Narada (‘Nara’ stands for knowledge and ‘Da’ stands for Giver or Provider) is popular as a Loka Sanchari (universal tourist). He is also popular as Kalaha Priya (an instigator) but his end objective would always be for Loka Kalyana (universal benefit). Even at the time of generation as a Manasika Putra (Mind-born son of Brahma), Brahma asked his son to become a house-holder and procreate progeny but Narada refused flatly. He said, “Would there be a fool to leave the outstanding nectar of service to Krishna and take to the drink of poison called samsara!” Brahma was terribly disappointed and visibly angry, especially since the earlier brothers of Narada viz. Sanaka-Sanandana, Sanatana and Sanat Kumaras also politely refused to become house-holders. Narada’s reaction was a more assertive disregard of his consideration to his father! Brahma then cursed Narada to become a yogi; a quixotic, glibly and dreamy person with frivolous nature; as an indulger in shringar (romance) and music; a Veena player, a talkative wanderer; as the son of a servant maid, and after repeated births finally he would return to Brahma and become a supreme Gyani! Narada was taken aback by such lashing of curses from Brahma and having requested his father to bless him to be a Jatismara (with memory of previous births) and as staunch devotee of Narayana, he gave a return curse to Brahma too that he would not be worshipped in the entire universe by way of srotra, kavacha, mantra, puja, vrata or agni-homa for the next three Kalpas!

Narada was reborn as a Gandharva prince named Upabarhana, literally meaning as one with devotion. He was married to fifty daughters of another Gandharva king and the eldest of his wives was Malavati, an illustrious pativrata. He, however, had a flimsy fancy for Rambha and for this indiscretion Brahma cursed him to terminate his life by the Yoga of death; thus he practised Yoga by breaking six chakras (Muladhara, Swadhistana, Manipura, Anahata, Vishuddha and Agjna) and sixteen Nadis (Ida, Sushumna, Medha, Pingala, Praanahaarini, Sarva Jnanaprada, Manah Samyamani, Vishuddha, Niruddha, Vayasancharini, Jnana jrumbharana karini, Sarva Pranahara and Punarjeevanakarini) and he died the Yoga way. Malavati got furious that due to a flimsy cause of fancying Rambha, Brahma gave the disproportionate penalty of death to Narada and protested to the Devas and Trimurtis that she would immolate in homagni. Vishnu realised how powerful a curse of a maha pativrata like Malavati could be and assumed the form of a Brahmana vidyarthi, enquiring of Malavati whether the death of her husband was due to physical nature and if so, he could be revived by the means of Ayurveda; or else if the death was due to Yoga, then too there would be ways of reviving him the Yoga way! As the death was due to Yoga, the Brahmana boy prayed to Agni and the jatharagini of the Gandharva was kindled; Kama Deva gave back the latter’s desires and aspirations; Vayu gave back his breathing; Surya restored his eye-sight; Vani his power of speech; Dharma revived his knowledge and Brahma and Vishnu revived the Gandharv Narada finally.

Another episode of Narada’s life is related to Daksha Prajapati’s curse on him to become a house-holder as Narada instructed the Prajapati’s progeny of Haryasvas to avoid samsara (family life). Once Narada and Devarshi Parvata undertook a journey to Bhuloka and due to rainy season, halted at King Sanjaya as their valued guest. The King asked his unmarried daughter Damayanti to supervise the daily needs of the rishis for their worship. In the course of time, Narada developed a fancy for Damayanti since their common interest was music. Parvata Maharshi noticed a visible change in Narada and in the princess and confronted Narada who confirmed his longing for the princess. Parvata Maharshi got annoyed, cursed Narada to get a monkey face and left the kingdom out of disgust. Meanwhile, the Damayanti-Narada romance prospered as both were lovers of music. Damayanti argued that Kinnaras had horse faces too but were music experts par excellence; having convinced her parents thus, she married Narada. After a few years, Parvata Maharshi paid a visit to the kingdom and finding that the Narada-Damayanti couple were happy, withdrew the curse of Narada’s monkey face as the couple was happy. Such was the impact of Brahma’s curse to Narada that he should be a house-holder and no longer a Brahmachari.

Yet another story of Narada was about his womanhood! Once, Lord Vishnu and Narada were exchanging views about the impact of Maya and indirectly mentioned that he saved himself from it, except that he was cursed by Brahma and Daksha and had problems. Then Vishnu asked for his vehicle, Garuda and suggested to Narada that they go for a drive across the sky. He stopped Garuda at the city of Kannouj and desired that he and Narada could refresh, bathing in a lake. Narada kept his clothes, Kamandalu, and Veena on the banks of the lake and dipped first in the water. The moment he dipped and came out, Narada turned into a charming and youthful maiden, not knowing his memory and identity. Vishnu quietly slipped out alongwith Narada’s personal belongings and disappeared. Meanwhile, the king of Kannauj arrived at the lake for a swim and was overwhelmed with the outstanding beauty of the woman (Narada) and asked her antecedents; she did not know but he took her to his capital and married her as per Vedic tradition and named her Sowbhagya Sundari. The king declared her as the principal queen and their marital life was a total success and they gave birth to twelve sons. But as there was a terrible war, all the sons were killed and the Queen and King reached a lake to observe the obsequies of the sons. The Queen too had a dip in the lake and she emerged from the water as Narada! Such was the power of Maha Maya that Vishnu taught to Narada who learnt its impact the hard way! The basic laws prescribed by Maha Maya Bhagavati as enforced by the Trinity and their deputies are that their actions are performed as per their gunas in various proportions as per their prarabdha (fate). That was the lesson for Narada!