Lakshmi Narayan

Lakshmi Narayan
	Existence
	LakshmiNarayan Dev Murtis at the Swaminarayan Temple in Downey, California
Affiliation	Form of Vishnu and his consort Lakshmi
Abode	Vaikuntha
Weapon	Conch, Club, Disc-Weapon
Mount	Garuda

Lakshmi Narayan or Lakshmi-Narayana (Sanskrit: ???????-??????, IAST: Lak?m?n?r?ya?a), also sometimes spelled Lakshminarayan, Lakshminarayana, Laxminarayana, is a manifestation of Vishnu in the Hindu religion. It is usually referring to Vishnu, also known as Narayan, when he is with his consort, Lakshmi, in his abode, Vaikuntha. Lakshmi is depicted as standing next to a dark-skinned Vishnu, who is holding a conch, mace, lotus and the Sudarshana Chakra. Another depiction of Lakshminarayan portrays Lakshmi in the service of Narayan, who is reclining on the cosmic serpent Sesha, floating in Ksh?rsag?r, the Ocean of Milk.

Every soul is said to be a ray of Lakshmi Narayan.

Interpretations

Lakshmi Narayan statue at Naksaal, kathmandu

Lakshmi-Narayan at Halebidu

The deity Lakshminarayan has many historic roots and is sometimes interpreted by different traditions as for example Jayadeva, in his Gitagovinda, dealt with esoteric pastimes of Krishna with Radha, and identified Radha with Kamala, Lakshmi who appeared from the lotus who is regarded as the goddess of Love, Beauty, and Prosperity. the consort of Narayana. Jayadeva also regarded Jagannath as Krishna. Subhadra was treated as Lakshmi during the Ganga period, and afterwards. The Purushottama Mahatmya of Skanda Purana (13th century A.D.) and of Vishnurahasya (16th century A.D.) referred to the female wooden image between Jagannath and Balabhadra as Lakshmi.^[2]

Lakshmi Naryana Frontispiece from the "Tula Ram" Bhagavata Purana - Brooklyn Museum

In Swaminarayan Sampraday

In sect Swaminarayan Sampraday, the deity is referred to as Laxminarayan Dev. Krishna - identified with Narayana in the text Shikshapatri - is with his wife Rukmini, a form of Lakshmi, he is also called LaxmiNarayan Dev.^[4] The founder of the sect, Swaminarayan installed the murtis of Laxminarayan Dev at the Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Vadtal.