Today, we are going to talk about another boy. He is again a very young kid, who has the audacity to tame the Lord of Death. He is really a fearless boy. Can you all imagine it? How is it possible my dear friends? His name starts with the letter N, as today is the N-day isn’t it? Any guesses on his name?
Introduction to boy who tamed Death:
This kid’s name is Nachiketa. He is a young boy living in forests along with his sage parents. His parents are very devoted to gods and always busy performing one ritual or the other.
One day, his father has decided to perform a special yagna, in which he is supposed to give away all his possessions in charity. By performing these charity activities one would attain moksha as per the yagna texts.
Nachiketa’s father has given off all the cattle, and the rest of his possessions to the folks who have come to see the yagna. Seeing this, Nachiketa thought that his father is actually giving off all the old cattle and he might not be able to achieve his desired moksha like this. So he went and asked his father, as to whom he would give him (Nachiketa) to?
Nachiketa’s father got astonished and said, he doesn’t want to be parting ways with his son and that’s why he is not giving him away. But being a stubborn kid like myself, Nachiketa kept on disturbing his father again and again with the same question.
Nachiketa’s interaction with Lord of Death
Just like how my mom shouts at me to leave her in peace, Nachiketa’s father also shouted saying I would give you to Lord of Death, if you ask me once more, so please keep quiet.
Hearing this, Nachiketa goes to the house of Lord of Death all by himself, to offer himself to the Lord of Death. At that time, Yama was not in the house. So the poor kid waits for three full days without having any meals. After Yama is back at home, he feels very sorry to make a kid suffer like this and sits down with him to talk.
Yama gives Nachiketa to ask three boons for himself, as he has stayed without food and water at his place for three days. For the first boon, Nachiketa wanted Lord Yama to reduce his father’s anger upon him. And for the second boon, he asks for Yama to be his teacher and explain the entire functionality of Cosmos. Hearing the second boon, Yama wouldn’t be willing to teach him as he is too young.
But Nachiketa being a very stuborn kid, he insists and sits there till Yama teaches him everything.
My Learnings from Nachiketa:
After telling this story, my granddad told me that I should be also as insistent as Nachiketa while learning any new thing and shouldn’t leave in between. Also, we should really be brave as fear will not take us to places, but bravery can.
So, friends, this is my story of another kid from Indian Mythology. He is the first boy who tamed death in Indian Mythology. Hope you are liking my series. Please feel free to read my older articles here. I am really happy to be participating in the #AtoZChallenge and #BlogChatterA2Z.
Author’s Note:
All the pictures used in this blog are “Free to use” ones from Google, Wikimedia Commons or from Wikipedia only.
one more mythological character, I have heard of him but was unaware pf the complete story. Great going.
Thank you Ujjwal
Nachiketa’s quest for learning is commendable. Taming DEATH is no mean feat and he can achieved it. I though you would choose Narsimha for today ‘s post.
https://ideasolsi65.blogspot.com/2019/04/nails-parts-of-body_15.html
Thanks a lot Kalpana. We had tried picking up all the kids from Mythology and that’s the reason for not choosing Narasimha avatar today
Interesting. I have heard the story for the first time and this makes me feel how much of knowledge is there to pass on to the next Gen.
Thank you Sonia. Yes, Mythology is a deep well and we can learn as much as we want
U dint mention about the third boon. I am really curious.
Thank you Sweta. Third boon is to becoming immortal. Nachiketa has been made chiranjeevi and is believed to be alive even today in Himalayas.
Oh. Fantastic.
Thank you Sweta
You have touched the story of Nachiketa. Such was his faith in his father’s word, that Nachiketa visited lord Yama when his father offered him to lord. Nachiketa met lord of death, and impressed him with his argument and got boon.
Thank you Abhijit. His devotion towards dad is awesome.
Childhood revisited by reading your stories. Thanks Suhasini:)
Thank you Aditi
Very less known but powerful character in mythology. Bravo he is!
Thank you Sanjota. Yes he is a lesser known character in Indian Mythology
Love this story, I totally forgot about this mythology character, thanks for refreshing my memory.
Thanks a lot Vartika
Another wonderful storytelling and a great message.
Thank you Rashi
Lovely series. I enjoyed the story and especially what your grandfather told you about learning new things. What was the 3rd boon? Did he not get a chance to ask it?
The third boon was to make Nachiketa immortal like Hanuman. Nachiketa is one among 6 chiranjeevi’s in Indian Mythology