Narrated by Madhushri Mukerjee
Sage Narad thought himself to be a great musician.
He practiced the ragas (6 ragas and 36 Raginis.
Ragas are male musical schemes and Raginis are female
musical schemes.
He had such a voice that that the ragas and raginis
became very stressed and lost their potential.
One day Naraad while taking a stroll found 6 males
and 36 females groaning in pain by the wayside.
He wanted to know why they were in such a state.
They told him that one novice had unmusically invoked
them creating this disaster. His singing had permanently
maimed them.
Narad inquired about the novice’s name and to his
utter embarrassment discovered that it was he himself.
He wanted to reduce the havoc done but when they
learnt that it was Narad himself they fled in fright.
However Narad soon caught up with them and implored
them to tell him what could be done to restore them
to health.
They said that was impossible because only if the
best singer Mahadev(Shiva) sang the 6 ragas and
36 raginis their health would be restored.
Navad went to Mahadev. Mahadev agreed to sing but
on one condition – he must have the perfect audience
who would appreciate his music.
Narad wanted to know who was such a listener and
Mahadev said there was only one – Vishnu. Navad
raced to Vishnu who was happy to comply.
So on an appointed day Mahadev started singing.
Artistic, Narad and the others were present but
the main audience comprised of Vishnu.
Mahadev sang on. As he was singing Vishnu’s body
started melting. Narad was quick to note this and
he collected it in his Kamandalu (ascetic’s pot).
At the end of the session the ragas and raginis
walked in and lay prostrate at the feet of Mahadeva
and Vishnu. Narada sprinkled the liquefied form
Vishnu which was the water in the Kamandalu.
This water was called Ganga. It is the watery body
of Vishnu, which makes it so holy. The state of
Vishnu’s liquification once started had/has no end.
This was a great power which needed to be brought
to the world.
That was a great order and left unabated could
destroy the world….so Mahadeva agreed to let this
water first come down upon His head and then precede
to wards the earth.
This is the reason why we sprinkle Ganga Water
to sanctify and this is why compassion is holy and
sympathy is not.
