Question: In the Badrinath temple, there are two principal deities; one is Badri Vishal, and the other is Nara Narayana Rsi. Both appeared in this world to promote austerity and selected Badrinath as Their place. Are these two personalities the same but worshipped as two different deities? If they are completely different personalities, when did they appear in this world, in terms of timeline?
Answer by Romapada Swami:
In the early stages of Svayambhuva Manu’s rule, Nara-Narayana Rsi manifested as the son of Dharma (born from the right breast of Brahmä: Matsya Purana) and his wife Murti, one of the daughters of Daksa.
Lord Visnu personally came to Badarikasrama and performed tapasya. While doing so, Mother Laksmi took the form of a Badari tree and protected Him from sunlight and other harsh elements. The deity of Badri-Vishal is of Lord Visnu in this lila. When this occurred remains unknown; it is only stated ‘long ago’.
On the altar at the Badrinath Temple, Lord Badri Vishal, a self-manifested black, two-foot-tall Saligrama-sila, is in the center of the altar, seated in a meditative siddhasana posture with palms locked and matted hair flowing over the shoulders. On His left are the deities of Nara and Narayana, the former in padmasana (lotus yogic posture) and the latter in dhanurasana.
