Nachiketa *01

^{Sham S, Misri}

There lived a sage. His name was Uddalaka. People used to call Uddalaka as Vajashravas also because he used to take pleasure in feeding others. Vajashravas was a good, learned person but had a very bad temper. His wife Vishwavara Devi was a calm and quiet lady and helped her husband in the performance of sacrifices. She was a very devoted wife.

Vishwavara had no issue. She prayed to have a child. Her husband consoled her saying, that he would please the gods by performing a sacrifice and they would be blessed with a son. The sacrifice was performed. Vishwavara Devi conceived. A son was born to her and the boy was named Nachiketa.

From childhood, Nachiketa used to recite verses and offer his prayers to God. When young he had acquired lot of knowledge. He would say knowledge is the only real wealth in this world. Those who acquire knowledge should distribute it to others. Many sages praised the boy. He had learnt the secrets of Knowledge from the Lord of Death (Yuma) himself. Nachiketa had a sharp brain. His capacity to understand was wonderful. Nachiketa became a sage.

One day a guest sage came in at the cottage of Vajashravas. When Nachiketa saw the guest sage, he prostrated before him and sat on his lap. The sage offered the fruit to him.

"I do not want this fruit" declined Nachiketa.

"Then what else do you want?' asked the guest sage.

"I want knowledge."

"What type of knowledge?'

"That which gives me insight."

Nachiketa’s father was listening to the conversation. He shouted at his son not to talk nonsense and to go inside.

Nachiketa went into the cottage. His feelings were much hurt. The guest-sage felt sorry for the child. He told Vajashravas, “Why did you rebuke the boy? The boy asked for knowledge. Actually you should feel proud of him. Vajashravas requested the guest sage that he should teach him the Vedas. "The guest sage agreed.
The system of education in those days was different. The student had to reside with his teacher during his studentship. Nachiketa was all set to go.  Seeking their blessings he left home.

Nachiketa slowly became used to the new environment, and-the memory of his home began to fade. Now he was concerned with only three things – Ashram (school), teacher and studies. Nachiketa ranked first in maintaining the discipline. The students were assigned some odd jobs - such as washing the clothes, cleaning the classrooms, plucking the flowers, picking the tender grass to be used in the sacrifice, watering the plants, bringing fodder for the cows and so on.

Nachiketa used to do a thorough job of the work entrusted to him. As soon as he heard the voice of the master calling him, he used to go with folded hands and ask, "Yes, Sir, what is the order?" By the very facial expression of his master, he would sense what was in his mind and complete in no time. Thus Nachiketa became the best loved boy in the Ashram.

His method of learning was unique. If he heard the lesson once, he would remember it. The hunger for knowledge in him was much. He was being taught a new lesson each day. It was a pleasure for the teacher to teach him.

 Nachiketa was just 12 years old, when he saw a cow had died in the Ashram. He was in grief .The teacher told Nachiketa, “what is the use of shedding tears over a dead cow? Those who die shall never return. Everyone has to die one day or the other."

"If the cow is dead, how I am still seeing the cow here, sir?" asked Nachiketa.

"No, no, it is only the body of the cow that you are seeing. Yuma, the god of death has taken away its life. Don't you know that Yuma is the Lord of Death?" said the teacher (Acharya).

Nachiketa then said that he remembered to have heard some such thing from his mother. He was very young then. Since then he was eager to meet that Yuma.

With a smile the Acharya replied: "Boy, it is not that easy. Meeting Yuma means death to this life. Those persons never return."

Nachiketa was disappointed. He said, "Do you mean to say Sir, that, it is impossible to meet Yuma?"

"Well," said the Acharya,” it may be possible for a very few people who have performed great penance. But nobody has dared yet. All right, now that it is dark, we shall retire." The Acharya proceeded to the inner quarters. But nothing could satisfy Nachiketa. At last he said to himself with determination: "Let me see, whatever be the consequences, I should meet Yuma one day or the other." Days rolled by.

One day the father of Nachiketa was making huge preparations to perform a big sacrifice of the name of Vishwajit. Vajashravas extended invitations to all the sages. He personally visited the cottage of the Acharya in advance and requested him to attend the sacrifice along with all the pupils. "Please do not forget to bring Nachiketa also," he pleaded.

On the appointed day the Acharya began his journey accompanied by his pupils. While walking Nachiketa asked his teacher, "Sir, what is the purpose in the performing this Vishwajit Yagya by my father?"

The Acharya said, "Dear child, 'Vishwajit' literally means to win the world. This sacrifice is performed to attain fame in this world and happiness in the next."

Nachiketa said, “But, once my mother has told me, that, to attain heaven, one has to perform good deeds."

"Yes, performing a Yagya is as good as performing good deeds, because a large number of people are fed and thousands of cows are gifted during that period. Besides, as per the rules of this Yagya, the performer must give away all that is' in his possession."

"Is it so? Then what are the things that are gifted?"

"It might be anything including Jewellery. That which is dear to the performer of the Yagya."

"If that is so, can he gift me also? I am very dear to my father!"

The Acharya smiled and said, "Nachiketa, you have asked a very important question. But where is the need to gift you away? Do not worry; your father will not give you away to anyone."

At last, after a long trek, the party reached its destination. As soon as Nachiketa reached his home he ran to his mother and prostrated before her. The mother was happy to see her son after a long lapse of time!

At the appointed hour, the ceremonies of the sacrifice began. Playing of musical instruments, a large tent, a large gathering of invitee sages - all these contributed to the festive atmosphere. The air was filled with the chanting of holy verses by hundreds of sages. Vajashravas was conducting himself in a calm manner. The rules to be followed were rigid.

The elderly sages had warned Vajashravas beforehand saying, "0 sage, you should abstain from your anger during the Course of the ceremonies. Every word you utter should be translated into action. Otherwise all your efforts will be fruitless."

One afternoon was set apart to give the cows as gift. The priests told Vajashravas to bring the cows. Soon the cows were brought from the pen. Hundreds of cows were gathered in the shed.

A few of the cows among the herd were hungry. They were too weak even to drink water. A few others had lost their teeth. Certain others were so old that their end could come at any time. Many cows had gone dry.

Nachiketa was aghast at the scene. He was puzzled by his father's action. "What does he mean by all this he said to himself? “What happened to all the useful cows? What does my father gain by gifting such useless cows? He is committing a sin. It is actually cheating. He intends to gain heaven by performing the sacrifice. But he will go to hell instead through such actions."

Nachiketa shuddered at the very thought of Hell. He could not contain his grief. "No, father should ever be made to go to Hell. I must help him ' to avoid this. But how to explain all this to father now? He will certainly become angry. How to proceed?" mused Nachiketa.

Nachiketa thought deeply. But time was running out. The gifting ceremony will be over in no time. At last he got an idea. He thought -"The rules of this ceremony lay down that things dear to one's self must be gifted. Instead, father is retaining his dear ones and giving away the unwanted things. Probably he is doing so for my sake. It means that I am dearest to my father. So, if he gifts me away, everything will be satisfactory."

Welfare of his father was uppermost in his mind. He decided that his father must be persuaded to make a gift of him also; only then could it be termed as a sacrifice.

He went to his father and in a quiet voice asked:

"Father, to whom are you going to give me as gift?"

Vajashravas looked at his son. But he did not think it fit to reply to such a silly question. He was busy with the preparations for the gifting ceremony. Nachiketa raised his voice and repeated - "Father, to whom you are going to gift me?"

Vajashravas controlled his anger but remained silent. But Nachiketa did not give up. Nachiketa again asked in a loud voice,  "Please father, tell me to whom you are going to gift me."

Vajashravas could 'no longer control himself. Raging with anger, and throwing all the rules of the sacrifice to the winds, he shouted, “Get away from here. I will gift you over to God of Death."

The elderly sages were taken aback by the conversation going on. They stopped chanting the holy verses. They stood up and in a chorus asked, "What have you done, 0 Vajashravas? You have thrown the rules to the winds. In a fit of anger you declared that you are giving away your son to Death. Now you have to stand by your word. Otherwise, the proceeding will stop. What are you going to do now?"

Vajashravas was really at a loss now. He realized his mistake but only too late. "Fie upon my anger! I should never have uttered those words. What will happen to me now?" He felt sorry. Shedding tears, he retired to the inner chamber of the cottage. With a heavy heart he sat in a corner. Vishwavara Devi could speak no words. She had become speechless. Tears were flowing from her eyes constantly.

Nachiketa came in search of his father. The scene he saw inside the cottage was pathetic, unbearable. He said to himself, "After all, why should father feel sorry for having gifted me to Death? Death means nothing but meeting Lord Yuma. Let me see what Yuma will say." Then Nachiketa approached his father and said, "Father, whatever has happened has happened. Do not be upset."

"Oh, what a sin I have committed!" said the father, Vajashravas. He took his son Nachiketa in his arms and began to weep.

 "Son, if you can go ahead, you are most welcome" Said his father. Here Am I?

No sooner did Nachiketa get the permission, he sat in the lotus posture. With folded hands he closed his eyes and began to pray to Lord Yuma. Gradually he completely forgot the outside world.

(To be continued)