In Hindu mythology, there was once a sage named Vajashravas, and he had a son named Nachiketas.
It happened that Vajashravas wished to ask a gift of the gods, and so he began to prepare a sacrifice, gathering cattle to offer. However, Nachiketas saw that his father was selecting cows that were old, barren, lame or blind – offerings that would bring no merit and no joy to the one who gave them. Wishing to help his father attain whatever he sought, Nachiketas said to him, “Father, I also belong to you. To what god will you sacrifice me?”
Vajashravas became furious at his son’s question, for he was secretly ashamed that his miserly behaviour had been seen. Angrily, he said, “I give you to Yamaraja!”
Yamaraja was the first man ever to have died, and he had been made the god of death, whose duty it was to lead all men out of this world. Obedient to his father’s declaration, Nachiketas began his journey to the home of Yama. As he went, he pondered over what would happen to him after his meeting with Death. “Do we exist after the body dies? Or do we not?” he asked himself.
When Nachiketas arrived at the home of Yama, it happened that the god was absent. Therefore there was no one to offer the visitor food or water, so Nachiketas simply waited. For three days he waited without food or water, and then Yama returned. As it was a grave violation of the divine law of hospitality to have left a guest unattended in this way, Yama said, “To expiate these three days of neglect, O Nachiketas, I grant you three boons. What will you ask?”
Nachiketas first asked that he should be allowed to return to his father, and that there should be peace between them; this Yama granted. Then Nachiketas asked to be taught the performance of the sacred fire sacrifice, and this also Yama agreed to. “For your devotion,” Yama said, “this sacrifice will be known by your name. It shall be called the Nachiketas fire.” And Yama instructed him in all the details of its execution.
For his third wish, Nachiketas said, “I wish to know what happens after the body dies.” When Yama heard this, he hesitated. “This is a subtle matter. It is difficult even for the gods to know this. O Nachiketas, do this for me: ask for something else.”
To be continued…