I worship Lord Satyanarayana who has eyes like newly blossomed lotuses, who is the playful consort of Bhagavati Lakshmi, who is four armed, whose body shines like golden rays, the only source for the protection of the world and the one who is like a smoke-emitting form (symbolise destruction) for his enemies.
- Page 390, Pratisarga parva, Bhavishya Purana.
Lord Hari is called Satyanarayana because his form is truth itself
Lord Narayan bestows fruits in Satya Yuga and Treta Yuga in the form of Vishnu, and in Dvapara Yuga, He grants fruits by assuming many forms. However, in Kali Yuga, the omnipresent Lord Satyanarayan directly grants fruits. There are four pillars of Dharma – truth, purity, penance, and charity. Among these, truth is the foremost Dharma. The world's conduct is based on truth, and Brahman is established in truth. Therefore, the worship of Lord Satyanarayana who is the form of truth itself is considered to be supremely excellent.
- Page 391, Pratisarga parva, Bhavishya Purana.
The story of the worship of Satyanarayana
Once during Kali Yuga, Narada visited the earth and saw the plight of the humans who were trapped in the sufferings of the material world. Wishing to bring joy to the worlds Narada went to Vaikhunta and saw the supreme God of the gods.
Narada requested Lord Vishnu for a solution to rescue humanity from its sufferings. Lord Vishnu then revealed to Narada about the Vow (Vrata) of Satyanarayana. The Lord informed Narada that whoever Successfully follows this Vrata, will obtain all pleasures in their present life and will also enjoy the merits they earned in their next life as well.