The few elevated minds...who only disbelieve because they do not know, we would remind of that apothegm of Narada, the ancient Hindu philosopher:
"Never utter these words: 'I do not know this—therefore it is false.'"
"One must study to know, know to understand, understand to judge."
—Isis Unveiled, I, 628
In Puranic and Vedic literature Narada is shown to be one of the greatest Rishis and Yogis and is described as "Strife-maker" (S.D., I, 413). In the exoteric works, he is also referred to as "Kapi-vaktra," monkey-faced, and even "Pisuna," the spy (S.D., II, 48). In the Vishnu Purana, Narada is shown to be the progeny of Kasyapa and the daughter of Daksha. In the Matsya Purana, he is the son of Brahma. He is referred to as Deva-Rishi (divine Rishi, more than a demi-god) by Parasara. (S.D., II, 47-48)
W. J. Wilkins writes that Narada is the messenger of the gods, and is often described as the one who imparts information that was known only to the gods. He informs Kansa and Vishnu will incarnate in the eighth child of Devaki and this leads Kansa to slaughter the earlier seven children of Devaki. He remains invisible—as true Manasaputra—on the cloud, and lauds Krishna, as he slays the monster Keshin, says H.P.B. Further:
Narada is here, there, and everywhere; and yet, none of the Puranas gives the true characteristics of this great enemy of physical procreation. Whatever those characteristics may be in Hindu Esotericism, Narada—who is called in Cis-Himalayan Occultism Pesh-Hun, the "Messenger," or the Greek Angelos—is the sole confidant and the executor of the universal decrees of Karma and Adi-Budh: a kind of active and ever incarnating logos, who leads and guides human affairs from the beginning to the end of the Kalpa. "Pesh-Hun"...is the mysterious guiding intelligent power, which gives the impulse to, and regulates the impetus of cycles, Kalpas and universal events. He is Karma's visible adjuster on a general scale; the inspirer and the leader of the greatest heroes of this Manvantara. (S.D., II, 48)
And yet, it is difficult to explain what Narada really is, observes H.P.B. In one sense, he is comparable to Jehovah, who tempts people by "suggestion" of thoughts and leads to "hardening" of the hearts. But this is not done through any ambition or selfish motive, but to serve and guide universal progress and evolution. (S.D., II, 48-49)
Garga, the oldest astronomer in India, is supposed to have obtained astronomical knowledge from Sesha—the thousand-headed serpent, who bears seven Patalas and the entire world upon his head—who is also Ananta, the infinite, and also "Cycle of Eternity," in esotericism. Narada is one of the few to have visited the nether or infernal regions—Patala. It is not sure if he got his knowledge of astronomy from Sesha, but he is supposed to surpass Sesha in the knowledge of cyclic intricacies. "It is he who has charge of our progress and national weal or woe. It is he who brings on wars and puts an end to them."
Pesh-Hun (Narada) is credited in the old Stanzas with having calculated and recorded all the astronomical and Cosmic cycles to come, imparting science and astronomy to early humanity. The Atlantean Asuramaya used these records by Narada to determine the duration of all the past geological and cosmical periods as also the length of all the cycles to come, till the end of the Seventh Race. Asuramaya is considered the earliest astronomer in Aryavarta. "Mirror of Futurity," is a work among the Secret Books that contains the record of Kalpas within Kalpas and is attributed to Narada. (S.D., II, 49)
Narada—a great Rishi and virtually a Kumara—is one of the 10,000 sons of Brahma, brought forth for the purpose of peopling the world. Narada persuaded these sons to remain celibate and holy ascetics and twice frustrated Daksha's aim. For this, Daksha curses Narada to be reborn as a man. On an earlier occasion, when Narada had refused to marry, Daksha had cursed him, saying: "Perish in thy present (Deva or angelic) form and take up thy abode in the womb," i.e., become a man (Vayu Purana, Harivamsa, 170). H.P.B. observes:
Notwithstanding several conflicting versions of the same story, it is easy to see that Narada belongs to that class of Brahma's "first-born," who have all proven rebellious to the law of animal procreation, for which they had to incarnate as men. Of all the Vedic Rishis, Narada...is the most incomprehensible, because the most closely connected with the occult doctrines—especially with the secret cycles and Kalpas. (S.D., II, 82)
"Narada is the Deva-Rishi of Occultism par excellence." To fathom certain anthropological, chronological and Cosmic Mysteries, an occultist must ponder, analyze and study Narada from seven esoteric facets. Narada plays a vital role in the drama of evolution of this Kalpa from the beginning to the end, and is said to appear in every Root-Race of the present Manvantara. (S.D., II, 82-83)
It is said that when Brahma cursed Narada for not bringing forth progeny, Brahma declared that Narada would not have a resting-place; hence his wandering nature. Narada curses back and leaving his Brahmanical body, becomes a Gandharva, a Chorister of Indra's heaven. He is said to have invented the Vina, the Indian lute. "Narada sat watching, from time to time, his large Vina, which, by the impulse of the breeze, yielded notes that pierced successively the regions of his ear, and proceeded by musical intervals," writes Sir W. Jones. H.P.B. explains:
There is not an Archangel that could not be traced back to its prototype in the sacred land of Aryavarta. These "prototypes" are all connected with the Kumaras who appear on the scene of action by refusing—as Sanatkumâra and Sananda—to "create progeny." Yet they are called "creators" of (thinking) man. More than once they are brought into connection with Narada—another bundle of apparent incongruities, yet a wealth of philosophical tenets. Narada, is the leader of the Gandharvas, the celestial singers and musicians; esoterically, the reason for it is explained by the fact that the latter (the Gandharvas) are "the instructors of men in the secret sciences." It is they, who "loving the women of the Earth," disclosed to them the mysteries of creation; or, as in the Veda—the "heavenly Gandharva" is a deity who knew and revealed the secrets of heaven and divine truths, in general. If we remember what is said of this class of Angels in Enoch and in the Bible, then the allegory is plain: their leader, Narada, while refusing to procreate, leads men to become gods. Moreover, all of these, as stated in the Vedas, are Chhandaja (will-born) or incarnated (in different Manvantaras) of their own will—and they are shown in exoteric literature as existing age after age; some being "cursed to be re-born," others, incarnating as a duty. (S.D., II, 584)
Brahma's cursing Narada to incessantly wander the Earth is to be interpreted as the curse to be constantly reborn. He shares the same fate with the Jayas—the twelve great creative gods produced by Brahma, to assist him in the function of creation—who, lost in meditation, forgot to create and for which they were cursed to be born in every manvantara. (S.D., II, 585)
Manu, after writing the laws of Brahma in 1,00,000 slokas or distichs, which formed 24 books and 1000 chapters, gave the work to Narada, the sage of sages, who abridged it to 12,000 verses for the use of mankind. (Isis, I, 585-86)
Continuing to fill a pail after it is full, the water will be wasted. Continuing to grind an axe after it is sharp, will wear it away. Excess of light blinds the eye. Excess of sound deafens the ear. Excess of condiments deadens the taste. He who possesses moderation is lasting and enduring. Too much is always a curse, most of all in wealth.
—Lao-Tse