Nachiketa and Yama
The story of Nachiket
# Stories from the Upanishads
Story from KatoUpanishad (कठोपनिषद्)
Long long ago, there lived a
sage called Vajashravas. He had a son called Nachiket who was five years old.
In the vedic times, the rishis
and kings regularly performed many yagnas or fire sacrifices. These were
occasions to give many dhaan (charity) to others in the form of cattle like
cows and calves, grains, precious metals, land and other wealth. One of the
important rules was the charity be done wholeheartedly without any bad
intentions. The giver is also supposed to do the entire yagna and give away
charity without any attachment.
Once Vajashravas undertook a
sacrifice and took a vow to give away all his worldly possessions. Nachiket was
a small boy, but was quite observant. He noticed that his father was not being
sincere in his sacrifices. He was giving away things that were not needed by
him
Seeing this, Nachiket questioned
his father as to why he was not being sincere in his intentions. His father
tried to avoid the questions. Nachiket persisted. When he did not get
convincing replies, Nachiket asked his father “I am a small boy. I am of no use
to you. Do you plan to give me to someone too?”
Sage Vajashravas was feeling
guilty as he knew that he did not do the sacrifice with the right intent. The
persistent questioning by Nachiket only made him feel more embarrassed and
irritated. In a moment of anger, the sage responded, “I am giving you to Yama,
the god of death.”
Nachiket took this seriously and
went to Yamaloka in search of Yama. When he reached Yamaloka he found Yama had
gone out. He waited for three days and nights for Yama without eating or
drinking anything.
When Yama returned, he saw a
small boy waiting for him. Yama was touched that this small boy had not eaten
for three days and was focused on his purpose. He apologised to Nachiket for
keeping him waiting. In order to make up for his discourtesy towards the boy in
making him to wait, Yama granted him three boons.
Nachiket prostrated before Yama
and thanked him for the boons. As a first boon, Nachiket requested Yama to
grant his dad lot of wealth and peace. He told Yama that he did not want his
dad to accumulate any sins by doing insincere sacrifices. He said “If my father
had more wealth, he will not be worried about his family. He will do the
charity in the right way.” Yama was touched at Nachiket’s concern for his
father. He granted him the boon.
As a second wish Nachiketa asked
Yama the proper way and manner of lighting a sacrificial fire and how to
perform a yagna. Yama was very impressed with this request. He realised that
this boy was mature beyond his age. So Yama gladly imparted the knowledge of
the proper manner of performing a yagna – both the methods as well as the
intent and thought process of the person
performing the yagna.
The knowledge given by Yama to
Nachiket is called as the Agni Vidya Sadhana.
As a third boon Nachiket asked
Yama for knowledge of what happened to a soul after death. At first, Yama tried
to avoid this discussion by offering more material boons like wealth. Nachiket
refused all of that saying “What is the point of accumulating wealth, when I
cannot carry it with me after death. I want to have knowledge that is more
permanent.”
After some initial reluctance,
Yama agreed to give him knowledge of life and death and what happens after
that. Yama was pleased to see a boy so determined and wise at such a young age.
Yama blessed the young boy and told him to return to his father
Nachiket returned to his father
wiser and also brought with him the wealth that Yama gave his father.
Vajashravas was over joyed to see his son return safely from the abode of Yama
from where no one returns.
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.
Comments
Post a Comment