Narada Muni and Hanuman: The Blessing of Music
Once Narada Muni, while traveling on planet earth, came across an old hunchback woman.
He felt very kind towards this woman and wanted to fix her back as a boon to her.
So he said to the lady, “O Mother, I am very much pleased with you, come here and I will fix your back.”
The old lady replied, “O Great Sage, if you are really pleased with me and want to give me some boon, please give me a different boon.”
Surprised, Narada Muni asked, “What boon would you like to have?”
The old lady replied, “The lady who lives next door to me, please make her also a hunchback.”
The Encounter with Narada Muni
Once Hanuman and his mother Ketari heard the sound of a musical instrument, the Vina, and beautiful singing of Krishna’s holy name.
Ketari said, “Who is this singing? It must be Narada Muni coming!”
Hanuman asked, “Who is this person?”
Ketari replied, “He is a very great soul. He doesn’t need any introduction. You just go to him and you will find out the greatness of this man.”
Immediately Hanuman jumped up and found Narada Muni on his way past their place, going to see some rishi. Hanuman jumped in his way and paid pranams. “Narada Muni, I heard that you are a very great person, so you must bless me. Without blessing me, you are not allowed to go!”
Narada said, “What blessing do you want?”
Hanuman said, “Already the demigods have given me so many blessings. I cannot think of anything else, so you think of a blessing, and you give it to me.”
Narada thought, “What blessing does Hanuman not have?” and then he said, “You will become expert in music.” That was the only benediction left to give.
So Hanuman got that benediction, and Narada Muni said, “So I have given you the benediction, and now I am going.”
Hanuman said, “One minute, one minute.”
Narada asked, “What do you want?”
Hanuman inquired, “How will I know that I am the most expert in music? My father told me that you are the most expert in music, so you must do me a favor today. Give me the benediction that I will be more expert than you!”
So Narada said, “All right, I will sit somewhere and listen to you.”
“Shall I start singing?” Hanuman asked.
“Yes.” Narada Muni put his Vina on a rock, and he sat down on the ground.
So Hanuman selected a tune that would melt the rock and began to sing it. The rock melted, and the Vina was in the liquid. He was singing and singing, and the Vina was floating in the liquid rock.
Narada was closing his eyes and enjoying in ecstasy, and he said, “All right Hanuman, you are the best musician. You can stop singing now.”
Hanuman said, “You open your eyes and tell me if I should stop singing.”
Narada said, “How do you mean?”
Hanuman replied, “You open your eyes.”
So Narada opened his eyes and looked around. He didn’t notice the Vina floating in the stone water. “Yes, you can stop singing.”
So then Hanuman stopped singing, and the liquid stone became rock, and the Vina got stuck.
Narada said, “I am going,” and he took his Vina, but it wouldn’t move. “What did you do, Hanuman?”
Hanuman said, “I only sung a song. You told me to sing a song, and you also gave me the ability. Now you are complaining. I have been a good boy for a whole week.”
Narada said, “One week of doing nothing means that before that week you did too much.” And then Hanuman told him all about what he had done, swallowing the sun etc, and Narada became very pleased.
Then he said, “Now whatever it was, you please sing the tune again, so I can get my Vina.”
Hanuman said, “Well, I don’t know….”
Narada Muni said, “Please do it!”
“No I won’t,” Hanuman said, and he jumped up and ran inside the palace. So Narada Muni was running after Hanuman who was just running from one room to another. And you know monkeys are fast it is very difficult to catch them.
Finally, Narada Muni became very tired so he called out, “Hey Hanuman, please come and give me my Vina back! I have to go! I have service to do!”
Just then Ketari came out, and when she saw Narada Muni she touched his feet and spoke – “What is my son doing, he is giving you some trouble?”
Narada said, “Oh no, no trouble, just that he got my Vina stuck in the rock.”
Ketari said, “Oh no, he has started his mischief again! Hanuman, get Narada’s Vina out of the rock!”
And then Hanuman said, “I wanted Narada Muni’s feet to touch every room in this palace, that is why I was doing this. Now he has touched all the rooms and he has made our home a holy place of pilgrimage. The dust from his lotus feet is so rare that what is the use of just having it in one part of our kingdom? We should have it all over. Now I can give him back his Vina.”
Narada said, “You are already blessed because you are Lord Rama’s eternal servant.” So Hanuman went and sang for Narada, who quickly took his Vina and left.
Lessons to Be Learned:
- Generosity of the Holy: Holy persons are not envious and are happy when others are happy and successful. They readily give blessings to help others achieve greatness, even surpassing their own abilities.
- Value of Holy Presence: The presence of a holy person in one’s home can transform it into a holy place of pilgrimage. Inviting and serving holy people can sanctify one’s living space.
- Devotion Through Music: Singing and music dedicated to God are powerful forms of devotion. They can bring people closer to the divine and each other.
- Appreciation of Blessings: Recognizing and appreciating the blessings we receive from the holy and the divine can bring great joy and fulfillment.
Prayer:
Dear Lord, grant us the wisdom to invite and honor the presence of holy people in our lives. Help us to recognize and appreciate the blessings we receive and to always seek to sanctify our homes and hearts with your divine presence. May our devotion and service be filled with joy and humility, bringing us closer to You.
