Kids’ Org.: Divine Messenger

Children the only solution to any problem is communication since it is a medium through which we get to understand each other. If there is no communication then we tend to fall into a place where there is absolute isolation. Therefore communication is very important to all humans. Even the plants and animals have a way of communicating with one another through their own secretive ways. Communication didn’t start from the Stone Age time but its traces are seen even during the Satyug. According to Hinduism Narad was blessed with the great communication skills and therefore is often called the Pioneer of Communication by the Hindus. In order to honour this great talent a day is dedicated to him. It is called Narad Jayanti. This event marks the birth anniversary of Devrishi Narad. Narad Jayanti is held usually on the next day of Poornima (a full moon night in Vaishakh Month) between April and May.

Who was Narad?
Some Purans suggests that Sage Narad appeared from the forehead of Lord Brahma whereas the Vishnu Puran advocates that he was the son of Sage Kashyap. Narad Muni was one of the prajapatis and also among the seven honourable rishis. Sage Narad was an ardent devotee of Lord Narayan, one of the forms of Lord Vishnu. He is believed to be the inventor of the musical instrument, Veena. He was the chief of the Gandharvas who were the divine musicians.
It is said that Narad used to travel all through the world singing and communicating information. Rig Ved has some hymns accredited to Narad Muni. He is imagined as a sanyasi with a Veena in one hand and khartaal in the other. He often created trouble among the people, of course with a positive intention or for the betterment of the universe. According to Vedic Purans Devrishi Narad is a universal divine messenger and primary source of information among Gods. Narad Muni had the ability to visit all the teen loks i.e. Akash or Heaven, Prithvi or Earth and Pataal or Netherworld and is believed to be first journalist on the Earth. He is also believed to be the author of the Panchatantra. The Mahabharat explains Narad's experiences very vividly. He was conversant with the Veds, the Upanishads and the Purans.
­­Celebration of Narad Jayanti
Since Narad was a devotee of Lord Vishnu and known as Devarshi, Narad Jayanti is observed in all Lord Vishnu temples. Special prayers and rituals are held on this day. A few people observe fast and recite the holy texts related to Narad. Feasts are organised after the events. Reading Narad Bhakti Sutra, Naradiya Dharmashastra, Narad Pancharatra and Narad Puran are considered auspicious on Narad Jayanti day.
Since Narad is a precursor of modern day journalism and mass communication, so the day is also called Patrakar Diwas and is celebrated in this form across the country. The day appeals the journalists to follow his ideals, broaden their approach to people of the society and aim towards public welfare.
God of Communication
The reason why Hindus call him as the pioneer of communication is because this learned man used to travel between heaven and earth singing and informing people about the good things happening in all the places. He was called by many the ancient newspaper as he was the one giving news to everyone, thus helping those in need. There are also stories that say he sometimes created trouble through his communication but always had a positive intention. While he did that he always wanted to help someone in need. He used his communication power to influence the powerful gods and demons to come to peaceful conclusions. This is why he is called the ‘the God of Communication’.
Narad Jayanti is celebrated mainly to remind people that communication is a very strong weapon and it has the power to create both positive and negative ideas in other’s mind. Journalists and media persons get great encouragement on this day as they are reminded of their important role in the society.
Stories related to Narad
B hagavat Puran describes the story of Narad’s spiritual enlightenment. 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 Narad experienced a vision wherein Narayan (Vishnu) appeared before him, smiling, and spoke “ despite having the blessing of seeing Him at that very moment, Narad would not be able to see His (Vishnu’s) divine form again until he died”. Narayan 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. For the rest of his life Narad focused on his devotion, and worship to Vishnu.
After his death Vishnu then blessed him with the spiritual form of “Narad” as he eventually was called. In many Hindu scriptures Narad is considered a saktyavesa-avatara or partial-manifestation (avatar) of God, empowered to perform miraculous tasks on Vishnu's behalf.
A very famous story regarding Narad Muni is that he once told Lord Vishnu that he would separate from his wife the Goddess Lakshmi and would be forced to take the help of vanars to get her back.
This story connects us to Ramayana when Lord Vishnu took avatar in the form of Sri Ram and his wife Lakshmi was Sri Ram’s wife (Sita).In order to take back Sita from Ravan, Sri Ram had to take the help of the vanars.        

—Aniket Raja