According to Vaishnavas, Vishnu aka Krishna, the Supreme Lord (सर्वोत्तम), has many names. 24 of these names of the Lord are present in a group called ‘Chaturvimsati Namas’. The Chaturvimshati Vyuhas symbolise 24 forms of Lord Vishnu that personify and embody 24 elements of the phenomenal world. Etymology Kesava Namas refers to the 24 names of Lord Vishnu, the first of which is Kesava. They are often referred to as Chaturvimsati Rupas. (चतुर्विंशति नाम). Background The 24 forms of Vishnu seem to have been conceived in the Mahabharata. His roopa and forms are first mentioned in Agni Purana, the Rūpamaṇḍana and the Aparājitapṛcchā. Apart from these they are also mentioned in Vaishnava puranas such as Bhagavata Purana and Vishnu Purana. The Kesava namas were thus well established during the ancient period of Hinduism. Usage The Kesava Namas are the most sacred names for Vaishnavites, and are recited and praised at the beginning of all Vaisnav Vedic pujas. The Achamana is a ritual where the namas are used while simultaneously touching the numerous parts of the body to purify them. The names form an important part of bhakti devotion with bhaktas like Purandara Dasa having sung many devotional songs in praise of them. Archanas to Lord Vishnu are incomplete without at least a single recitation of the namas. Iconography The 24 Names of Vishnu are all represented as standing and holding 4 of his emblems the chakra, shankha, gadaa, padma The twenty-four varieties of standing Viṣhṇu images symbolize his different visible forms. The only distinguishing point or difference between these images is merely the order of the emblems held by the four hands, each variety deserving of a separate description. Saint vadiraja tirtha has composed Chaturvimshathi moorthi bheda stotram which helps us to remember the order of emblems and the corresponding form of the lord. :File:Chaturvimshati Kesava Roop.jpeg The 24 Kesava namas The 24 Kesava namas are: Keshava Order of emblems: Shankha, chakra, Padma, Gada One whose own forms are Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, for the creation, maintenance and destruction of the universe (by synthesis of ‘K’ for Brahma, ‘A’ for Vishnu, ‘isha’ for Shiva and ‘va’ for ‘svarupa’ form) One who is endowed with the rays of light spreading within the orbit of the sun One who has good, soft, dense, black hair (Kesha) One who destroyed the demon Keshi in the Krishna avatara The lord of creation, preservation, and