I bow to Lord Vishnu, who has a peaceful appearance, who rests on the serpents, who has a lotus shaped naval, who is Lord of the Gods, who supports the Universe, whose vision exceeds beyond all the skies, who is dark like a cloud, who has beautiful limbs, who is husband of Goddess Lakshmi, whose eyes are like lotus, who is meditated upon by the sages, who draws away the fears and sorrows and who is the lord of all the worlds.

 

Shantakaram bhujagashayanam padmanabham suresham,

Vishavadharam gaganasadrusham meghavarnam shubhangam;

Lakshmikantam kamalanayanam yogibhirdhyanagamyam

Vande vishnum bhava-bhaya-haram sarva-lokaikanatham.

I bow to Lord Vishnu, who has a peaceful appearance, who rests on the serpents, who has a lotus shaped naval, who is Lord of the Gods, who supports the Universe, whose vision exceeds beyond all the skies, who is dark like a cloud, who has beautiful limbs, who is husband of Goddess Lakshmi, whose eyes are like lotus, who is meditated upon by the sages, who draws away the fears and sorrows and who is the lord of all the worlds.

Lord Vishnu is also Known as Narayana: The word Narayana means the one who has made the causal waters his abode. After the destruction of the Universe of the previous cycle and before the creation of the next, Shri Narayana the Supreme God, falls asleep on his bed of the great serpent Shesha (also called Ananta), which is floating on the waters of the ocean of milk called Kshirasamudra. One of His legs is resting on the lap of His consort Lakshmi, who is gently pressing it. When He is dreaming as it were, of the next creation, a lotus springs forth from his navel along with Lord Brahma seated on it. After waking up, He instructs Brahma to proceed with the act of creation.

The word Narayana has some other meanings also.

1. One who is the abode of all human beings;

2. One who has made the hearts of all human beings his abode;

3. One who is the final goal of all human beings.

Therefore, it turns out that the name Narayana is an ancient Vedic name for Lord Vishnu. This name refers to God in his infinite form and it means “The one who rests on water.” Images of Him often depict him on an ocean, as the water was created by The First Being.

Om Namo Narayana ~ Jai Shri Vishnu