Bhrigu and Varuna - Five Sheaths

Dadi: "Beta, if I asked you "What are you made of?" - what would you say?"

Guddu: "Umm... bones and skin and blood?"

Dadi: "Good answer! But what if I told you that our ancient sages discovered we're made of five different layers - like an onion - and the deepest layer is pure joy?"

Guddu: "Five layers? And joy is inside me? Tell me more, Dadi!"

Dadi: "This wisdom comes from a young seeker named Bhrigu, who asked his father Varuna the biggest question of all."

Guddu: "Who was Varuna?"

Dadi: "Varuna was the god of the waters and oceans, and also a great sage. One day, his son Bhrigu came to him and asked: "Father, what is Brahman? What is the ultimate truth of existence?""

Guddu: "That's a big question!"

Dadi: "The biggest, beta! Now, most fathers would just give the answer. But Varuna was wise. He said: "First learn about food, breath, eyes, ears, speech, and mind. Then seek to know that from which all these are born, by which they live, and to which they return. That is Brahman.""

Guddu: "But that's not really an answer!"

Dadi: "Exactly what Bhrigu thought! So his father gave him one instruction: "Tapasa Brahma Vijijnasasva" - meaning "Know Brahman yourself through meditation.""

Guddu: "He had to figure it out himself?"

Dadi: "Yes! Varuna didn't want to just hand over the answer. He wanted Bhrigu to discover truth through his own experience. So Bhrigu went and meditated deeply."

Guddu: "What did he discover?"

Dadi: "After much meditation, Bhrigu came back excited. "Father! I found it! Food is Brahman! From food all creatures are born, by food they grow, and to food they return when they die!""

Guddu: "That makes sense - we all need food to live!"

Dadi: "It does! This is the first layer - the Annamaya Kosha, the sheath of the physical body made of food. But Bhrigu felt something was incomplete. He went back to his father."

Guddu: "What did Varuna say?"

Dadi: "The same thing - "Seek through meditation." So Bhrigu meditated again, going deeper this time."

Guddu: "What did he find?"

Dadi: "He came back and said: "Life force is Brahman! The breath, the prana - from this energy all creatures are born, by this they live, to this they return!""

Guddu: "The breath that keeps us alive!"

Dadi: "Yes! This is the Pranamaya Kosha, the sheath of vital energy. But still, Bhrigu felt there was more. Back to father, back to meditation."

Guddu: "Did he find something deeper?"

Dadi: "He discovered: "Mind is Brahman! From mind all creatures are born, by mind they experience life, to mind they return!""

Guddu: "So our thoughts create our reality?"

Dadi: "In a way, yes! This is the Manomaya Kosha, the sheath of mind. But Bhrigu still wasn't satisfied. He meditated even deeper."

Guddu: "What came next?"

Dadi: ""Intellect is Brahman!" he declared. "The wisdom that discerns, that understands right from wrong - from this are all creatures born, by this they navigate life!""

Guddu: "Like being wise and making good decisions?"

Dadi: "Exactly! This is the Vijnanamaya Kosha, the sheath of wisdom. But Bhrigu felt even this wasn't the final answer. One more time, he returned to his father."

Guddu: ""Seek through meditation," right?"

Dadi: "You're learning, beta! This time, Bhrigu went into the deepest meditation of all. And finally, he discovered the ultimate truth."

Guddu: "What was it?"

Dadi: "He came back glowing with realization: "Joy is Brahman! Bliss is the ultimate reality! From joy all creatures are born, for joy they live, seeking happiness in everything they do, and to joy they return!""

Guddu: "So happiness is at the center of everything?"

Dadi: "The deepest happiness, beta - not just fun or pleasure, but pure, complete bliss. This is the Anandamaya Kosha, the sheath of bliss. It's our truest nature!"

Guddu: "So we have all five layers inside us?"

Dadi: "Yes! Like layers of an onion. On the outside is our physical body made of food. Then our life energy. Then our thoughts and mind. Then our wisdom and understanding. And at the very center - pure joy!"

Guddu: "But Dadi, if joy is at our center, why do we feel sad sometimes?"

Dadi: "Ah, wonderful question! Because we forget to look inside. We search for happiness in toys, in food, in praise from others. But the Upanishads teach that true bliss is already within us. We just need to peel back the layers through meditation and self-discovery."

Guddu: "Like Bhrigu did!"

Dadi: "Exactly! And notice how Varuna taught - he never just gave answers. He made Bhrigu discover truth himself. That's because real wisdom can't be handed over like a gift. It must be experienced."

Guddu: "What does this teach us, Dadi?"

Dadi: "Beta, this story teaches that we are so much more than our physical bodies. We have energy, mind, wisdom, and at our core - pure bliss. When you feel sad or confused, remember: deep inside you is an ocean of joy. And the way to find it? Not by looking outside, but by looking within, just as Bhrigu did."

Guddu: "I want to try meditating and finding that joy, Dadi!"

Dadi: "Then let's sit quietly together for a moment, close our eyes, and begin the journey inward. Just like Bhrigu did thousands of years ago."