Maharaj Narsih Mehta!

Pranams at the lotus feet of Maharaj Narsih Mehta!

Chapter – 7

In this poem, Sri Narsih Mehta describes the splendor of Lord Vishnu /Sri Hari who is the essence of the universe and its people, he has numerous glorious incarnations, he is supreme Lord embodied as human, he symbolizes fire, brilliance, greatest philosophies, sound, Veda, Vedanta and he remains as Nirguna Bhramam as well.  He symbolizes wind, Earth, and water,  he is the protector of Earth as well.  He represents the wish-fulfilling tree/Kalpavruksha in the abode of heaven, he represents soul and Lord Shiva, he has numerous incarnations as pastimes.  He is the essence of Veda, he has Shruthi and Smrithi as magnificent golden earrings,  the gold remains the same though it is made of various patterns of ornaments.  He is an absolute truth who is worshiped in various methods,  he represents mind, intellect, actions etc…devotees worship him with the recitation of sacred chants, Nama Sankeerthan, and self- less service to Lord and his devotees.  He is the cause and effect, like seeds of the tree, in actual he is the seed and tree as well.  Therefore Bhaktharaj Narsih Mehta says, worship the Supreme Lord with sincere love and devotion to envision him.

Akhila Bhramanda Ma Ek Tu Srihari  Jujhave Rupe Ananthabhase |Dheha Ma Deva  Tu Thej Ma Ththva Tu Shunya Ma Shabdha Tu Vedavase ||

Pavan Tu Pani Tu Bhumi Tu Bhudhara  Vriksha Thai Phuli Rahyo Akashe | Vividha  Rachana Kari Aneka Rasalevane  Shiva Thaki Jiva  Thayu Te Ja Ashe ||

Veda To Em Vade  Shruthi Smrithi Saj De  Kanaka Kundal Vishe Bhedanhoye |Ghat Ghadiya Pachhi Nam Rup Jujhava Ante To Hemanu Hema Hoye ||

Granth Gadbad Kari Vat  Nava Kari Kharl Jehane Je Game Tene Puje | Man Vachan Karmathiu Ap  Mani Lahe  Sathya Chhe Ej Man Em Sujhe ||

Vriksha Ma Bij Tu Bij Ma Vriksha Tu Jou Patantaro E Ja  Pase |Bhane  Narasaiyo E Man  Tani Shodhana Preeth Karu Premathi Pragatha Yashe ||

Maharaj Narsih Mehta!

Pranams at the lotus feet of Maharaj Narsih Mehta!

Chapter – 6

It was in the year  1488 Maharaj Narsi Mehta attained the lotus feet of Lord Krishna in Saurashtra.  During his lifetime,  Narsi Mehta wrote several verses praising the glories of Lord Krishna in Gujarati, ‘Vaishnava Jana To’ is one among the marvelous poem that holds the essence of righteousness.  His poems are very simple and seductively beautiful.  Bhaktharaj Narsi Mehta taught the highest of the moral values to the people.  Through the following verses, he instructed the devotee of Lord Vishnu to help people who are in real need, and alleviate their sorrows, shower abundance of kindness, but never perform any of the above with the ego or swollen pride.  He taught us to respect everyone, do not hurt or humiliate anyone, never commit sin by the mind, words or action, perform an abundance of charities and keep the mind serene and calm.  He emphasizes the concept ‘Oneness in All’, Paramathma resides as a soul in all living beings, follow strict moral values, always treats the woman with great respect and dignity, do not lie or be a false witness, never try to abduct the wealth of others.  He advises us to follow austerities and firm devotion to overcome Maya/illusion and excessive desire, always contemplate upon Lord Rama and recite his sacred chants which are capable to purify the soul, abandon the impurities like Kama, Krodha, Lobha, Madha, Ashcharya, etc.. and contemplate upon the supreme Lord Rama, that could liberate the soul from repeated births.

“Vaishnava Jana To  TeneKahiye Je Peed Parayi Jane Re| Para Dukhe Upakara Kare To Ye Mana Abhimana Na Ane  Re| Vaishnava Jana To TeneKahiye Je Peed Parayi Jane Re ||

Sakala Loka  Ma Sahune Vande Ninda Na  Kare Keni Re| Vacha Kacha Mana Nishchala Rakhe Dhana  Dhana Janani Teni Re| Vaishnava Jana To  TeneKahiye Je Peed Parayi Jane Re ||

Sama Dhrishti Ne  Trishna Tyagi Parasthri Jene Mata Re| Jihva Thaki Asathya Na Bole Paradhana Nava Jhale Hatha Re| Vaishnava Jana To  TeneKahiye Je Peed Parayi Jane Re||

Moha Maya Vyape Nahi  Jene Dridavairagya  Jena Manama Re | Ramanama Shu Tali Re Lagi Sakala Thiratha Tena Tanama Re | Vaishnava Jana To  TeneKahiye Je Peed Parayi Jane Re||

Vanalobi Ne  Kapata Rahitha Chhe Kama Krodha Nivarya Re | Bhane  Narasaiyo Tenu Darasana Karata  Kula Ekotera Tarya Re | Vaishnava Jana To  TeneKahiye Je Peed Parayi Jane Re||

Maharaj Narsih Mehta!

Pranams at the lotus feet of Maharaj Narsih Mehta!

Chapter – 5

There are several miraculous incidents happened in the life of Narsi Mehta.  It was the day of performance of ancestral rite,  Narsi Mehta found there was no Ghee in the house.  He went to the market to get Ghee, none was willing to give him ghee without money.  One merchant asked him to sing praising the glory of Lord Krishna, then he would consider giving Ghee.  Narsi Mehta beautifully sang praising his favorite Lord, did not notice the track of time.  It was in the afternoon he realized that it was already late to perform the homage to ancestors.  He returned home waveringly, his wife has received him with great respect.  It was Lord Krishna who performed the ancestral rite on behalf of Narsi Mehta and served thousands of Bhramins with a sumptuous meal.  Manekbai did not recognize Lord Krishna who was disguised in the form of Narsi Mehta and performed the rite, when they came to know that it was Lord Krishna who performed the rite, husband and wife shed tears of gratitude.

It is an undeniable fact that even the Saints and holy men have to bear their own Prabdhakarma, a grave incident happened in the life of Narsi Mehta.  It was his wife Manekbai and son Shyamal Das's death has transformed him completely.  Sarangdhar was not believed in the devotion of  Narsi Mehta, he felt that it was the luck that favors Narsih in all his life. Sarangdhar tried several times to disgrace Narsih was gone in vain and in return, he had to face humiliation.  Narsihji was kind and considerate, he saved the life of Sarangdhar several times, but nothing melted the wicked heart of him.  Sarangdhar filed a complaint against Narasih to the King, that Narsi is not a real Saint, he is pretending himself as the messenger of Lord, he has not learned scriptures, he is fooling the people of the village and he is morally wrong.   Sarangdhar also produced a few of the Brahmins as the witness against Narsihji.  Eventually, an order was released to produce Narsih before the King and questioned about his devotion and faith on Lord Krishna, listening to the speech of Narsi Mehta the King was awe-struck, he was highly impressed with the devotion and wisdom of Narsi Mehta.  The King wanted to prove Narsi Mehta is a staunch devotee of Lord Krishna, he is not an ordinary person.  King ordered for a  garland and asked Narsi Mehta to adore the idol of Lord Krishna and keep the sanctum locked and returned the key.  The king’s orders were followed, if Narsi Mehta is a saintly person the garland would be present on his neck by the next day, otherwise Narsih should undergo punishment.  Sarangdhar was extremely happy at the decision of the King, thinking that Narsih would undergo death punishment.  It was in the early hours of dawn, Narsi Mehta passionately sung before his beloved Lord.  As everyone was watching, the heavy lock in the shrine was broken, the doors wide opened, radiant light from the sanctum surged towards Narsi Mehta and the garland fell on his neck.  That radiant light was the form of Lord Krishna who saved his staunch devotee from the trouble.  The people assembled were stunned and cheered,  a divine voice was followed “ Vathsa, in your previous birth you were Emperor Muchukundha, who was the son of Mandhatha,  I have given Dharshan in the hills of Girinar, at that moment you have asked for Bhakti instead of Mukthi.  Therefore you had to take birth again and go through all the miseries and grief of an ordinary man.  You have another five years to be on the Earth to spread the self-less devotion.”

Maharaj Narsih Mehta!

Pranams at the lotus feet of Maharaj Narsih Mehta!

Chapter – 4

Narsihji was confident that Lord Krishna would do some arrangements to send off his daughter to her in-law’s house.  The priest felt it is utter foolishness to believe Narsihji, finally, he got frustrated and decided to leave the house.  As usual, Narasihji engrossed in the Namasankeerthan of Lord Krishna, his wife, and son also joined with him.  The priest thought what kind of madness is that calling the names of Lord and is that going to do any good at the time of need? Soon the priest heard the sound of cheering, he rushed to the shrine and found Lord Krishna was offering the things which Narsi Mehta wanted to give as dowry to his daughter.  The priest could not believe his eyes, it multiplied his respect to Narsi Mehta, and highly praised his pure devotion to Lord Krishna.

There was an interesting incident that took place in the life of Narsi Mehta.  There was the wealthiest man Madan Mehta in the nearest village who was searching for an appropriate groom for his daughter. He sent his family priest to Junarghar in search of a groom for his daughter.  The priest was introduced to Sarangdhar, one of the friends of Madan Mehta, he took the priest all around Junarghar in search of the groom, he informed the priest to meet Narsi Mehta.  Sarangdhar did not like Narsi Mehta, so he took this opportunity to disgrace him.  The priest liked Shyamaldas who was the son of Narsi Mehta and decided to perform the marriage.   The Brahmins of the village wrote a letter to Madan Mehta about the family of Narsi Mehta who is poor, and his son is characterless.  Madan Mehta wrote a letter to Narsi Mehta with an intention to insult him, he wrote Narsih to attend the marriage ceremony with elephants, horses, and valuable clothes as gifts.  Narsi Mehta received the letter of Madan Mehta and became desperate; he went to Lord Krishna and performed Namasankeerthan.  As usual, he received an instruction from Lord Krishna to remain optimistic.  The day of marriage has arrived, Narsi Mehta with a few people from the village proceeded to the village of the bride, people of Junarghar mocked at him, they laughed at the pitiful condition of Narsi Mehta.  Suddenly Narsi Mehta could witness a huge crowd of people in marvelous attire, and valuable gifts in their hands, there was grand arrangements like elephants and horses as instructed by Madan Mehta, all those arrangements were made by Lord Krishna and cheerfully giving instructions to the people assembled.  Narsi Mehta shed tears of love for his beloved Lord and prostrated before him.  The people of the bride were highly impressed and stunned to witness the grandeur of the arrangements made by Narsi Mehta which was not less than a royal wedding.  Thus, Shyamalda's marriage took place in a splendid manner.

Maharaj Narsih Mehta!

Pranams at the lotus feet of Maharaj Narsih Mehta!

Chapter – 3

The wealthy man offered a house with a small shrine of Lord Krishna so that Narsih can do the daily worship of his favorite Lord at his heart’s content, he arranged stock of grains and pulses and all those ingredients required for three years and offered 5000 gold coins for running the family.  Afterward, Narsih Mehta’s house reverberated with the sounds of Namasankeerthana and lectures on scriptures, saints and devotees throng from various places to participate in the daily events and rituals of Lord Krishna.  He received the devotees of Lord with humility and great reverence; he served them with a sumptuous meal.  Within six months all those grains and pulses have vanished; once again the family went back to extreme poverty.  But Narsih Mehta continued his daily rites and devotion to Lord Krishna as if he was least affected by the situations in the family.

Those days the marriage of daughters was performed at a young age,  but the girl remains in the maternal house till she attains the period of menstruation, later she will be sent to her in-law’s home on an auspicious day.   The daughter of Narsih was married at a young age, one day the family priest of the groom of Kunwarbai arrived and informed Narsih to send back her to in-law’s place with all those formalities like dowry.  The priest was found the family is in utter poverty, and there were no arrangements made to send off their daughter.   Manekbai was worried about the future of her daughter, Narsihji requested the priest to give some time so that he can make arrangements for sending her off, saying so he continued his usual routines Namasankeerthan and worship of Lord Krishna.  But the priest was not convinced with the idea of Narasih, he decided to leave home on the next day.

Maharaj Narsih Mehta!

Pranams at the lotus feet of Maharaj Narsih Mehta!

Chapter – 2

It was the duty of Narasih to take care of the cattle in the house.  He took good care of them, he sincerely performed  all those tasks  was assigned to him, during the leisure hours engages in the recitation of Bhagavannama.  But his sister-in-law was not happy to feed poor Narsih and his family, she found every opportunity to abuse Narsih for the poor financial condition in the family.  

Once Narasih returned home after grazing the cattle, after a long day of hard work he was tired of hunger and thirst.  He requested his sister-in-law for food, but she was so angry and shouted at him, and served him with the stale Rotis, even though the fresh food was available at home.  Somehow Narsih consumed the meal and put off his hunger, and left home.  Narasih felt so humiliated and dejected walked away from home, he was not aware of where he was going or whom to meet, thus he crossed several miles away from the village and arrived in a dilapidated shrine of Lord Shiva.  He took bath in the nearby pond and engaged in the veneration of Lord Shiva with the bale leaves, in this way he continued veneration of Lord Shiva and meditation for seven days.  Lord Shiva was pleased with the devotion of Narsih and appeared before him, asked him what would he like to have as a boon.  Narsih requested “ Oh! Prabho, give me the thing which is dearest to you.”  Lord Shiva offered the Dharshan of Lord Krishna and given intense devotion to Lord Krishna.

Narsih returned to the family life at the instruction of Lord Krishna, but the situation in the family did not change a bit, he had to face sheer criticism and humiliation in the family,  the situation became grave day by day.  He had to leave his elder brother and started living separately in a Dharmashala with his wife Manekbai and two children Shyamaldas and Kunwarbai.  He continued the worship of Lord Krishna, recitation of scriptures, and singing in praise of Lord.  Once a wealthy man arrived in the Dharmashala and found the intense devotion and faith of Narasihji revealed his desire to serve him.  He learned all those hardships of Narsih Mehta and pacified him, it was  Akroora  disguised in the form of a wealthy man who came to meet Narsih at the divine instruction of Lord Krishna.

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.