Narada (नारदः)

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Introduction

Narada (Sanskrit: नारद, Nārada) is a Vedic sage, famous in Hindu traditions as a traveling musician and storyteller, who carries news and enlightening wisdom. He appears in a number of Dharmic texts, notably the Mahabharata, the Ramayana and the Puranas.

In Dharmic texts, Narada travels to distant worlds and realms (Sanskrit lokas). He is depicted carrying a khartal and Veena with the name Mahathi and is generally regarded as one of the great masters of the ancient musical instrument. This instrument is known by the name "mahathi" which he uses to accompany his singing of hymns, prayers and mantras. Narada is presented as a sage with devotion to Lord Vishnu. Narada is described as both wise and mischievous, in humorous tales. Vaishnav enthusiasts depict him as a pure, elevated soul who glorifies Vishnu through his devotional songs, singing the names Hari and Narayana and therein demonstrating bhakti yoga. (delete) The Narada Bhakti Sutra is attributed to him.

Other texts named after Narada include Narada Purana and the Nāradasmṛti, the latter 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.

Mahabharata

The Mahabharata explains Narada's qualifications and experience in vivid detail. Narada:

• was conversant with the Vedas and the Upanishads and Itihasa and the Puranas.
• thorough knowledge of the six Angas - Pronunciation, grammar, prosody, explanation of basic terms, description of religious rites and astronomy.
• was worshiped by all celestial beings for his knowledge.
• was well versed in all that occurred in ancient Kalpas (time cycles)
• was conversant with Nyaya (logic) and the truth of moral science.
• was a perfect master in re-conciliatory texts and differentiating in applying general principles to particular cases.
• could swiftly interpret contraries by references to differences in situation.
• was eloquent, resolute, intelligent and possessor of powerful memory.
• knew the science of morals, politics, skilled in drawing inference from evidence, and very proficient in distinguishing inferior things from superior ones.
• was competent in judging the correctness and incorrectness of complex syllogistic statements consisting of 5 proponents.
• was capable of arriving at definite conclusions about religion, wealth, pleasure and salvation.
• possessed knowledge of this whole universe, above it, below it and everything surrounding it.
• was capable of answering successively at Vrihaspati himself, while arguing.
• was the master of the Sankhya and Yoga systems of philosophy,
• was conversant with sciences of war and treaty and proficient in drawing conclusions of judging things not within a direct knowledge.
• knew about the six sciences of treaty, war, military campaigns, maintenance of posts against the enemy and strategies of ambushes and reserves.
• was a thorough master of every branch of learning.
• was fond of war and music and was incapable of being repulsed by any science or any course of action.

notwithstanding these accomplishments, Narada was supposed to be proficient in 75 disciplines, due to East India Company in charge of the Dharmic narrative, Narada was mostly portrayed as comedian, buffoon or gossip-monger and trouble-creator in Bollywood or in the media (serials).

Puranas

The Bhagavata Purana describes the story of Narada's adhyatmik enlightenment: Narada was the primary source of information among Gods, and is believed to be the first journalist on Earth. He claimed to have 60 wives. In his previous birth Narada was a Gandharva (angelic being) who had been cursed to be born on prithvi loka as a sudra 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 (Brahmins). The priests, being pleased with both his and his mother's seva (सेवा | selfless 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 adhyatmik 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 blessed him with the adhyatmik form of "Narada" as he eventually became known. In many Dharmic scriptures Narada is considered a saktyavesa-avatara or partial-manifestation (avatar) of God, empowered to perform miraculous tasks on Vishnu's behalf.

Temple

Narada Temple is dedicated to the Divine Sage Narada. These temples are located in Chigateri, which is 50 km away from Davanagere, Karnataka, India and the temple is famous in neighbouring districts of Davanagere, and in Korva which is 29 km north-east of Raichur in Karnataka, India. Korva is a beautiful island surrounded by the Krishna River. Korva is looked upon as a holy place and is popularly known as Naradagadde - one of the most scenic islands on the Krishna River. Due to its exquisite location the temple is not only visited by devotees but also by tourists.

References

1. Narad Bhakti Sutra
2. Bhagavata Purana
3. Four Kumaras
4. Nāradasmṛti
5. Vishnu
6. Narada's Instructions on Srimad-Bhagavatam for Vyasadeva
7. References to Narada in Gaudiya Vaishnava texts