The deity Vishnu's
epithet.
The name has long been thought to imply "sitting on the
waters," based on the notion that the word nara, which typically means
"man," meant "waters" in this context.
In the period of cosmic dissolution, Narayana is Vishnu's image
(pralaya).
He's relaxing in the middle of the cosmic sea on his snake
couch, Shesha, with his wife, Lakshmi, at his feet and his chariot, Garuda,
nearby.
As the universe' origin and finish, Vishnu is the only
remaining agent.
When the time comes for a new creation, Narayana's navel
grows a lotus, which opens to show the creator-god Brahma.
The cycle of creation starts all over again.
