Maharaj Narsih Mehta!
Pranams at the lotus feet
of Maharaj Narsih Mehta!
Chapter – 1
Narsih Mehta / Narsi Bhagat was
born in a poor Vadanagar Bhramin family in Junagarh in Kathiawar, Gujarat. He was a 15th-century religious
poet, an ardent devotee of Lord Krishna.
His father was holding a responsible post in the royal court, he was brought up by his grandmother Jaygauri. He was lacking speaking ability by birth, and he
did not utter a word until eight years.
Once his grandmother took him to Hatkeshwar Mahadeva shrine while
returning from the temple she found a Yogi who was chanting the sacred names of
Lord Narayana. His grandmother
approached the Yogi, reverentially prostrated before him and described the
pathetic condition of Narsih Mehta. The
Yogi made the boy seated near him and whispered a few sacred chants on his ears
and advised him to recite ‘Radhe Krishna’, to sheer dismay Narsih Mehta uttered
the name of Lord Radha Krishna. Thus
Narsih Mehta began to speak in the name of Lord, he sang in praise of Lord
Krishna, verse flew out of his mouth nectar-like streams; his devotion to Lord
Krishna was Sakhyabhava/dearest companion.
He found the presence of the supreme Lord in everything and everywhere, he
composed illustrious ‘Harimala’.
He was taken care of by his
elder brother Bansidhar. He was introduced
Narsih to Sanskrit education, but he was not interested in studies, he immersed
in the devotion to Lord Krishna, worship of Lord Krishna, recitation of his
sacred names and listening to the glorious myths of Lord Krishna and in the
service of saints and holy men. In this
way, he has fully devoted his life in the service of Lord Krishna and his
devotees, therefore he rarely returns to home.
He was married to Manekbai at a young age and lived with the family of his elder brother. As a family man, he did not
show much interest in worldly matters, his interest was mainly in the
spiritual life. Therefore he had to face
the aggression of the wife of his elder brother.
His elder brother sincerely wanted Narasih to become a responsible family man
and tried all his efforts to bring back
Narasih to the household chores. His elder brother’s wife found the trouble in the loving relationship of these
two brothers, she constantly found fault in Narasih and spoiled the peace in
the family.
