Chaturvimshadhi Roopa – 24 Keshavaadi Roopas of Lord Sriman Narayana – Part1

 

 

Compiled the content from various sources: Pravachanas, Books, Mailing Lists, and Monthly Magazines.

I would like to thank all the sources for enlightening.

Sriman Narayana, has four arms, and in his four arms hold sankha (conch), chakra (discuss), gada (mace), and padma, (lotus).

• The conch stands for the five elements, the sound of AUM, Shaligrama, Goddess Lakshmi, the waters, purity and perfection, and finally for jnana prapthi (Knowledge).
• The disc stands for the terrible weapon which destroys the evil and protects the righteous. It symbolizes the light bearing sun which illuminates and removes darkness. It also stands for higher consciousness (sat-buddhi) which destroys all illusions, and to follow Dharma.
• The mace represents the power of knowledge, and symbolizes to get control over desires.
• The lotus symbolizes beauty, harmony, creation, self-realization (moksha).

Based on the position of these four (4) symbols held in his four hands, and with four groups of colors, Sriman Narayana is called in 24 different names:

No.	Lord’s Name	Lakshmi’s Name	Color of Lord	Tattvas (Elements)
1	Keshava	Sri	Gold (Yellow)	Aakasha (Sky/ Space)
2	Narayana	Lakshmi	White	Vayu (Air/Gas)
3	Madhava	Kamala	Black	Vahni (Fire/Light)
4	Govinda	Padma	Spatika (Crystal white)	Apa (Water)
5	Vishnu	Padmini	Padma Kesar (Yellow)	Prithvi (Earth)
6	Madhusudhana	Kamalalaya	Red	Shabdha (Sound)
7	Trivikrama	Rama	Fire (Red)	Sparsha (Touch)
8	Vamana	Vrushaakapi	Rising Sun (Red)	Roopa (Sight/Light)
9	Sridhara	Dhanya	White	Rasa (Taste)
10	Hrishikesha	Vruddhi	Lightning (White)	Gandha (Smell)
11	Padmanabha	Yagna	Black	Vaak (Speech)
12	Damodhara	Indira	Red	Paani (Hand)
13	Sankarshana	Hiranya	Red	Paadha (Legs)
14	Vasudeva	Harani	White	Payu (Excretory Organs)
15	Pradyumna	Sathya	Gold (Yellow)	Upastha (Reproductory organs)
16	Anirudha	Nitya	Black	Shrotha (Ear)
17	Purushothama	Nanda	Spatika (Crystal White)	Tvak (Skin)
18	Adokshaja	Treya	Black	Netra (Eye)
19	Narashima	Sukha	Gold (Yellow)	Jihva (Tongue)
20	Achyuta	Sugandha	Yellow	Ghran (Nose)
21	Janardhana	Sundari	Red	Manas
22	Upendra	Vidya	Black	Buddhi
23	Hari	Sushila	Yellow	Ahankara
24	Krishna	Sulakshana	Black	Prakruti (Chitt)

1-5: Panch Bootha, 6-10: Panch-Tanmātrās or Panch-Vishays, or Panch Prāns, 11-15: Pancha Karma-Indriyas), 16-20: Panch Gnana Indriyas, 21-24: Antahkarana (Four intellectual systems or functional operating units).

Keshava  – ಕೇಶವ

shrImatpaMkajashaMKacakragadayA saMBUShitE kESavE

ಶ್ರೀಮತ್ಪಂಕಜಶಂಖಚಕ್ರಗದಯಾ ಸಂಭೂಷಿತೇ ಕೇಶವೇ

Keshava has several meanings, and few of them are: Keshava (ka + I + Isha): Ka – Brahma, I – Lakshmi, Isha – Rudra, va – preraka (vardhayathi) Srihari is the Preraka for Lakshmi, Brahma and Rudra Devaru also. That means he is the preraka for everybody without any exception. The lord of creation, preservation, and dissolution. One who is endowed with divine powers of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva and who can make the lord of Generation, i.e. Brahma and lord of Distruction Shiva both happy. An operator who is perfect Generator and Distructor. One whose Kesa or hair is long, uncut and beautiful. One who destroyed the asura or demon Kesi in the Krishna avatar. One who is endowed with the rays of light spreading within the orbit of the sun.

 

Narayana – ನಾರಾಯಣ

chakrAMBOjagadAsudarshanadharE nArAyaNE sarvadA

ಚಕ್ರಾಂಭೋಜಗದಾಸುದರ್ಶನಧರೇ ನಾರಾಯಣೇ ಸರ್ವದಾ

Narayana has several meanings, and few of them are:  NaarayaNa: Ara – Dosha, Naara – dOsharahita Guna, Ayana –Ashraya.  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. Naara – the living entities (Jivas). Therefore, another meaning of Naarayana is ‘resting place for all living entities’.  Narayana is “The Supreme Being who is the foundation of all men. Naar means water in human (Nar) body, is residence (Aayan) of God (Naarayan). Nara means humans and Ayana means shelter so Narayana means the shelter of all human beings. Naara – One who has attained Mukti, Ayana – Shelter. One who gives shelter to mukta jeevas The close association of Narayana with water explains the frequent depiction of Narayana in Hindu art as standing or sitting on an ocean

Madhava – ಮಾಧವ

BaktirmEastu gadAriSaMkAjalajairyuktE dRuDhA mAdhavE

ಭಕ್ತಿರ್ಮೇಽಸ್ತು ಗದಾರಿಶಂಕಾಜಲಜೈರ್ಯುಕ್ತೇ ದೃಢಾ ಮಾಧವೇ

Madhava has several meanings, and few of them are: Madhava” – “maa” + “dhava”. Maa – Lakshmi or Jnaana. Dhava – Pati or Adhipati Means – 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 – ಗೋವಿಂದ

gOviMdE varachakradhAriNi gadAPullAbjaSaMKAMkitE

ಗೋವಿಂದೇ ವರಚಕ್ರಧಾರಿಣಿ ಗದಾಫುಲ್ಲಾಬ್ಜಶಂಖಾಂಕಿತೇ

Govinda has several meanings, and few of them are: Govinda” – gO = Cow, vEdaa, Earth, Sun Vinda – rakShaka. One who protects the Earth, Vedas, and the Cow. One who enlivens the senses. One who is the owner of of Golokadhāma. Supreme Personality of pleasure (Ananda). The protector and preserver of the universe; he is the source of power. One who is the source of energy to the sun and one who provides light to this world. He is the one Vedas talk about, in his Vamana roopa, he took the Earth, and In his Varaha roopa he placed the earth back in its orbit.