Who is narada

He is competent in judging the correctness and incorrectness of complex syllogistic statements consisting of 5 proponents. He is capable of arriving at definite conclusions about religion, wealth, pleasure and salvation. He possesses knowledge of this whole universe and everything surrounding it.

He is capable of successfully answering Brihaspati himself, while arguing. He is a master of the Sankhya and Yoga systems of philosophy, conversant with sciences of war and treaty and proficient in drawing conclusions by judging things not within direct knowledge. He knows about the six sciences of treaty, war, military campaigns, maintenance of posts against the enemy and strategies of ambushes and reserves.

He is a thorough master of every branch of learning. He is fond of war and music, and incapable of being repulsed by any science or any course of action. The Bhagavata Purana describes the story of Narada's spiritual enlightenment: He was the primary source of information among Gods, and is believed to be the first journalist on Earth. In his previous birth Narada was a Gandharva angelic being who had been cursed to be born on an earthly planet for singing glories to the demigods instead of the Supreme Lord.

He was born as the son of a maid-servant of some particularly saintly priests. 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 he 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 Narayana 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".

Narayana 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. Narada questions Yudhishthira about his rule. While the illustrious Pandavas were seated in that Sabha along with the principal Gandharvas , there came, unto that assembly the celestial Rishi Narada, conversant with the Vedas and Upanishads, worshipped by the celestials acquainted with histories and Puranas, well-versed in all that occurred in ancient kalpas, conversant with Nyaya and the truth of moral science, possessing a complete knowledge of the six Angas viz.

He was a perfect master in reconciling contradictory texts and differentiating in applying general principles to particular cases, as also in interpreting contraries by reference to differences in situation, eloquent, resolute, intelligent, possessed of powerful memory.

He was acquainted with the science of morals and politics, learned, proficient in distinguishing inferior things from superior ones, skilled in drawing inference from evidence, competent to judge of the correctness or incorrectness of syllogistic statements consisting of five propositions. He was capable of answering successively Brihaspati himself while arguing, with definite conclusions properly framed about religion, wealth, pleasure and salvation, of great soul and beholding this whole universe, above, below, and around, as if it were present before his eyes.

He was master of both the Sankhya and Yoga systems of philosophy, ever desirous of humbling the celestials and Asuras by fomenting quarrels among them, conversant with the sciences of war and treaty, proficient in drawing conclusions by judging of things not within direct ken, as also in the six sciences of treaty, war, military campaigns, maintenance of posts against the enemy and stratagems by ambuscades and reserves.

He was a thorough master of every branch of learning, fond of war and music, incapable of being repulsed by any science or any course, of action, and possessed of these and numberless other accomplishments. The Rishi, having wandered over the different worlds, came into that Sabha. The celestial Rishi of immeasurable splendour, endued with great energy was accompanied, by Parijata and the intelligent Raivata and Saumya and Sumukha. Possessing the speed of the mind, the Rishi came there and was filled with gladness upon beholding the Pandavas.

The Brahmana , on arriving there, paid homage unto Yudhishthira by uttering blessings on him and wishing him victory. Beholding the learned Rishi arrive, the eldest of the Pandavas, conversant with all rules of duty, quickly stood up with his younger brothers. Bending low with humility, the monarch cheerfully saluted the Rishi, and gave with due ceremonies a befitting seat unto him.

The king also gave him kine and the usual offerings of the Arghya including honey and the other ingredients. Conversant with every duty the monarch also worshipped the Rishi with gems and jewels with a whole heart. Receiving that worship from Yudhishthira in proper form, the Rishi became gratified.

Thus worshipped by the Pandavas and the great Rishis, Narada possessing a complete mastery over the Vedas, said unto Yudhishthira the following words bearing upon religion, wealth, pleasures and salvation.

Does your mind take pleasure in virtue? Are you enjoying the pleasures of life? Does not your mind sink under their weight? Continue you in the noble conduct consistent with religion and wealth practised by your ancestors towards the three classes of subjects, viz. Never injure you religion for the sake of wealth, or both religion and wealth for the sake of pleasure that easily seduces?

Ever devoted to the good of all, conversant as you are with the timeliness of everything, follow you religion, wealth, pleasure and salvation dividing your time judiciously? With the six attributes of kings viz. Examine you also, after a survey of your own strength and weakness, the fourteen possessions of your foes?

These are the country, forts, cars, elephants, cavalry, foot-soldiers, the principal officials of state, the zenana, food supply, computations of the army and income, the religious treatises in force, the accounts of state, the revenue, wine-shops and other secret enemies. Your seven principal officers of state viz. They are, I hope, all obedient to you. Your counsels, I hope, are never divulged by your trusted spies in disguise, by yourself or by your ministers?

You ascertain, I hope, what your friends, foes and strangers are about? Make you peace and make you war at proper times? Observe you neutrality towards strangers and persons that are neutral towards you? Have you made persons like yourself, persons that are old, continent in behaviour, capable of understanding what should be done and what should not, pure as regards birth and blood, and devoted to you, your ministers?

The victories of kings can be attributed to good counsels. And also Loki doesn't seem to have any power. And are they immortal or are they not? These might seem like very basic questions for someone who is a fan of the franchise, but remember, all my information about those two Norse brothers was coming straight from mythology, and they weren't those handsome creatures with a little magic power helped out by the Hulk and other randoms.

They were actual gods, with godly concerns, and god-like mannerisms, and not inclined to be helpful or useful to humans unless it concerned them. Loki especially has long been a favourite mythological figure of mine.

Much like Hermes in Greek mythology later, Mercury in Roman myth , he is a trickster, often playing elaborate jokes on the other gods just to get his own way in something. While Hermes, at least, has several roles — as a messenger, guider of souls into the Underworld and inventor of the lyre — Loki doesn't seem to have any other function apart from being a shapeshifter and a trickster, which he sometimes uses to the gods' advantage, I suppose, but he's always established as a fellow not to be trusted.

I tried to find an Indian god who would be a version of the two, but came up blank, much to my own surprise. You'd think Hindu mythology with its pantheism, so similar to Norse or Greek or Egyptian Set, the god of chaos , would have some sort of god who was known mostly for his trickster ways, a god you couldn't trust. The closest I could get to mischief maker was Krishna, but Krishna was also known for his steady counsel and loyalty, flirting with the ladies notwithstanding.

He was a musician, a wanderer and a pure devotee of Lord Vishnu. He is always depicted carrying a veena , which he played while singing prayers, hymns and mantras dedicated to Vishnu. Narada is considered one of the most significant sages in Hindu mythology. He was an avid traveler, and it is believed that he had the ability to appear anywhere at any time.

He was constantly traveling between the different Hindu lokas "worlds" or "states" and it is believed that he could do so at lightning speed. Stories say that Narada also acted as a messenger for the gods. If the earth or the heavens were in trouble, Narada was the one who would inform the supreme deities. Believed to be the author of the " Bhakti Sutra, " he described the process of bhakti "devotion" and the practice of Bhakti yoga. This revered sutra is very important to Hindu bhakti movements, particularly in the tradition of Vaishnavism.

As the gross and subtle bodies are emanations from the Personality of Godhead, the revival of transcendental knowledge permits one to engage both of them in the service of the Lord.

The realization by which one can change his activities into transcendental activities develops without apprehension in execution of the bhakti path. Narada grasped this at once by his superior attraction for the Supreme Personality of Godhead—through the most effective method of hearing from pure souls.

I was gentle in behavior, and all my sins became eradicated in my heart. I had strong faith in them; I had subjugated the senses and was strictly following the bhakti-vedantas with body and mind. Eventually the rainy season and the autumn passed, and the bhakti-vedantas left the place where Narada and his mother were living. Knowledge of the absolute truth—permanent and blissful behind all temporary shows—is not a cheap or easily attainable thing.

According to the Bhagavad-gita, out of millions of men one may know the absolute truth, the Personality of Godhead. When the immortal sage Narada told these things to Vyasadeva, his disciple became anxious to know how the boy passed the duration of his previous life and how he finally quit his body and attained a spiritual body of sac-cid-ananda eternal life, bliss and knowledge as Narada Muni the eternal spaceman.

Narada related that after his initiation by the bhakti-vedantas there was a tangible change in his life, but as he was only five years old and the only child of his mother, he was bound to her with the tie of affection. Thinking in this way, I started for the northern side. We find that most people when they are put into natural frustration and loss bewail the cruelty of their plight and even presume to be critical of the absolute will.

But the devotee sees in every step the special mercy of the Lord. Bewailing our material losses is due to our ignorance of the real purpose of human life.

He did not spend time trying to make some economic adjustment for his future comfortable living, but he took to traveling. I passed alone through many forests full of pipe, bamboo, sharp grass, weeds and caves difficult to go through alone. I visited the dangerous, fearful forests deep and dark, the play-yards of snakes, owls, jackals.

This is called parivrajakacarya, to travel alone through all forests, hills, towns, etc. In the present age this is not possible for the ordinary man, but it was possible for Narada, who was finishing his last lifetime before his liberation.

With my mind transformed into transcendental love I began to meditate upon the lotus feet of the Personality of Godhead. Tears rolled down from my eyes, and immediately the Personality of Godhead, Lord Sri Krsna, appeared on the lotus of my heart. There are five stages of transcendental development leading to love of God described in the Narada-bhakti-sutra.

The first is called sraddha, or an initial interest in or liking for the Supreme Lord. After that, one practices the prescribed rules and regulations of devotional service which clear away misgivings and personal deficiencies. Then one develops firmness, or standard faith in the reality of transcendental life; then comes attraction, and then bhava, the stage prior to unalloyed love of God.

Narada Muni in his previous birth was able to attain the highest stage shortly after his departure from home. The tears from his eyes indicate his feelings of separation in transcendental love for the Personality of Godhead, after which he actually was able to perceive the actual presence of the Lord by his developed spiritual senses.

Therefore it is very difficult to give expression to such feelings. We can just have a glimpse of such ecstasy in the words of the pure devotees. It is described that all the differently cut and shaped forms that we are seeing all through our life do not banish all our mental disparity and dissatisfaction.

But the special feature of the transcendental form of the Lord is that once it is seen, one is satisfied forever, and no material form holds any more attraction for the seer. Narada saw the form of God, he was completely satisfied in his being, and then the same form was no longer present to his vision.

It completely depends on the causeless mercy of the Lord. Just as the surf rises out of its own accord, the Lord also is pleased to be present out of His causeless mercy. One should simply wait for the opportune moment and go on discharging the prescribed duty in devotional service of the Lord. Those who are incomplete in service or still immature in being freed from all material dirt can hardly see Me.