The Life and Times of Narada

• Narayan ! Narayan !

Let us wish a very happy birthday to Devrishi Narada today on Narada Jayanti ! Narada’s birthday is celebrated on the pratipada of the Krishna paksha of Jyestha month 

In the concluding post on this series , I would tell a few more stories and sum up the narrative from the ones already told.

Narada’s Guru

We covered several tales of Narada’s eminent disciples but who is Narada’s Guru?

That Narada is a manas putra of Brahma is well known . But do you know who was Narada’s Guru? Some say it was Brahma , some mention that Narayana himself was the guru of Narada ,who never stopped singing his glories and some attribute Mahadeva to be his guru too. There is a story that goes that once Narada arrived in a yajna happening in the mighty swargaloka, where all 33 crore devas were present . He was given the lowliest seat – beneath everyone else . Incensed with the insult – he questioned his father on the reason. Brahma calmly responded that the reason is that Narada didn’t have a Guru and Guru alone can show the light. Narada realizing that he doesn’t have a guru mantra – resolved to take the first person the next morning as a Guru.

The next morning he saw an old fisherman, with nets on his shoulder, walking and weaving his net . Narada  hesitated at first for this was a shudra . But eventually , remembering his vow,  ran to the old man and begged for initiation. The old man  named Kalu Jheemar refused saying he is a shudra and unworthy . Narada persisted and eventually the old man gave the 2 holy words he knew- “Hari Bol” . Narada returned proudly to the deva assembly announcing he had a Guru and a mantra. He was given a front seat now but knowing his ways – the assembly demanded to meet his Guru. Now, Narada went back again and requested the fisherman to come with him . The fisherman was partially  lame so Narada had to carry him . The assembly was shocked to see an old lame fisherman as Narada’s Guru. As Narada fell at his Guru’s feet – The Guru turned into ash smeared  Shiva himself -signifying that Guru can come in any form and all you need is a burning desire for one and complete acceptance .

Narada the Statesman

Narada is often portrayed as a mischievous gossip monger . But as the Narada Yudhishitara samvad in Mahabharat shows – Narada was an excellent reformer and an astute political economist . His views on statecraft predate and possibly inspire Arthashastra- the famous treatise from Chanakya better known as Kautilya – the guru of Chandragupta and the force behind the Indian victory over Alexander.

Sample this – He didn’t advise Yudhisthira to follow ahimsa – he advised Yudhishithira on the importance of a powerful army in maintaining of dharma by the king. Author Aditya Satsangi brings this political craft  covering discourses on army , spycraft , time management among others –  amazingly in his book – The making of a Statesman. You can find a great summary here 

Kalahpriya Narada

While this is the most portrayed part of Narada’s character – often reducing him to a celestial joker – this part cannot be denied . He did foment troubles . He for example fanned dispute between Satyabhama and Rukmini – both favored wives of Sri Krishna . Satyabhama is often referred to as Bhu-devi and Rukmini as Sri Devi . Satyabhama was incensed when the fragrant  Parijata gifted by Indra was planted in Rukmini’s backyard and Narada fanned the flames . For a festival, A tula daan was organized where Sri Krishna sat on one side and was weighed in all the gold owned by Satyabhama . The bet was that if all the wealth proved insufficient Krishna will become a slave to Narada . No matter how much gold was piled on Krishna seemed heavier. This surprised  everyone putting them under immense stress that their husband might soon be enslaved . Finally, Rukmini devi saved the day by putting a tulsi leaf on the other side

Tulsi is the symbol of Radha, of pure devotion and bhakti – and instantly the side with Krishna became light as a feather!

Narada incited Kansa to murder Devki’s progeny and inspired Ravana to get the atma linga from Kailasha to Lanka However ,looked at in total, Narada is the epitome of knowledge Bhakti and compassion . He is the sage who anticipates with his uncanny foresight and seeks to avert impending disasters and more often than not prevent  those even by creating and hastening critical situations to teach lessons to the wrong doers; He does not spare any body, -be it human beings or even gods . Indeed he is the celestial messenger of peace and universal togetherness. Lost in his bhakti for Sri Hari – he cares for little else . He is a fountainhead of knowledge, robust commonsense and uncanny wit and wisdom that shapes destinies of Beings in the Supreme Lord’s Creation!

Narayan ! Narayan !

Jai Sri Hari !

PS : you can find the other posts in the series here . A humble offering at the feet of Sri Hari and my  lord and master Swami ji with inspiration from Sridevi Ma and Akshay Om . My humble obeisance to you .

1.Omnipresent Google of ancient world ( Narada and Prahlada/ Kayadhu)

2. Narada Student Club Part1 ( Narada and Dhruva)

3. Narada Student Club Part 2 ( Narada and Valmiki)

4. When Bhakta cursed Bhagwan part -1  ( Narada cursing Sri Hari)

5. When Bhakta Cursed Bhagwan – part -2 ( Narada and Maya)

6. The curse of a wandering soul (Narada , Daksha and Brahma)

7. Life and times of Narada ( Narada’s Guru, Narada the statesman, Kalahpriya Narada)