Vishnu - Nagesh D. Sonde

all gods represent, Vishnu alone, „since Hari, the pre-eminent amongst all, exists
as innermost in Nachiketaagni. He is referred as Agni‟. If Agni is Vishnu, the
bricks represent the divinities, 360 in number, laid according to the hierarchy in
which they stand one to the other. „Whosoever knows the primary divinity in the
bricks as Vishnu. Having 360 forms, such having known the divinities, becomes
liberated from the bondage of samsara‟. Yama finds Nachiketa most receptive
because he „duly repeated all that, in the manner it was told‟. Therefore, pleased
Yama declares that „By your name shall this Agni be hence-forth known‟.
Nachiketa was not satisfied with the first boon. His quest was for
something higher and spiritual than lower and temporal. Nurtured intellectually
about the fundamental principles, he now seeks to know what was till then
unknown to him. Nachiketa asks his third boon - Of the individual soul, this doubt
is raised. Some say that he exists (controlled by the Lord). Others say that it is not
so‟. Nachiketa‟s third boon was not about knowing the state of the individual soul
– Jiva after dying, but more daring a question no one had earlier asked and even
the gods had hesitated to ask, since it was not easy to understand. Then how can a
mere mortal be bold to inquire! Therefore, as abundant caution Death attempts to
dissuade Nachiketa from furthering the query, observing that there has not been
more persistent inquirer than this one. But Nachiketa is not one to be dissuaded.
Therefore, since there are no other Teacher him to be found, no other boon would
be comparable to this one, rejecting all inducements given, not impressed by
wealth, women, prolonged life, all being transient, „as long as you (Death) are in
power‟.
Yama hesitates seeing that it is not so much the life after death that
Nachiketa desires but the Wisdom of the source which energizes all that pervades
the world. But unless one has the sensitivity and receptivity to listen to the
resonance of the eternal Sound, imparting the Wisdom would not only be futile
but also fraught with danger. Words are potent with meaning and power.
Therefore, Yama lauded his determination, „strong is your resolve, inquirers like
you are not to be found”, and yet was not eager to reveal Wisdom about the
Supreme Being. Finally seeing Nachiketa‟s determined resolve, Yama
communicates, „What all the Vedas uniformly proclaim as His forms, what all the
austerities announce, living life of wisdom of Brahman, that form I shall speak to
you in brief ; That form is AUM‟.
Spiritual quest does not end with attaining Knowledge (&ana) about the
existence of individual identity after death but experiencing the Wisdom (iva&ana) of
the Supreme Lord. Therefore as he explains the meaning of the word „anilam‟ by
splitting the word in „a‟ symbolising the Aum, Axar, the primary immutable
syllable. Thus instructed by Death the Wisdom and acquiring all the knowledge of
yoga, Nachiketa became freed from passion and Death, even as others shall be,
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