollable & unstoppable, One who is the Lord of Manas (Mind), Fourth amongst the four fold manifestation (Chatur-Vyuha) of Lord Vishnu (i.e. Vasudeva, Sankarshana, Pradyumna, Aniruddha)

Purushottama
One who is the Supreme Purusha (Purusha + Uttama = Purushottama) or Supreme God, One who is the Supreme Purusha beyond the Kshara (Destroyable i.e. Prakṛti) and Akshara (Undestroyable i.e. Atman)

Adhokshaja
One who has eternal knowledge, One who is beyond knowledge acquired through the senses

Narasimha
One who took half lion-half man incarnation to protect his devotee Prahlada and to kill demon Hiranyakashipu

Achyuta
One who never loses his inherent nature and powers (i.e. One who is infallible)

Janardana
One who is protector of his devotees and destroyer of their enemies, One who is to be worshiped to get the wishes fulfilled (i.e. to be liberated from cycle of births and deaths)

Upendra
One who appeared as a younger brother of Indra in Vamana avatara

Hari
One who takes away (all the illusions, attachments, desires, pains & material existence of his devotees and destroys their material bondage i.e. gives them Moksha)

Krishna
One with most beautiful dark blue (water filled cloud) complexion, One who is attractive, one who enchants, One who took Krishna Avatara, One who is always in a state of Bliss (with his sport of creation etc.)