Rishi Narada
Narada Muni is a divine sage, who plays a prominent role in a number of the Puranic texts, especially in the Bhagavata Purana, and in the Ramayana. Naradaa is portrayed as a travelling monk with the ability to visit distant worlds or lokas. He carries a musical instrument known as Vina, which he uses to accompany his singing of hymns, prayers and mantras as an act of devotion to his lord, Vishnu or Krishna. In the Vaishnava tradition he is held in special reverence for his chanting and singing of the names Hari and Narayana and his promoting of the process of devotion through Bhakti yoga.
According to the Puranas, Naradaa is regarded as the Manasa Putra or the child born of the mind of Brahma and the first living being. Rishi Narada holds a very special place amongst the Rishi’s as Indra, Varuna, Surya and other Devas seek his guidance. He is the roaming Rishi He is regarded as the Triloka Sanchaari, the ultimate nomad who roams the three Worlds of Swargaloka (heaven), Mrityuloka (earth, literally: "place of death") and Patalloka (nether-world). The ability of Rishi Narada to move between these three worlds in itself indicates why Rishi Narada is associated with the dual signs of the Drekkana.
Rishi Narada is mentioned in all 18 Puranas. Rishi Narada was treated like a son by the Tridev and Tridevi (Brahma, Vishnu Shiva, Saraswati, Lakshmi, and Parvati). However it is Vishnu that Rishi Narada is a foremost devotee and disciple of.
He was the first to practice Natya Yoga, the path of spiritual dance. He is also known as Kalahapriya as his playful words can cause quarrels amongst Gods, Goddesses and humans. His character is often unfairly depicted as a troublemaker.
The Bhagavata Purana describes the story of Narada's spiritual enlightenment: In his previous birth Narada was a Gandharva (the celestial musicians) who had been cursed to be born on an earthly planet due to some offense. He was born as the son of a maid-servant who worked for a few saintly Brahmins. The priests, being pleased with both his and his mother's service blessed him by allowing him to eat some of the Prasad that was previously offered to their lord, Vishnu.
Gradually Narada received further blessings from these priest and listens to their discourses on many spiritual topics. When his mother died from a snake's bite, taking this as an act of God (Vishnu), he decided to roam the forest in search of enlightenment in understanding the Supreme Absolute Truth.
Reaching a tranquil forest location, he sat under a tree in meditation concentrating on the Paramatma form of Vishnu within his heart as he had been taught by the Brahmin. After some time Narada experienced a vision wherein Narayana (Vishnu) appeared before him, smiling, and spoke "that despite having the blessing of seeing him at that very moment, Narada would not be able to see his (Vishnu's) divine form again until he died". Narayana further explained that the reason he had been given a chance to see his form was because his (Vishnu’s) beauty and love would be a source of inspiration and would fuel his dormant desire to be with the Vishnu again. After instructing Narada in this manner, Vishnu then disappeared from his sight. When Narada awoke from his meditation, he was both thrilled and disappointed as he would not be able to see his beloved Vishnu till his death. Only then when he will come to give him his blessings. (It is a great honour if Gods, especially Vishnu, bless you at the time of death)
For the rest of his life Narada focused on his devotion, meditation upon and worship to Vishnu. After his death Vishnu then blessed him with the spiritual form of "Narada" as he eventually became known. Narada is considered a partial-manifestation (avatar) of God, empowered to perform miraculous tasks on Vishnu's behalf.
The story of Prahlada shows Rishi Narada in a completely different light. Prahlada is the son of the Asura King Hiranyakasipu, who was the son of Rishi Kashyapa, who was the son of the Sapta Rishi Marici the son of Brahma. Diti, the wife of Rishi Kashyapa gave birth to the Daityas also known as Asuras/ Demons residing in Patala/Netherworld. The nature of the Daityas was for power and control over all three worlds. The king of the Daityas was always expected to lead all the Daityas to ruling, not just of Patalloka but also of Mrityuloka and Swargaloka.
As Hiranyakasipu had gone to perform a penance for attaining siddhis (powers) from Brahma so that he could avenge the death of his brother through Vishnu’s Varaha Avatar/incarnation. After attaining the blessings from Brahma there was a great war between the Dev’s and Asura’s. During the war Hiranyakasipu’s wife Kayadhu became unwell during her pregnancy so the Guru of Asura’s, Shukra was called for advice. When Shukra the obtainer of Maha Mrityunjaya mantra and knowledge of bringing the dead back to life listened to the pulse of Kayadhu he was alarmed to hear Om Hari being chanted by unborn child with devotion to Vishnu the enemy of the Asura’s and the killer of his uncle Hirayaksha. The imminent birth of a Vishnu devotee to the King of the Demons was not only alarming but unheard of. Vishnu always thwarted the desire of the Asuras to rule the three worlds in order to protect the Devas.
A discussion between Shukra and Diti on the possibility of terminating the pregnancy was taking place when Kayadhu was distressed by such talk and went outside the palace where Dev Indra kidnapped her. Dev Rishi Narada was passing by in the sky when he heard Kayadhu’s screams. Knowing Kayadhu was pregnant Dev Rishi Narada berated Dev Indra for such an inappropriate act and took charge of Kayadhu and took her to his ashram as he knew with his Divya Drishti (divine sight) that the life of her unborn child would be in danger if she was returned to the palace. Dev Rishi’s Narada and his disciples personally took care of Kayadhu until Prahlada was born.
Kayadhu passed the time until the birth learning about the Vedas, about moral duties of every individual and methods of devotion leading to moksha from the cycle of birth and rebirth. Dev Rishi Narada knew that whilst the mother was learning from him it was the child in her womb that was really teaching. After the birth Kayadhu continued to fear for the life of her baby not just from Dev Indra but also from her husband’s family so remained at the ashram under the protection of Dev Rishi Narada.
When Prahlada was just a few years old he asked Dev Rishi Narada on the best way of worshipping Vishnu and attaining his blessing. Dev Rishi Narada said that the name of the Vishnu not only on your lips but also in your heart and mind was the best way of worshipping and attaining Vishnu. Surrender to Vishnu’s will even if it appears that he has forgotten - never to lose faith in Him. It was then that Prahlada reassured and convinced his mother that nothing would happen to him and that Vishnu would always protect him and that she should return with him to his father’s house and fulfills her duties as a wife and daughter-in-law as per parampara (tradition and culture). Prahlada’s words were proved true where despite many attempts to torture him and take his life by his own father Hiranyakasipu because he refused to stop worshiping Vishnu and saying Om Hari. In order to protect Prahlada, Vishnu incarnated as Narasimha and killed Hiranyakasipu when he attempted to murder Prahlada.

compiled by Komilla Sutton and Nimisha Khatri