In ancient times there was a boy named Narayana in a village on the banks of the Pinakini in Andhra.  He used to receive education from a teacher in that village. Narayana was intelligent, diligent and curious. For that reason the teacher had immense love for that boy.

One day after class, Narayana was serving the teacher. The teacher looked at Narayana with love and affection and said, “My child, I have taught you everything I know. But do not stop your education here. You should study mathematics, sciences and various philosophies, and become a scholar.”.

Hearing the teacher’s words, Narayana wa dismayed for a moment, yet understanding the teacher’s intention, he bowed to him and said, “Sir, with your blessings I will continue my studies. Please show me the way”. The teacher thought for a minute and said, “Child, I have been in this village most of my life. So I cannot say for sure where you will find a suitable teacher. But I have heard that good teachers are found in cities like Gartapuri. Gartapuri is far from here, so travel carefully. I wish you best.” Narayana bowed to the teacher, accepted his blessings, and soon reached Gartapuri.

Until then Narayana had never seen a city like Gartapuri. Gartapuri was many times larger than his own village. Narayana visits some teachers in Gartapuri. They suggested Narayana to go to the city of Dhanyakataka on the banks of the river Krishna near Gartapuri, as there are many teachers in the Mahavihara there. Narayana bowed to them, and reaches the Mahavihara in Dhanyakataka. There, serving the teachers, he studied logic, debate and Buddhist philosophy with them. Within a year he became proficient in those subjects. But his curiosity only grew more.

Then, at the suggestion of the teachers, he went to Ujjayini to study further. There, after taking a bath in the holy river Kshipra, he went to the ancient temple for a glimpse of Mahakaleshwara. He had heard that Ujjayini is famous for Sanskrit poetry, literature, mathematics and astronomy. He studied these subjects in depth from the teachers of Ujjayini. The teachers were delighted with Narayana’s talent and dedication. Very soon Narayana completed his studies with his hard work and the blessings of the teachers. The teachers then encouraged Narayana to stay and teach in Ujjayini.

However, Narayana’s curiosity is still not sated. He thought, “Although I have studied philosophy, Sanskrit language and scriptures, I do not know what the truth of this universe is. I must know that truth.” Knowing his wish, his teachers appreciated Narayana’s curiosity and dedication. They said, “Son, your questions are so advanced and deep that scholarship alone is not enough to address them. For that you need a guru (master) whose knowledge is beyond our scholarship. Finding such a guru is not possible in Ujjayini. However, we hear that such erudite gurus are found in Kashi. Therefore, go to Kashi and try there.” Narayana bowed to the teachers with devotion and gratitude, and left for Kashi.

Narayana had heard that Kashi was the very form of Shiva. When he reached Kashi, he felt immense joy. First, after taking a bath in the holy river Ganga, and he sought the grace of Kalabhairava, the Guardian of the Sacred Domain, and Annapurneshwari, the Divine Empress of Kashi. Filled with immense bliss, he was is thrilled to behold Vishwanatha, the Lord of not just Kashi, but of all the worlds.

Even amidst all this, Narayana remained focused on his goal. He roamed in Kashi in search of a guru. He observed that there are as many places of learning in Kashi as there are temples. He saw many schools in Kashi where teachers taught various subjects. For the next three years, Narayana studied Transcendental Metaphysics (Vedānta), Philosophical Materialism (Lōkāyata), Rationalism, Mathematics, Chemistry and Logic deeply. He acquires proficiency not only in Indian studies, but also in the studies of other countries. In time, Narayana came to be considered a scholar in all these subjects not just by students, but also the teachers.

Yet, deep within his heart, Narayana felt the void of an incomplete education. He wondered: what is the thread that binds these various shastras together? While each science claimed to be true, they often seemed to speak in contradictions. Where was the ultimate truth? Who are we, and for what purpose were we cast into this world? It was clear to him that the body was composed of material elements—but did an existence remain once those elements dissolved? If the soul truly existed, where did it reside? Could it be witnessed or experienced? The Vedas proclaimed the reality of Gods, yet the Buddhists, Jains, and Lokayatas remained silent or denied them. Even the sciences demanded evidence for every truth. Is it possible to reconcile these warring thoughts? Such questions haunted Narayana, leaving his spirit restless.

Narayana respectfully inquired of his teachers regarding these matters, but he was not satisfied with their answers. Each teacher analyzed and answered based on his area of expertise. But Narayana could not establish the interrelationships of all these things. Thus, his thirst for knowledge kept growing even more.

On a cold evening, Narayana wandered through Varanasi, contemplating these matters. He felt a sudden urge to write down his reflections before they faded from memory. Nearby, a house appeared, with lamps illuminating the verandah. He sat there thinking and writing. Then he heard a voice behind him: “All good questions, child!”.

Narayana looked over his shoulder, and saw an elderly scholar with a bright, kind face. Narayana bowed to him almost unconsciously. Narayana was captivated by the brilliant face of the scholar. Sensing that this scholar was no ordinary man, Narayana narrated his life and learning to him, and prayed to him with palms joined in reverence, “Sir, I feel that I shall attain great wisdom through your discourse. I beg of you, bless me with the grace of becoming your disciple.” ​​The scholar gave a soft, knowing laugh and replied, “I have resided in Kashi for many years, dedicating my days to quiet study and meditation. It is always a delight to engage in discourse with a soul as inquisitive as yours. Let us study together; let us unravel the mysteries of this world. However, I have one condition: I can only teach at night. If you accept this, our studies may begin this very evening. Bowing in deep gratitude, Narayana accepted the condition. As the night deepened, he began to pour out the thoughts and questions that had long occupied his mind.

From then on, every night the teacher and the disciple met in that house, and studied for many hours. Narayana was always eager to discuss all kinds of topics, and the teacher would patiently converse with him. Narayana never gets tired, nor does the teacher. The teacher not only teaches Narayana new subjects, but also encourages him to ask new questions. That teacher was not only a scholar in Indian scriptures, sciences and languages, but also in Persian, Greek and Chinese languages ​​and scriptures. Many times Narayana was amazed at the depth of the teacher’s intelligence and brilliance. Sometimes their discussions would go on all night. Then the teacher would gently remind the disciple that he could teach only at night, and departs. The next night they would pick it back up where they had left last night.  Thus, Narayana was delighted to study with the knowledge, affection and inspiration of the teacher.

Thus, Narayana studied under the instruction of the teacher for three years. During this time, with the encouragement of the teacher, Narayana wrote commentaries and essays on the subjects he has newly learned or discovered. Moreover, he taught these new subjects in schools in Kashi. By these actions Narayana is pleased in his heart.

One evening Narayana reached the Guru’s house as usual. They studied and discussed for a while. Then the teacher lovingly placed his hand on Narayana’s head. When Narayana looks at the teacher with folded hands, he found immense love, mixed with a bit of pride in the teacher’s eyes. The teacher said, “Son, Narayana, our formal path together concludes today. From tomorrow, you shall walk alone. Do not let your fire for knowledge dim; continue your studies with the same devotion you showed here. In this world, there are no limits to knowledge. Always be curious. Do not accept anything without studying and thinking. What you understand or experience, only that is your knowledge. Lastly, my son, heed this final truth: in all this world, there is but one treasure that multiplies even as it is shared. That treasure is knowledge. Therefore, never withhold it from an earnest seeker.”.

Hearing this, Narayana was struck with a profound sorrow. Words failed him. After a long moment, his voice faltering and thick with emotion, he managed to speak: “Revered Teacher, what has transpired? Why must we part after tonight? I implore you, do not say such things. The wisdom I have gained through your grace is beyond measure. I beg you, show me your compassion and remain my teacher forever.”

The teacher gazed at Narayana, his eyes brimming with tears of joy. “My child, though I may depart from your physical sight, my love and blessings shall remain ever with you. Do not grieve, son; in this world, no one is meant to stay forever, nor should they.” As he spoke, his form began to dissolve, transforming into a magnificent pillar of radiance. Narayana stood rooted to the spot, lost in awe and bewilderment. From within the light, the teacher’s voice resonated: “Narayana, my son, heed my words. Two centuries ago, I was a renowned scholar in Kashi named Saraswati Bhatta. Through the grace of my gurus and my own tireless efforts, I mastered many subjects. In time, my knowledge surpassed even that of my teachers. It was said then that no scholar could equal me, not just in Kashi, but across the entire subcontinent.

But with great learning came a great and terrible arrogance. My ego grew alongside my scholarship. Whenever I encountered a student or peer who I feared might become my equal, I was consumed by envy. Oh, the follies a prideful heart can commit! Though many schools sought my guidance, I withheld the full depth of my knowledge, driven by the selfish thought that no one should ever stand as my peer. I failed to see how immoral and inhuman such a path was.

In my final days, the vanity of my actions became clear to me, but it was too late. Because I had refused to pass on my knowledge completely, I was reborn as a Brahmarakshasa, a wandering spirit. For years, I roamed in search of liberation. Those days, my son, were truly unbearable. Twenty years later, in the kingdom of Videha, I had the fortune of meeting a great sage named Vardhamana. That enlightened soul took pity on me, bestowing his mercy and compassion. I shall never forget the wisdom he imparted to me, child!”

Yathā dhenu sahasreṣu vatsō vindati mātaram | 

Tathā purākṛtaṃ karma kartāramanugacchati ||

(Just as a calf finds its mother even among a thousand cows, so do one’s past deeds follow the doer.)

I realized then that I must rectify the grave error of my past. Since that moment, I have sought a student worthy of my knowledge — one whose curiosity burns with the intensity of a sacred fire. When I first encountered you years ago, I knew you were deserving of the knowledge. I am profoundly gladdened to see that my intuition was correct.”

Narayana was overcome with awe by the Guru’s revelation. After a long, silent moment, he bowed in profound reverence and spoke: “Acharya (Teacher), it must be the accumulated merit of my past lives that led me to your feet. I know that the debt to one’s Guru can never truly be repaid; yet, for the peace of my own soul, I yearn to make an offering. I beseech you, instruct me: what may I do for you?”

Smiling softly, the teacher spoke in a voice resonant with compassion: “What need has one who no longer belongs to this world? Yet, I leave you with this, my child: Knowledge knows no boundaries of caste, creed, age or land. It is never static. That which you hold to be an absolute truth today, you may find tomorrow to be but a fragment of a greater mystery. (Chuckling gently) Even as I studied alongside you, I realized that the very subjects I once claimed to master were areas where my understanding was incomplete, or even misguided. Never cease your search; that is the true secret of wisdom. A scholar is not one who ‘knows’ a thing at a single point in time, but one who studies constantly and untiringly. Therefore do not treat knowledge as a stagnant reservoir. Let it flow and swell like the sacred Ganga. In that great river of wisdom, Narayana, you must be a surging wave. Share your learning with every worthy soul. May the worlds proclaim Narayana as the Great Teacher of Kashi! May all be auspicious.”

Thus liberated, the teacher – now a brilliant beam of light  – drifted toward the spires of the Sri Vishwanatha temple. For a fleeting moment, he shone with the silver luminosity of the full moon, before merging eternally with Chandrashekhara, the Lord adorned with the crescent moon. Watching this divine union, Narayana wiped away his tears of joy, his heart filled with a profound sense of peace. He rose, turning his gaze toward the sanctum to pay his deepest homage to Vishwanatha and Annapurna, the eternal parents of the world.

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Oṃ sarveṣāṃ svastirbhavatu| 

sarveṣāṃ śāntirbhavatu | 

sarveṣāṃ pūrṇambhavatu | 

sarveṣāṃ maṅgalambhavatu | 

Oṃ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ ||

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(Oṃ May well-being be unto all.

May peace be unto all.

May wholeness/perfection be unto all.

May auspiciousness be unto all.

Om Peace Peace Peace!)