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The Shata-rudreeya, Purush Sookt, Naaraayan Sookt (read Naaraayan Sookt here) and Shree Sookt are generally recited in a series in most of the temples of worship, especially during the performance of the holy ritual of Abhishek. These hymns, which are from the original Ved, represent in quintessence an invocation of the Almighty manifest as Rudra-Shiv, Naaraayan as the Viraat-Purush, and Lakshmee as the Goddess of Prosperity.

Naaraayan Sookt is a tiny but incisive form of meditation by which the human spirit endeavors to commune with the Supreme Spirit.

Significance of Naaraayan Sookt
The Naaraayan Sookt is, in a way, the mystical appendix to the Purush Sookt of the Ved, the only difference between the Purush Sookt and the Naaraayan Sookt being the divination of the Deity addressed by them. The Purush Sookt beholds the Supreme Being as the All-encompassing, Impersonal Purush, while the Naaraayan Sookt addresses the Lord as Naaraayan. The Purush Sookt, thus, is a hymn addressed to the Purush extending beyond the cosmos yet at the same time present within creation, and the Naaraayan Sookt is a devout, touching, feelingful and personal address to the Creator of the universe. In the Naaraayan Sookt some clarification of the hidden meaning of the Purush Sookt is to be discovered.

Naaraayan is the thousand-headed one, thousand-eyed one, and thousand-limbed one. Naaraayan is not merely the Father or Creator of the cosmos, beyond creation, but He is also hidden in the heart of everyone. Like a resplendent flame in the heart of the individual, Naaraayan can be visualized in deep meditation. In the lotus of the heart there is the citadel of the cosmos, the palace of the Creator of the Universe. Thus, the worshipper of the Supreme Naaraayan need not necessarily look up to the sky to behold Him and adore Him. One can as well see the same Naaraayan within himself, in his own heart. While Naaraayan creates the world from outside, He also impels everyone through feeling and action from within. Through every nerve-current, life flows and vibrates. This vibration, this flow of life, is the Chaitanya, or Consciousness, of Naaraayan moving in creation. Naaraayan is adored as the One Being extending beyond Brahmaa, Vishnu, Shiv, Indra and all the gods and angels, while Himself appearing as every one of them - the Imperishable, Self-existent All. Whatever all this universe is - yacca kinchit jagat sarvam - seen or unseen, in its depths or merely heard of, Naaraayan is within and without all these, enveloping everyone.

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