|
| Narada |
 |
|
Home / Hindu Religion / Saints / Narada |
||
|
Narada (Sanskrit: नारद,
nārada) or Narada
Muni is a divine
sage from the
Vaisnava tradition,
who plays a
prominent role in a
number of the
Puranic texts,
especially in the
Bhagavata Purana,
and in the Ramayana.
Narada is the author
of the Pāńcarātra, a
standard text for
Vaisnava's priests
which contains the
technical and
philosophical
meanings of the
temple Deity
worship. This book
is very important
for the Hare Krishna
movement, since they
belong to the same
Guru-Sampradaya (a
very long chain of
spiritual masters)
as Narada. Narada is
portrayed as a
travelling monk with
the ability to visit
distant worlds or
planets (lokas in
Sanskrit). He
carries a musical
instrument known as
a Tampura[1], which
he uses to accompany
his singing of
hymns, prayers and
mantras as an act of
devotion to his
Lord, Vishnu. In the
Vedas, Narada is
described as a
saintly traveler who
sometimes while
remembering Vishnu
by singing His
Glories his
Brahminical holy
thread breaks,
because of bodily
expansions through
the emotions he
feels of pure bhakti
(love of God) in
separation, which he
derives from his
unalloyed devotional
service. In the
Vaishnava tradition
he is held in
special reverance
for his chanting and
singing of the names
Hari and Narayana
and his promoting of
the process of
devotional service,
known as bhakti yoga
as explained within
the text accredited
to Narada himself,
known as the Narada
Bhakti Sutra. Narada
is also said to have
orated the maxims of
the Nāradasmṛti
(100BC-400CE), which
has been called the
“juridical text par
excellence” and
represents the only
Dharmaśāstra text
which deals solely
with juridical
matters and ignoring
those of righteous
conduct and penance. Son of Brahma According to legend, Narada is regarded as the Manasaputra, referring to his birth 'from the mind of Brahma', the first living being as described in the Puranic universe. He is regarded as the Triloka sanchaari, the ultimate nomad who roams the three lokas of Swargaloka (heaven), Mrityuloka (earth, literally: "place of death") and Patalloka (nether-world). He does this to find out about the life and welfare of people. He was the first to practice Natya Yoga. He is also known as Kalahapriya, as he playfully causes quarrels amongst Gods (devas), Goddesses and people. Narada has a specifically important place among the Vaishnava traditions. In the Puranic scriptures, he is listed as one of the twelve mahajanas, or 'great devotees' of God (Vishnu). As he was a gandharva in his previous birth before becoming a rishi he is in the category of a devarishi. Enlightenment The Bhagavata Purana describes the story of Narada's spiritual enlightenment: In his previous birth Narada was a gandharva (angelic being) who had been cursed to be born on an earthly planet due to some offense. He was born as the son of a maid-servant of some particularly saintly priests (brahmins). The priests, being pleased with both his and his mother's service, blessed him by allowing him to eat some of their food (prasad) previously offered to their lord, Vishnu. Gradually Narada received further blessings from these sages and heard them discussing many spiritual topics. After his mother died, he decided to roam the forest in search of enlightenment in understanding the 'Supreme Absolute Truth'. Reaching a tranquil forest location, after quenching his thirst from a nearby stream, he sat under a tree in meditation (yoga), concentrating on the paramatma form of Vishnu within his heart as he had been taught by the priests he had served. After some time Narada experienced a vision wherein Narayan (Vishnu) appeared before him, smiling, and spoke "that despite having the blessing of seeing him at that very moment, Narada would not be able to see his (Vishnu's) divine form again until he died". Narayan further explained that the reason he had been given a chance to see his form was because his beauty and love would be a source of inspiration and would fuel his dormant desire to be with the lord again. After instructing Narada in this manner, Vishnu then disappeared from his sight. The boy awoke from his meditation both thrilled and disappointed. For the rest of his life Narada focused on his devotion, meditation upon and worship to Vishnu. After his death Vishnu then blessed him with the spiritual form of "Narada" as he eventually became known. In many Hindu scriptures Narada is considered a saktyavesa-avatara or partial-manifestation (avatar) of God, empowered to perform miraculous tasks on Vishnu's behalf. |
||