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In a story of divine melodies and unexpected friendships, the mighty Lord Hanuman's encounter with the celestial musician Narada Muni weaves a symphony of enchantment, humility, and enduring bonds.
Characters in the story:
Lord Hanuman: Lord Hanuman is a revered deity in Hinduism, known for his unwavering devotion to Lord Rama and his incredible strength, symbolizing courage, loyalty, and selflessness.
Narada Muni: Narada Muni is a divine sage and a devotee of Lord Vishnu. He is known for his wisdom, musical talents, and his role as a messenger and mediator between the gods and humans.
Lord Vishnu: Lord Vishnu is one of the three major deities in Hinduism, known as the preserver of the universe and the protector of dharma (righteousness). He is often depicted with four arms holding a conch shell, a discus, a mace, and a lotus flower.
Once, Lord Hanuman was engaged in a conversation with his mother. The serene moment was disrupted by the entrancing notes of a veena – a melodious musical instrument. The harmonious sound captivated both Hanuman and his mother, piquing their curiosity about the skilled musician behind it. When the music eventually ceased, Hanuman was eager to find the source of such enchanting melodies.
Stepping outside, Hanuman discovered that the maestro behind the veena was none other than Narada Muni. Approaching Narada Muni with reverence, Hanuman offered his greetings and inquired about the reason for the music’s halt. In response, Narada Muni explained his hurry, prompting Hanuman to shower praise upon the musician’s artistry. With humility, Hanuman requested a blessing before Narada Muni continued on his journey.
Faced with the choice of blessings, Hanuman found himself in a dilemma. His life was already adorned with numerous blessings from various deities. To resolve his uncertainty, he entrusted Narada Muni with the decision of which blessing to bestow upon him. After thoughtful contemplation, Narada Muni settled on granting Hanuman the gift of an exquisite voice but added that he would always be considered inferior to Narada. Hanuman saw an opportunity to teach Narada a lesson.
To try out this newfound gift, Hanuman and Narada Muni went into a nearby forest. They found a comfortable spot under the shade of a tree. Narada Muni placed his veena on a large rock. When Hanuman started singing with his beautiful voice, the music created a magical and captivating sound. The melody was so mesmerizing that even Narada Muni couldn’t help but close his eyes and listen.
Hanuman sang a powerful musical composition called “Malkauns,” and its effects were extraordinary. It had the ability to turn even the strongest rocks into liquid. As the hauntingly beautiful melody played, the rock under the veena started to melt, and the instrument became covered by the flowing molten rock.
In a surprising turn of events, Narada Muni suddenly remembered his duties and felt the need to interrupt Hanuman’s singing. Following the sage’s wish, Hanuman stopped his beautiful song, causing the flowing lava to turn solid again and trap the veena. Seeing this, Narada Muni encouraged Hanuman to sing again. In a playful response, Hanuman declined and ran away, with Narada Muni chasing after him.
The chase led Hanuman back to his abode, where his mother, Mata Anjana, extended a warm welcome to Narada Muni. Amidst their gracious exchange, Narada Muni recounted Hanuman’s mischievous prank. Hanuman cleverly explained that he wanted the holy sage Narada to bless their home by exploring every part of it. Impressed by Hanuman’s cleverness, Narada Muni forgave the playful trick. He also realized that Hanuman was a better singer than him. Hanuman then used the special raga again to help Narada Muni release his musical instrument, the veena, from being stuck.
In a different version of the story, the scene changed to Vaikuntha, where Narada Muni sang a tribute to Lord Vishnu. Narada Muni expected to receive praise for his singing, but he was surprised when Lord Vishnu paid attention to Hanuman, who was sitting in the background.
Unexpectedly, Vishnu asked Hanuman to contribute his voice to the music. Even more surprisingly, Vishnu suggested that Narada Muni share his veena with Hanuman. This combination blended the divine with the unexpected.
Hanuman’s voice echoed with deep devotion to Lord Rama. Lost in his love for Rama, he sang a heartfelt and moving melody. After the song ended, an angry Narada Muni tried to pick up his veena, which had strangely stuck to the ground.
Vishnu’s smile concealed a meaningful lesson. He asked Hanuman to sing once again, allowing Narada Muni to retrieve his instrument. Hanuman’s devotion had softened the ground, causing the veena to get stuck, and his voice softened the ground again, freeing the instrument.
Feeling remorseful for his pride, Narada Muni asked Hanuman for forgiveness. Hanuman, known for his kindness, readily forgave him. This story teaches us about humility and friendship amidst life’s harmonies.
In the symphony of life, Hanuman’s humility and Narada Muni’s lessons remain harmonious notes, a testament to the enduring values of friendship and humility.
