#6B8E23 Dr. R. Nagaswamy How one should worship Nārayanā is the subject, dealt with at the beginning of Varāha Purāna. It almost sums the essence of this purāna and is of great interest to understand the Hindu approach to worship. The Varāha purāna is considered a Vaishnava purāna and thus points out the approach to worship vividly. It is considered an early Purāna may be of the age of Guptās, 4th cent. There lived an honest and noble king named Asvasiras who performed a yāga, gifted wealth to Brāhmins and needy. Once two sages, one named Kapila and the other named Jaigishavya came to his court. The king received them with due honours and requested them to teach him how and where to worship Nārāyanā. The reply of the sages surprised the king. They asked him “Who is this Nārāyanā. We are that Nārāyanā” The king told them “Revered Sirs you are the most brilliant sages who have aquired great siddhis, spiritual powers no doubt. But how can you be that Nārāyanā. He is the lord holding sankha cakra, gadā and padmā in his hands wearing beautiful garments and rides on Garuda (eagle). I want to worship that Lord Nārāyanā.” The sages laughed and said see Nārāyanā now. The king saw the sage Kapila appearing as Nārāyanā with four hands weilding sankha cakra, gadā and padmā wearing beautiful silken garments and smiling. The other sage appeared as the Garuda. The king saluted them and said “Pardon me sirs. You are not that Nārāyanā tha I want to worship. Nārāyanā will be reclining on a serpent with Brahma appearing from his navel and he will be creating Rudra who in turn will create the world. He is Vishnu Nārāyanā that I want to worship.” The sages again laughed and asked the king to see. The King now saw the sage Kapila reclining on a serpent as Viṣhnu and Brahma coming out of his navel and Rudra emanating from him and that reclining Viṣhnu appeared as a brilliant flaming light. The King promptly told the sages “No sir this is not that Nārāyanā that I am looking for. You are great yogins and knowledgeable persons. You are creating these Maya (illusion) out of your yogic powers. Bhagavān Vishnu is not to be seen in Maya He is Sarva-vyapi, the all powerful lord, whom we call Māha Vishnu”. When he said this a strange thing happened. All of a sudden his whole palace and fort was filled with ants, insects, mosquitoes, beetles, snakes, wild birds, and animals. It was suffocating to see them everywhere. The king cried “Sirs what is happening here. Please tell me”. The sages told him that all these ants, insects, beetles, musquitos, birds and animals are all Nārāyanā. So far the king was only asking where he could see and worship Nārāyanā but now he has obtained knowledge and said that Nārāyanā is Sarva vyapi, and sarva antarātma residing every being. Nārāyanā can not be worshipped only in one place outside. He is in all; He is in your own body in your ministers, in your servants, and in all gods. One should see Nārāyanā in ones own body and in all beings every where. Seeing Nārāyanā everywhere is the way to worship him” the sages told the king. This is the very reason why we showed ourself as Nārāyana and then as Anantasāyi and as all these beings.” The king Asvasiras was astounded at the teaching and learned how Nārāyanā can not be restricted to one place and one image but man should cultivate the feeling to see him everywhere. This approach is reflected in the Varāha Purāna through out. It is the essence of the Hindu approach. Anything contrary to it is not acceptable. Quite often Hindus is misunderstood as worshippers of idols but their story illustrates the true approach of Hindus to Godhood.