Keshava to Krishna

Students of Mathematics are taught about "Permutations and Combinations" during the course of their study on numbers. They are also taught about the difference between permutations and combinations. 

In the case of permutations, order in which the numbers is placed is important. In the case of combinations order in which the numbers appears does not matter. 

Permutations are specific selections of elements within a set where the order in which the elements are arranged is considered. If the arrangement is made without considering order of elements, it becomes combinations of the given elements.

Students of Mathematics also know that the maximum permutation arrangements with four given elements is 24. The picture given above clearly demonstrates that the number of arrangements that can be made with the four given objects is a maximum of 24 arrangements.

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The supreme Lord is visualised to be in unimaginable and infinite (Ananta) form. He is bigger than anything that was ever created or exists. Yet, there must be some way of him to be thought of by the mortals, be it for the purpose of worshipping or concentrating during meditation. For this purpose, religious texts provide that his form for meditation or worship should of a ever smiling four handed figure. The pictures of Lord Narayana or Mahavishnu that we see in idols or paintings are based on such "Dhyana Shlokas" or verses that describing as such. 

In Srimad Bhagavatam, Dashama Skanda (Canto 10), Chapter 3, Verses 9 and 10, the appearance of the Lord before Vasudeva, just before child Krishna was born, is described. In summary, the Lord appeared having four hands and holding weapons like Conch, Disc, Mace etc. and other details of his appearance. This is in line with descriptions of the Lord in other texts as well. In such form, he holds a Conch (Panchajanya Shankha), A Disc (Sudarshana Chakra), a Mace (Kowmodaki Gada) and a Lotus (Padma) in the four hands.

He has four hands and holds four objects in his hands. As seen above, the various permutations of holding these objects in the four hands gives rise to 24 forms of the Lord. These are called the Chaturvimshati (Twenty four in Sanskrit) Roopas (forms). This gives rise to 24 names of the supreme Lord, each one identifying a particular permutation of the four objects. 

The holding of the objects is identified from the top right hand and in a clockwise direction.

For example: 

When he holds Shankha in the top right hand, Chakra in the top left hand, mace in the bottom left hand and padma in the right bottom hand, this roopa is known as KESHAVA Roopa. the order is Shanka-Chakra-Gada-Padma.

When he holds Padma-Gada-Shankha-Chakra, it is NARAYANA Roopa.

If it is Chakra-Shankha-Padma-Gada, it is MADHAVA Roopa.

Thus we have 24 roopas with names as 

01. Keshava

02. Narayana

03. Madhava

o4. Govinda

05. Vishnu

06. Madhusoodana

07. Trivikrama

08. Vamana

09. Sridhara

10. Hrushikesha

11. Padmanabha

12. Damodara

13. Sankarshana

14. Vasudeva

15. Pradyumana

16. Aniruddha

17. Purushottama

18. Adhokshaja

19. Narasimha

20. Achyuta

21. Janardana

22. Upendra

23. Hari 

24. Krishana

These are the 24 names that are regularly used by the shraddalu people in various rituals like Archana, Sandhya vandanam etc. They are regularly chanted and in some rituals many times as well. 

The expectation is that one remembers the form of the Lord with the appropriate combination while chanting each of the 24 names. This comes by regualar practice for a considerable length of time.

Though these names are chanted many times and quite regularly, many people are not aware of this distinction and significance.

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In order to better explain these forms instead of through mere words, I am giving a link to Youtube video, that contains all the 24 forms with appropriate text in the Sri Purandaradasa's Keshavanama. The accomponying text is both in Kannada and English. The Roopa of the Lord is highlighted as the video moves on.

The link is:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKMsrFOqCiw