| Nachiketa (Sanskrit: नाचिकेत, romanized: Nāciketa), also rendered Nachiketas and Nachiketan, is a character in Hindu literature. He is the son of the sage Vājashravas, or Uddalaki, in some traditions. He is the child protagonist of an ancient Indian, dialogical narrative, about the nature of the atman (soul).His allegorical story is told in the Katha Upanishad (c. 9th century BCE), though the name has several earlier references. He was taught self-knowledge, knowledge about the atman (soul), and the Brahman (Ultimate Reality), by Yama, the god of righteousness. Nachiketa is noted for his rejection of material desires, which are ephemeral, and for his single-minded pursuit of the path of realising moksha. |
