Story of Nachiket

 The story of Nachiket

# Stories from the Upanishads

Story from KatoUpanishad (कठोपनिषद्)

 

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Nachiket was a five year old boy. His father was sage Vajashravas. Once his father took a vow to give away all his worldly possessions. Nachiket as a small boy noticed that his father was not being sincere in his sacrifices. He was giving away things that were not needed by him and that may not be of any use to the receiver like a old and blind cow, broken stuff etc. Seeing this, Nachiket questions his father asking who he was giving his son to. In a moment of anger, the sage responds, “I am giving you to Yama, the god of death.”

Nachiket takes this seriously and goes to Yamaloka in search of Yama. When he reaches Yamaloka he finds Yama had gone out. He waits for three days and nights for Yama without eating or drinking anything. When Yama returns, he finds this small boy waiting for him. He is touched that this small boy had not eaten for three days and is focused on his purpose. He apologises to Nachiket and grants him three boons as a mark of this pleasure.

Nachiket requests Yama to grant his dad lot of wealth and peace.  As a second wish Nachiketa asks Yama the proper way and manner of lighting a sacrificial fire and how to perform a yagna. This knowledge granted to Nachiketa is famously called as the Nachikey Agni Vidya Sadhana. As a third boon Nachiket asks Yama for knowledge of what happens to a soul after death. At first Yama tries to avoid this discussion by offering more material boons like wealth. Nachiket refuses all of that saying After some initial  reluctance, Yama finally agrees to give him knowledge of life and death and what happens after that. Nachiket gets this knowledge and returns to his father after taking Yama’s blessings. His father having repented for his mistakes is overjoyed to see his boy who returns safely from the above of Yama, the God of death. Not only did Nachiket did the unthinkable of visiting Yama in his own abode, he came back to this earth with direct knowledge from and blessings of Yama. Nachiket is known as a Jivan Muktha – one who attained complete liberation while still alive.