Devarshi Narad Muni: wisest sage of all

Narada is the greatest of all sages. He is not as simple and ordinary as he outwardly appears in our puranas. For he is not just one of the immortal ones but also the closest to Sri Maha Vishnu. We are ??????? (organisms), while he is ????????? (Divine being). He has unhindered access/ entry to everywhere in the universe. Nothing can obstruct his path. Nothing/ no one can harm him. There is nothing he cannot know if he really wants to know. Yet he is not interested in anything in the world, inclusive of assuming guru-hood to anyone. He has nothing in his mind except Vishnu.

He is still around and can be seen upon meditation. He appeared to Tyagaraju, the renowned devotional singer-song-writer of South India and gave him a book on music. He can be described as truly kind-hearted and non-egoistic, because he hides his greatness and never lets anyone feel or know his high status, but freely mixes with everyone from laymen to kings, from demons to the denizens of the heaven. Few saints mix with ordinary folks like Narada does. Not many of those who watch movies and serials are aware of his antecedents. Here I am recounting an account given of him in the Maha Bhagwat.

Before becoming an immortal sage, Narada was an ordinary human being just like all of us who were born many times and died many times. Thus once he was born to a servant-maid several eons ago. He did not know who his father was and never saw his face. He received maternal love from his mother immensely who never let him feel the absence of the father. When he was 7, a group of monks came to their village and spent a few months there. During this period, kid Narada was engaged in their service and participated in their worship of Vishnu and ever since, his young mind got focused on and devoted to God. He lost all interest in the worldly affairs for good. The monks blessed the boy for his devotion and soon left the village.

After sometime, Narada’s mother died of snake-bite. Narada did not feel sad for her death but felt liberated from the only bond that kept him tied to the prison called family. Later, he wandered all over the (known) world. He prayed to Vishnu to appear to him. But Lord did not appear. Narada heard a voice from the heavens, saying “My boy ! You cannot see me in this incarnation. You will be able to, after this one.” Later, the end of the eon approached in which Narada too perished along with the rest. That was his last incarnation on the earth. Afterwards, in the beginning of the next eon, he was born as a son of Brahma, the Creator and Goddess Saraswati, the Universal Mother.

Shrimad Bhagwat includes Narada as one of the 21 incarnations of Lord Vishnu. No one really gives him the respect he deserves. Narada is a Jnani, the wisest of all. He knows everything from past, present and future. He plays the role of a Guru (for Dhruva), a messenger (across many situations), a guide (for Valmiki, Vyasa etc), a disciple (always chants the name of the Lord). Among these, only thing people commonly know is that of a messenger. This the only role people misunderstand. They assume that he is the one who creates fights between people etc. That too is because they don’t have a holistic view of the situation. For example, when Kamsa forgives the first 6 kids of Devaki and Vasudeva and decides to kill only the 8th one, it is Sage Narada who tells him that they are all Gods and the plan is to kill him.

This leads to Kamsa killing the first 6 kids. If Shrimad Bhagwat is read, there is no explanation given to this. However, when one refers to Devi Bhagwat, there is a reason why these 6 kids had to be killed by Kamsa only. This, neither the kids, nor the Kamsa remember due to their new life but Narada, being the knowledgeable he is, comes to make sure their words across lives are fulfilled. If you meet some one who is critical of Narada, tell them this: With out Narada, there is no Shrimad Ramayan, with out Narada, there is no Shrimad Bhagwat and many other puranas. With out Narada, there is no way the sons of Kubera would have gotten their lives back from being the trees they were. With out Narada, there is no way Dhruva would have been able to visualize Narayana. With out Narada, there is no knowledge to Prahlaad. All that he listened through his mother’s womb is due to Narada. With out Narada, there is no Bhakti Sutras - the guiding principles towards the devotion of Lord.

If we keep writing the glories of Shri Narada, a book wouldn’t suffice. Read puranas to realize the greatness and enjoy. His devotion to Lord Vishnu is well known and is well understood, well accepted…His propensity to carry tales from one to another and create rift between them - whether between two Deities or between Devas and Danavas etc…gave rise to the title of Kalaha Bhojana to him…who relishes fights and quarrels just as one relishes tasty food…That aspect is due to Vishnu Maya which uses him and all other beings as pawns in the game of chess…Sage Narada’s second trait is the precursor of the modern fake news that spreads so fast through the social media…

Similarly the very volatile temper of Sage Durvasa is well known…again, that is used in the grand scheme of things to complete the different stages of the drama that the Lord plays…We identify ourselves with the characters in the universal drama and thus go through the emotions…Even as spectators, we are caught by the skillful portrayal of the various roles and the wonderful direction of the director…If we remember that the Sutradhari (director), patradhari (character), prekshaka (spectator) and every thing else that goes into the play is one, we will be less affected. Narayan Narayan