The Boar and Narada

In the beginning an averment. This anecdote would not be found in any scripture and if one finds it to be so the writer surely stands condemned. Yet it has a moral to narrate, which needs to be accepted and the kernel discarded.

Once the Supreme Lord descended on this earth to save Mother Earth from being drowned in the deep ocean.  Since no other form was found suitable to raise her from the deep ocean, the Lord took the form of a boar with two sharp and strong tusks and lifted her successfully and in great triumph placed her on her lap. But there was catch. With Mother Earth on his lap, desire arose in his mind and instead of repairing to his heavenly abode chose to live back to enjoy he pleasure of he companionship and temporal attractions.

The gods in heaven were concerned when the Lord did no return to his abode after successful consummation of the task undertaken. They sent Narada,  the wandering minstrelin search,  who traveled the three worlds and decided to return unsuccessful in his search. As he was about to climb the steps to heaven, he heard a grunt from behind. There stood the Boar, who seems to have recognized Narada. But  Narada himself was shocked recognizing the Lord. Stupefied he asked what has he been doing here rolling in this incredible despicable  mire? The Lord replied that after delivering Mother Earth from the dark forces, he felt like enjoying her company. There fore he is here with Mother Earth transformed as his dear mate. He confided that he is enjoying the pleasure of the senses, prevailing Narada also to join him in this delightful mire.

Narada was hesitant, since he had just then finished his bath, smeared sandal paste to his body and decorated his forehead with vermilion tilaka. How then can he dirty  himself in the pond filled with mire, even if it was to be in the company of the Lord. He told Lord to come out of the more cleaning himself first and share the bliss of his heavenly abode.  The Lord refused to come put of the mire, instead suggested that Narada himself should remove his sandal paste and the vermilion marks and smear instead some of the mire on his body and feel the pleasure which he himself has been enjoying the cool pleasures to soothe his nerves while rolling in the mire in the company of  many sows. But even as Narada being disgusted with strong nauseating smell from the mire and insisting the Lord to come out of the mire even so the Lord was reluctant to come out and equally wanting Narada to join him in the mire.

Even as Narada was confused at the unimaginable display of Lord’s Maya a glimmer hope and enlightenment rose in his mind, wondering what lesson Lord is proposing to communicate by such unspeakable action! He decided to take an extreme step.  He took a sharp pointed Kusha grass and transformed it into a sharp instrument with his spiritual power. With that he took aim and shot like an arrow and  destroyed the dirty form of the Boar, which had become oblivious of the divine essence which was within that form.  With destruction of the dirty form of the Boar the luminous essence within that form became freed and shorn of all the attachments which the form had accumulated. The divine essence thus freed recognized Narada and went with him to the Vaikuntha, which was his Divine Abode.

The anecdote ends here. Now some things need to be clarified.

Firstly why did Varaha behaved in the manner he did, when it was the Lord that was born in that form. In Mahabharata Krishna tells Uttanka Bharagava that when he descends in the temporal world he behaves according to the attribute and inclination of the forms in which he is born to be accessible and acceptable in the world of Perception. Therefore having been born as a Bora, he be haves like a boar, till he realizes that he is not one who is born a Boar to enjoy the sensual pleasures but the God who is born for fulfilling some divine purpose. Therefore, once the form is severed the essence which is within shines and he becomes what he really is.  

Katha Upanishad says : Both the Proper and the Pleasant approach the Person. The wise one pondering over with discrimination prefers the Proper over the Pleasant. The unwise ones influenced by senses prefers the Pleasant over the Proper. There are many in world who preferring the pleasure of senses and considering themselves wise advise others to jump in the pit and revel along with them the pleasure of senses.  While others standing on the border, being wise and discerning, refuse to fall in the pit rejecting the pleasures of senses. The wise ones with their outward veneer breached become conscious of the divine essence within themselves and rise from the pit which they are sunk. The unwise ones with their outward veneer fortified by their attachment to the senses, become insensitive to the divine essence within and, therefore do not rise from the pit which they are suck. For the Wise no inducement is needed and for the Unwise no inducement would make them shift from their fall in the pit.

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