When Lord Vishnu joked with Narada

According to Hindu beliefs, Narada Muni was born from the womb of Brahma, the creator of the universe. According to the Brahmavaivarta Purana, he was born from Brahma’s throat. However, Narada is considered one of Brahma’s mental sons. Let’s learn three interesting stories about this.

1. Narada becomes a woman: It is said that Lord Vishnu explained the various forms of Maya to Narada. Once, during a journey, Narada bathed in a lake and became a woman. In female form, Narada lived for 12 years as the wife of King Taljangha. Then, by the grace of Lord Vishnu, he was given the opportunity to bathe in the lake again and returned to his original form.

2. Narada’s curse: According to another story, Daksha became enraged when Narada turned his sons away from the world by teaching them yoga. Then, at Brahma’s request, Daksha declared that he was giving him a daughter; when she married Kashyapa, Narada would be reborn. The Puranas also mention that King Prajapati Daksha cursed Narada, incapable of staying anywhere for more than two minutes. This is why Narada travels frequently. The Atharva Veda also mentions the sage Narada numerous times. He is also mentioned in the story of Lord Satyanarayan.

It is also said that Narada taught Daksha Prajapati’s ten thousand sons to renounce the world, while Brahma wanted to initiate them into the path of creation. Brahma then cursed him. As a result of this curse, Narada was born on Mount Gandhamadana in the Gandharva yoni. In this yoni, Narada’s name was Upbarhan. It is also believed that in the previous Kalpa, Narada was a Gandharva named Upbarhan. It is said that he had 60 wives and was always surrounded by beautiful women because of his good looks. Therefore, Brahma cursed him to be born as a Shudra.

After this curse, Narada was born to a maidservant from the Shudra caste. His father died soon after his birth. One day, his mother also passed away due to a snake bite. Now Narada was left alone in this world. At that time, he was only five years old. One day, during Chaturmas, saints stayed in his village. Narada served the saints well. By the grace of the saints, he attained enlightenment. When the time came, Narada left his five-elemental body and at the end of the Kalpa, he incarnated as the mental son of Brahma.

3. When Lord Vishnu joked with Narada: Sage Bhrigu’s daughter was Goddess Lakshmi. Her mother’s name was Khyaati. Once, a swayamvara was organized for Lakshmi. Goddess Lakshmi had already accepted Vishnu as her husband, but Narada also wanted to marry her. Narada thought that the princess would only accept him after he assumed the form of Hari. Narada then approached Lord Vishnu to ask for a form as beautiful as Hari. Lord Vishnu granted him the form of Hari, as Narada desired. When Narada arrived at the princess’s swayamvara in the form of Hari, he was confident that the princess would garland him, but that did not happen. The princess left Narada and placed the garland around Lord Vishnu’s neck. Narada, saddened, returned from the scene when he saw his own face in a body of water. Narada was astonished by his appearance, as his face resembled that of a monkey.

“Hari” means both Vishnu and monkey. Lord Vishnu transformed Narada into a monkey. Narada realized that Vishnu had tricked him. He became furious. Narada went straight to Vaikuntha and, in a fit of rage, cursed the Lord, saying, “You must return to Earth in human form.” Just as I had to endure the separation from my wife, you too will have to endure the separation. Therefore, Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi were born as Rama and Sita.

This story also mentions Lord Ganesha being insulted by Vishnu and the gods. Vishnu, leading the wedding procession, had Ganesha command his mouse to dig out the entire path. Later, Ganesha was appeased and worshipped, allowing the procession to proceed.