Hindu Article-The celestial sage

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The celestial sage

 

 

 

CHENNAI: : Narada is one of the seven celestial sages and it is not

an exaggeration to say that without him Sanatana Dharma would have

been a lot poorer. This is due to his immense contribution to the

scriptural tradition, as he was the catalyst in the composition of

many important works. The Ramayana and the Bhagavata Purana are a

case in point. Narada appears in the Upanishads and there is a Purana

named after him, the Narada Purana.

 

He is the authority for Sanskrit grammar (Vyakarana) and in this

Purana he has given all the Sutras about the origin of sound

(speech). He is the mind-born son of the creator, Brahma and

Saraswati, and it is said there is no art or branch of knowledge he

had not mastered.

 

In his discourse, Sri Neelabala Sarma said Narada was also revered in

the spiritual tradition as he personified the archetypal spiritual

seeker, who has to progress from knowledge to wisdom. The Chandogya

Upanishad expounds this through a dialogue between Narada, who was

then very learned, yet restless, approaching Sage Sanatkumara for

illumination. Despite his vast learning, Narada did not enjoy peace

of mind; so he went to Sanatkumara in all humility and beseeched him

to teach him.

 

The preceptor then asked him what all he had mastered and it is an

impressive list that he gave of the entire spectrum of knowledge and

submitted, "Yet, I am only a knower of words and not a knower of the

Atman (the Self). I have heard from great ones like you that only the

knower of the Self crosses sorrow. Since I do not know the Self, I am

full of sorrow. Take me across the ocean of sorrow." Sanatkumara was

full of compassion that he accepted him and taught him spiritual

knowledge. This dialogue also best illustrates the distinction that a

spiritual aspirant must be able to make between secular knowledge and

wisdom, which will enable him to experience the Self.

 

Narada siksha is a work attributed to this sage on the science of

speech. He is important in the music tradition also. He is believed

to have related to Vyasa how he was gifted the Veena by the Lord. The

practice of chanting the Divine name as a means to liberation

popularised by Bhodendra also owes its origin to Narada who is

portrayed as a minstrel of God.

 

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