Narad: A communicator par excellence

-Ray Saheb Pandey

When you are roaming around the eighty-four ghats (four more have been added, totaling eighty-eight now) at the Ganges in Varanasi, you are sure to come across an ill-fated ghat. Ill-fated, because here married couples do not or advised not to bathe. One may ponder why this stupefaction? This ghat is known has Narad Ghat. Formerly known as Kawai ghat, this was built by Swami Dattatreya in the middle of the 19^th century. A temple called Nardeshwar was also built on this ghat.

Narad, who came to be called as brahmarshi after a harshest of tapa ( the super refined art of self-control and total surrender to God), is one of the seven manas putras of Lord Brahma. He is the one who is equally liked by demon and deity. Lord Krishna described himself as देवार्षिणाम्चनारदः (I am Narad among devarshis) in the tenth chapter, the 26^th sloka (metrical couplets), of Shrimadbhagwatgita. In Vayupurana, he is described to possess all the characteristics of a true देवार्षि.

How come a ghat dedicated to such a devarshi is associated with such a stupefaction that married couples shall fall apart or their life would become hell if they took a dip in Holy River like Ganges? Whether the water in the river at this ghat is different from that at the other ghats? Whether Swami Dattatreya built this ghat only to glorify the devarshi and not for bathing? In fact the name of devarshi Narad might bring glory to those who just chant his name.

Let us look at the qualities of the devarshi. As narrated in sabha-parva in Mahabharata, devarshi Narad is described to possess the penetrating knowledge of Vedas and Upanishadas, most venerable by gods, expert on puranas, omniscient of past times, knowing philosophy of nyaay and dharma, erudite scholar of Pedagogy, Vyakaran, Ayurveda and Astrology, master of Music, effective orator, gifted moralist, poet and a great teacher. He is even credited to do away the doubts of Vrihashpati, the greatest known scholar in Hindu mythology.

Other qualities described include: True logist (knower) of dharm-arth-kama-moksha, capable of knowing or gathering the news/information from the entire lokas (worlds), knowing the mysteries of Sankhya and Yoga, preacher of Vairagya to gods and demons, conversant in defining and differentiating kartavya-akartavya (action-inaction), proficient in all the lores and learnings, embodiment of virtuous and righteous conduct, ocean of happiness, param (ultimate) tejasvi, benevolent and all moving.

With so many qualities, how can such a devarshi be portrayed as a fomenter of troubles in the life of a married couple or among communities? Is it not entirely unjustified? He is often accused of gossip monger, but what were his intensions? Were they not well meaning and for the wellbeing of mankind, devils and demons alike? Also depicted as a complex personality and a playful character in films and media, but in the real world, he was a true yogi and one among the wisest of humans and gods.

It is believed that he is still living and is one among the twelve immortals. He is a great traveler in the three worlds. He is always latest with the information and passing on knowledge from one world to another. He is regarded as the first journalist in the Universe, A master encyclopedia, who has the distinction of knowing sixty-four vidya. It is said he even knew what God was thinking!

He was instrumental in getting Jalandhar to the path of his self-destruction at the hands of Lord Shiva. His role in Mahabharata in showing Yudhisthir the right path of Dharma and the code of conduct to Pandavas as husbands in relation to queen and their wife Draupadi. His Bhaktishutras are an unparalleled piece of philosophy written in a simple, lucid and in a layman’s language. It is no wonder then that a temple is dedicated to him at Chigateri in Karnataka state.

What qualities are required for a great communicator? Knowledge, skill, wisdom, respectability, impartiality, courage and character? Are all these qualities are not an integral part of devarshi’s life? Is it therefore not most prudent to call Narad a greatest communicator ever born? He is, beyond doubt, the most effective communicator of all time.

In the light of the above, it must be suggested that the skepticism of married couples is baseless and totally unfounded. In fact, all the leaders, and the bureaucrats ought to take lead in visiting this ghat and take a holy dip in the Ganges to learn and imbibe the true qualities needed for communication and diplomacy. The common public should then follow their leaders to quell and dispel the unfounded notion regarding Narad, the Brahmarshi.