NARA II 526 I

Prahlada realized that the hermit Narayana was none the same Manvantara. Narada may be noticed doing or other in connection with the various but Visnu. He praised Narayana ( Purana, something characters in the Puranas. There is no other character Chapter'8). in the Puranas so a in them as 7) Other information. occupying popular place five are des- i of Pancall of her Narada. The births of Narada ( ) On the occasion of the stripping important cribed below. clothes at the palace of the Kauravas, Pancall cried, Nara and Sabha calling Narayana. (M.B. Parva, (i) The Gandharva called Upabarhana. Narada born Chapter 68, Stanza 46). from the lap of desired to remain a celibate. Sri Krsiia were the rebirths of Nara (ii) Arjuna and But, Brahma suggested that he should assume responsi- and under Narayana. (See Arjuna). bility for procreation as his (Brahma's) other sons like Santi (iii) It is stated in Mahabharata, Parva, Chapter Marici and Sanaka had already become celibates. the hermit Nara was one of the 334, Stanza 9, that Narada did not accept this suggestion of Brahma at four taken Mahavisnu in the incarnations by Manusya which the latter got angry and cursed Narada to lose of of the Manvantara. (age man) Svayambhuva his knowledge and to marry fifty beautiful women. (iv) It is mentioned in Padma Purana, Uttara Khanda, Brahma continued: "You will be born as a Gandharva of the two viz. Nara and Chapter 2, that, Narayana, known as Upabarhana and will become a great music- of dark Nara was of fair complexion and Narayana ian. You will be unrivalled in the handling of the complexion. Vina. After your death as the Gandharva you will be (v) It was because of the curse of the hermit Bhrgu born as the son of a servant woman, and as such you that took birth as and Krsna Nara-Narayanas Arjuna will be a great devotee of Visnu. Afterwards you will Skandha in the Dvaparayuga. (Devi Bhagavata, 4). be born as my son when I will impart knowledge to the word 'Nara' is he who is not (vi) The meaning of you." damaged. The universal soul named Nara has created water and so water got the name 'Naram'. Because he There was a Gandharva called Citraketu, who performed lives in that water which has the name Naram, the uni- penance on the banks of the Puskara lake to propitiate versal soul got the name Narayana. (Manusmrti, Chapter Siva for a child. Siva appeared and blessed Citraketu 1, Stanza 10). to the effect that Narada, the son of Brahma, would be (vii) For the other incarnations of Nara see under born as his son. Accordingly the wife of Citraketu Raktaja. delivered a son whom the family priest named Upa- NARA II. A Gandharva (semigod). It is stated in barhana. The boy grew up as a devotee of Visnu. Brhas- Mahabharata, Sabha Parva, Chapter 10, stanza 14 that pati taught him the worship of Hari (Visnu). Upabar- this Nara stays in the presence of Kubera. hana lived on the slopes of the Himalayas performing NARA III. A King of Ancient India. He never tasted penance. While Upabarhana was one day engaged in Sa- meat in his life. (M.B. Anus"asana Parva, Chapter 115, madhi fifty daughters of the Gandharva called Citraratha Stanza 64). passed that way, and they fell in love with Upabarhana, in Samadhi. awoke from Samadhi on NARA IV. One of the wives of Uslnara, a King of the who was He hearing the melodious of the damsels who stood there family of the Anga Kings. Uslnara had several wives songs fifty with in reverence. too fell in such as Nrga, Nara, KrmI, Dasa. DrsadvatI and so on. palms joined Upabarhana love with and he married all the He Nrga was born from Nrga, Nara from Nara, Krmi from them, fifty girls. to the and lived there for KrmI, Suvrata from Dasa and Sibi from DrsadvatI. All returned with them palace thousands of Once the Gandharvas and the these sons became Kings. (Agni Purana, Chapter 277). years. Apsaras were invited to sing the story of Visnu in NARA V. An ancient place in South India. (M.B. Brahmaloka. accompanied them. He be- Stanza 60 . Upabarhana Bhlsma Parva, Chapter 9, ) came lustful towards Rambha. The Prajapatis, who NARACA. A particular type of arrow. noticed it got angry, and Upabarhana well-nigh dead NARADA I. A very famous sage of the Puranas. due to their curse returned home. He told his wives all 1 Birth. Narada was the son of born from ) Brahma, that had happened to him. He spread a darbha grass his Brahma created the famous lap. mentally saptarsis, on the ground and lay on it and died. Malati, the eldest and Marici, , , , Vasistha, of his wives, got ready to curse Brahma, Yama and . From Brahma's was born from his anger Rudra, Mrtyu. In great consternation they sought refuge under lap Narada, from his right thumb Daksa, from his mind Visnu, who comforted and sent them back to Malati. Sanaka and others and from his left thumb a daughter They saluted her. Then a brahmin, who went there called Vlranl. Daksa wedded Viranl. (Devi Bhagavata, questioned Brahma about the death of Upabarhana. 5th Skandha). The brahmin told him that, according to previous deci- 2) Various births of Narada. The Puranas refer to more sion, life for another thousand years remained for Upa- of than seven prominent births of Narada. He was firs,t barhana, but he died in the meantime on account born as the son of Brahma, and after that, on account the curse of Prajapati. Immediately the brahmin assumed of Brahma's curse he was born as the Gandharva called the form of Visnu. The brahmin blessed Upabarhana Upabarhana. Following that he was born as the son of who woke up from death rubbing his eyes. He lived emperor Drumila and was named Narada. Again born as happily at home with his wives. He was blessed with the son of Brahma under the name Narada, he married children and grandchildren. Knowing that his end was Malati and ended his life as a monkey. He was again near Upabarhana and Malati spent their in born as the son of Brahma and was cursed by Daksa. austerities on the banks of the Ganga. At last Upabar- Afterwards he was born as the son of Daksa and also hana expired, and Malati ended her life in his funeral as a worm. All these births did not occur in one and pyre. (Bhagavata, 7th Skandha) .