Narayana

thumb|Vishnu as Narayana resting on [[Shesha on celestial waters, accompanied by his consort Lakshmi, 20th-century painting by M. V. Dhurandhar]]

Narayana (, ) is one of the forms and epithets of Vishnu. In this form, the deity is depicted in yogic slumber under the celestial ocean, symbolising the masculine principle and associated with his role of creation. He is also known as Purushottama, and is considered the Supreme Being in Vaishnavism.