Story of Nara

A hermit of divine power.

Birth.

Brahmā created Dharmadeva from his breast. Truthful and righteous Dharma married ten daughters of Dakṣa. Several sons were born to Dharma of his ten wives. But foremost among them were Hari, Kṛṣṇa, Nara and Nārāyaṇa. Hari and Kṛṣṇa became great yogins and Nara and Nārāyaṇa became great hermits of penance. The Nara-Nārāyaṇas lived in the holy Asylum of Badarikāśrama in the vicinity of the Himālayas for a thousand years performing penance to Brahmā. (Devī Bhāgavata. Skandha 4).

Giving birth to Urvaśī.

See under Urva ī, Para 1.

Keeper of Amṛta (Ambrosia).

The Devas (gods) and the asuras (demons) together churned the sea of milk and obtained Ambrosia (the celestial nectar of immortality). Mahāviṣṇu took the guise of a fascinating woman and obtained the Amṛta by stealth from the asuras and gave it to the devas. The asuras waged a terrible war with the devas. At that time, at the request of the devas, Nara and Nārāyaṇa took sides with the devas, and fought against the asuras as a consequence of which the asuras were defeated. In Mahābhārata, Ādi Parva, Chapter 19, Stanza 31, it is stated that from that day ownwards Indra entrusted the keeping of the celestial Nectar with the hermit named Nara.

Dambhodbhava brought under control.

See under Dambhodbhava).

Conflict with Śiva.

Because he was not invited to the sacrifice by Dakṣa, Śiva got angry and sent his trident against Dakṣa’s sacrifice. The trident completely destroyed the sacrifice and flew through the air here and there. Then it reached Badaryāśrama and hit the breast of Nārāyaṇa who was sitting engaged in penance. By the force of the utterance of the sound 'Hum', made by Nārāyaṇa, the trident was ejected from his breast. Finding no accommodation there it flew back to Śiva, who getting angry at this rebut approached Nara-Nārāyaṇas with the intention of exterminating them. Nara took a grass from the ground and discharged it at Śiva. Instantly the grass became an axe. It flew round Śiva to attack him. Śiva broke the axe. From that day onwards Śiva got the name 'Khaṇḍaparaśu' (one who broke the axe). In this story it is said that the trident which had returned from the breast of Nārāyaṇa heated the hair of Śiva to such an extent that they were dried as dry grass. So Śiva came to be called 'Muñjakeśa' (with hair having the colour of dry grass). (Mahābhārata Śānti Parva, Chapter 343).

Fight with Prahlāda.

Once Cyavana the son of Bhṛgu went to Nākuleśvara tīrtha (Bath) to take his bath in the river Narmadā. As soon as he got into the water the serpent called Kekaralohita caught hold of him. Cyavana meditated on Viṣṇu. So the poison of the serpent did not affect him. The huge serpent dragged Cyavana to Pātāla (the Nether world). But as his poison did not affect the hermit the serpent left the prey and went away. The Nāga damsels welcomed him and showed hospitality. Being greeted by the Nāga damsels he travelled through Pātāla and reached the great city of Dānavas. The asura chiefs greeted him with respect. Prahlāda met Cyavana, and received him with pleasure. The hermit said to Prahlāda. "I came to bathe in the Mahātīrtha and worship Nākuleśvara. When I got into the river a serpent caught hold of me and brought me to Pātāla, and made it possible for me to meet you." Hearing these words of Cyavana the King of the asuras said: "Oh good Lord! which are the holy baths in the earth, the sky and the Pātāla? Would you be pleased to tell us?" Cyavana replied: "Oh! powerful and mighty King! The holy baths are Naimiṣa on the earth, Puṣkara on the sky and Cakra tīrtha in Pātāla; these are the most important ones."

The King of the Daityas decided to go to Naimiṣa and said:—"We must go and bathe in the Naimiṣa tīrtha. We could visit and worship Viṣṇu with eyes as beautiful as lotus." Obeying the words of the King, preparations were made instantly and the asuras started from Rasātala for Naimiṣa.

The mighty host of Daityas and Dānavas reached Naimiṣa and bathed in the tīrtha. After that Prahlāda went to the forest for hunting. As he was walking thus he saw the river Sarasvatī. Near the river there was a Pine tree with very big branches, all of which were covered with arrows, the head of one at the tail of another. Prahlāda saw near the tree two hermits, with matted hair, clad in the hide of black antelope, performing penance. Near them were two perfectly made divine bows named Śārṅga and Ajagava and two quivers which would never become empty. Prahlāda questioned them without knowing that they were Nara and Nārāyaṇa. The questioning ended in a contest. The hermit Nara stood up and taking the bow Ajagava began sending showers of arrows at Prahlāda. Prahlāda checked every one of them. The hermit made his fight more severe. Prahlāda also withstood it. At last pushing Nara back Nārāyaṇa came to the front. The fight between Prahlāda and Nārāyaṇa was fierce. In the end Prahlāda fell down, his breast being pierced by the arrow of Nārāyaṇa. Prahlāda realized that the hermit Nārāyaṇa was none but Viṣṇu. He praised Nārāyaṇa (Vāmana Purāṇa, Chapter 8).

Other information.

(i) On the occasion of the stripping of Pāñcālī of her clothes at the palace of the Kauravas, Pāñcālī cried, calling Nara and Nārāyaṇa. (Mahābhārata Sabhā Parva, Chapter 68, Stanza 46).

(ii) Arjuna and Śrī Kṛṣṇa were the rebirths of Nara and Nārāyaṇa. (See under Arjuna).

(iii) It is stated in Mahābhārata, Śānti Parva, Chapter 334, Stanza 9, that the hermit Nara was one of the four incarnations taken by Mahāviṣṇu in the Manuṣya yuga (age of man) of the Svāyambhuva Manvantara.

(iv) It is mentioned in Padma Purāṇa, Uttara Khaṇḍa, Chapter 2, that, of the two viz. Nara and Nārāyaṇa, Nara was of fair complexion and Nārāyaṇa of dark complexion.

(v) It was because of the curse of the hermit Bhṛgu that Nara-Nārāyaṇas took birth as Arjuna and Kṛṣṇa in the Dvāparayuga. (Devī Bhāgavata, Skandha 4).

(vi) The meaning of the word 'Nara' is he who is not damaged. The universal soul named Nara has created water and so water got the name 'Nāram'. Because he lives in that water which has the name Nāram, the universal soul got the name Nārāyaṇa. (Manusmṛti, Chapter 1 Stanza 10).

(vii) For the other incarnations of Nara see under Raktaja.