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.
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