History of Narsi Mehta
Narsi Mehta was a family man and a great devotee. He was a poet-saint and is considered
to be the Jaydev of Gujarat. He was born in Junagarh in Gujarat. Ravmandalik was
the ruler of Junagarh those days, who was under Humayun, the Emperor of Delhi. The
central rule of Humayun was facing many problems, as there was unrest, disruptions
and instability all-around. Narsi Mehta was born in a reputed Nagar-Brahman family.
His elder brother Vanshidhar Mehta was the Kotwal of Junagarh city and people respected
their family. At such a time Narsi Mehta propagated the message of devotion. He
stated:
‘BHARATKHAND BHOOTAL MAN JANMI JENE GOVINDANA GUN GAYA RE;
DHAN DHAN RE ENA MATA PITA NE, SAFAL KARI ENE KAYA RE.’
He announced that for human beings bhakti is the greatest objective to achieve as
bhakti is not possible even for gods. Those, who reach the heavens due to their
Punyas (good-deeds), have also to fall back after they have exhausted their quota.
On the other hand the devotees ask for birth as human beings again and again in
order that they could do bhakti. He said the parents of those people are fortunate,
who devote themselves to bhakti. Those, who are not devotees, their mothers bear
their burden unnecessarily. Narsi Mehta led people from darkness to the light of
bhakti. Narsi Mehta was born in Junagarh in 1470 Vikram Samvat. His father Krishna
Damodar and mother Laxmigauri, both were great devotees and highly religious. They,
however, left this mortal world when Narsi Mehta was only five. The responsibility
of looking after Narsi Mehta fell on the shoulders of his grandmother Jayakunwari,
whose pious life had a great influence on the life of Narsi Mehta. Narsi Mehta was
dumb by birth. When he was about eight, one day he was going with his grandmother
to visit the Shiva temple that he started speaking by the grace of a Sadhu. Jayakunwari
requested the Sadhu to visit their house but he instead went away to Girnar. It
is believed that in the form of that Sadhu it was Lord Krishna who had graced Narsi
Mehta. While departing the Sadhu had asked Narsi Mehta to recite “Radha-Krishna”
as the mantra.
At the age of nine, Narsi Mehta was married to Manikgauri, who was about seven then.
She was extremely beautiful and a noble person, who acted according to the wish
of her husband. Narsi Mehta spent his time in reciting the Radha-Krishna mantra
and their time was passing peacefully. His elder brother Vanshidhar was kind to
him but his wife Duritgauri was not well disposed towards him. She used to behave
harshly with them and used to torture the Narsi-couple. Narsi Mehta was now fifteen.
He used to fetch grass for the horse in the evening and the remaining time he used
to spend in Bhajan. His grandmother was still alive. In due course Narsi Mehta was
blessed with a daughter and a son. His daughter was named Kunwaribai and son was
named Shamaldas. Narsi Mehta’s grandmother persuaded
Vanshidhar to get Kunwari Bai married to Vasantrai, son of Shrirangdhar Mehta of
village Una. After the death of Jayakunwari, Narsi Mehta’s sister-in-law Duritgauri
started torturing them openly. She could not see them eating on the money of her
husband. One day she threw them out of the house. Narsi Mehta took shelter in a
Shiva temple and after severe Tapa (penance) for seven days Lord Shiva appeared
before him.
Lord Shiva took him to Dwarka for giving him a divine glimpse of Lord Krishna. Narsi
Mehta has described this divine place very vividly. He said that the land there
was of gold; in the palace the pillars were made of jewels and every particle was
charged with divinity. Lord Shri Krishna welcomed him and he started living there
with the Lord. On the day of Sharad-Poornima (full moon night in the beginning of
the winter season) Lord commenced ‘Raslila’ (the divine dance of the Lord Krishna
with Gopis). Narsi Mehta filled with the feeling of a Gopi started playing music.
He was holding a torch-light. Lord Shri Krishna put his ‘Pitambar’ (the yellow robe
worn by Lord Krishna) on Narsi Mehta. Narsi Mehta was so engrossed in the Raslila
that he did not notice that the torch-light was burning his hand. After the Raslila
the Lord and others noticed it. The Lord pleased with his devotion embraced him.
Rukmaniji (the concert of the Lord) gave her necklace to him. A month thus passed.
Then by the order of the Lord he returned in the attires of a Vaishnav to discharge
his responsibilities and to propagate Lord’s bhakti. Lord Shri Krishna gave him
His idol, Kartal, peacock feather and Pitambar, as souvenir. People were surprised
to see Narsi Mehta in the attires of a Vaishnav. No one believed him that he was
with the Lord. On provoking by Duritgauri, Vanshidhar expelled Narsi Mehta and his
family out of the house. Their only belonging was the idol given by the Lord. They
took shelter in a Dharmshala (a low-fare inn used by pilgrims etc.). He had the
firm faith that whatever was taking place was Lord’s grace. He then had a Darshan
of Akroorji (a courtesan of Lord Krishna), who told him that by the order of the
Lord, he had made all arrangements for his food and living. Narsi Mehta was overwhelmed,
he and his family, who were all devotees of the Lord now had no worry. They all
started spending their time in Bhajan. The Lord took upon him all the responsibilities
of Narsi Mehta and his family. There are numerous miraculous incidences related
to Narsi Mehta. Once the family-priest of Shrirangdhar Mehta came to take Kunwari
Bai along with him to her inlaws’ house. Narsi Mehta had no money with him and the
very next day he had to send his daughter with the family-priest. In the night he
started doing Kirtan before the Lord along with the entire family. The Lord arranged
for the requisite jewelry etcetera, which Narsi Mehta gave to his daughter and happily
sent her to her in-laws’ house.Narsi Mehta promised to get his son Shamaldas married
to the daughter of Madan Mehta, who was the ‘Diwan’ (a high ranking courtesan) of
Badnagar. Sarangdhar Mehta, an acquaintance of Madan Mehta used to live in Junagarh.
He wrote to Madan Mehta that the priest who had fixed the marriage of his daughter
with Shamaldas had done so without knowing that Narsi Mehta was a poor person, as
people had sent the priest to Narsi Mehta for making fun of him (Narsi Mehta). Madan
Mehta wrote to Narsi Mehta that if he was not able to come with people suited to
his (Madan Mehta) status for the marriage of his son, he (Madan Mehta) would not
allow the marriage to take place. Narsi Mehta replied that he had faith in the Lord
that whatever the Lord would do, it would be auspicious for him. On the Magh-Shukla-Panchami
day Narsi Mehta proceeded towards Badnagar with a group of Bhakts (devotees) to
get his son married. People were thinking that this would provide them an opportunity
to laugh at Narsi Mehta, as he would makefun of himself. But at the entrance of
Badnagar his Lord, Nand-Nandan Himself was present with a divine procession to welcome
and accompany Narsi Mehta. The Lord embraced Narsi Mehta and joined him. Madan Mehta
was thrilled to receive them. He considered himself fortunate that his daughter
was being married in such a family. On the other hand the Lord said that he is always
at the call of Narsi Mehta. Whenever he remembers Him, He appears before him. Narsi
Mehta was overwhelmed at the kindness and grace of the Lord. The marriage took place
happily but after a few days Shamaldas fell ill and passed away. Narsi Mehta made
a lot of effort to save his life but could not save him. Narsi Mehta consoled his
wife (Shamaldas’s mother) saying it was Lord’s wish and that now we shall spend
all our time in remembering the Lord.
‘BHALU THAYO BHAGI JANJAL,
SUKHE BHAJISHUN SHRI GOPAL.’
Narsi Mehta was completely dependant upon the Lord. He was happy in the way his
Lord wished him to live. Once on the day of his father’s death anniversary Vanshidhar
Mehta, his elder brother, invited him to participate in the ‘Shraddh’ ceremony.
Narsi Mehta told him politely that he would be able to attend only after doing Pooja
and Kirtan. Vanshidhar considered this to be insulting and, therefore, asked Narsi
Mehta if it was so, he should do the ‘Shraddh’ at his own residence. Narsi Mehta
accepted it and said that he would try to do so. He then mortgaged his wife’s jewelry
to arrange for the food and invited about seven hundred Nagar-Brahmans. As ghee
fell short, he went to market to buy the same. In the market, he started singing
Bhajan for the shop-keeper. The Lord sent Akroorji asking him to make all arrangements
for the ceremony and then the Lord Himself appeared in the form of Narsi Mehta to
feed the Brahmans and after they finished the meals the Lord gave a gold-coin to
each one of them. After feeding everyone when the Lord sat for taking food, Narsi
Mehta returned with ghee. The Lord immediately disappeared. The Lord takes care
of all the needs of his Bhakt and does not let him down.
The incidence related to ‘Hundi’ (a bill of exchange) is an unforgettable one in
the life of Narsi Mehta. On the death of Narsi Mehta’s wife the Brahmans advised
him to perform some rituals. Narsi Mehta, however, had no money to spend. He was
sitting outside his house a bit concerned when four Sadhus appeared and told him
that they were going to Dwarka and that they had seven hundred rupees with them,
which they did not wish to carry and instead asked Narsi Mehta to keep that money
with him and write a Hundi for them to be honored in Dwarka, where they could get
their money. Narsi Mehta accepted the offer and happily wrote the Hundi in the name
of Seth Shamalshah, his Lord rishna, believing firmly that this money was sent by
his Lord and that it is He, Who would take care of the Hundi, as well. It turned
out the same way; the Lord took pleasure in appearing as Seth Shamalshah in Dwarka
and encashed the Hundi for the Sadhus. Narsi Mehta utilized the money in performing
the rituals and in the service of saints. After the death of his wife, Narsi Mehta
lived for five years. He devoted all his time in Bhajan. He had completely surrendered
himself to the will of the Lord. Once the people of Junagarh conspired against Narsi
Mehta at the behest of Sarangdhar Mehta, who was a great opponent of Narsi Mehta.
They sent a beautiful prostitute, who had dressed herself in white attires and was
wearing a lot of jewelry on her person. She entered into the hut of Narsi Mehta
when he was deeply engrossed in Bhajan. When Narsi Mehta noticed her, she said that
she was going to visit Lord Shri Krishna in Dwarka and that on the way she wanted
to rest in the hut for a night. Narsi Mehta made the necessary arrangements for
her stay. At midnight she tried to seduce Narsi Mehta.Narsi Mehta, on the other
hand told her to focus all her attention on the Lord, as by seeking the Lord, one
is filled with divine bliss, beyond which there is nothing to seek.
The words of saint had their impact on her. She fell at the feet of Narsi Mehta
and went away to her home, as a completely changed person. Sarangdhar Mehta went
to her hometo know what had happened in the night but he was surprised to see her
as a completely changed person. While he was returning, on the way a snake bit him.
Narsi Mehta cured him with Lord’s Charnamrit (sacred water offered to the Lord).
Sarangdhar Mehta, however, still did not mend his ways. He wanted to disgrace Narsi
Mehta. He provoked Ravmandalik (the ruler of Junagarh) by complaining against Narsi
Mehta that he was a vicious person. Ravmandalik asked Narsi Mehta to appear in the
royal-court and prove his innocence. While he was proceeding to the royal-court,
Narsi Mehta met a Brahman on the way, who was in the need of sixty rupees for the
marriage of his daughter. He asked Narsi Mehta for help. Narsi Mehta took sixty
rupees from Dharnidhar Brahman by pledging ‘Kedar Raag’, which was very dear to
him and which he used to sing to invoke the Lord. Ravmandalik gave him a garland
asking Narsi Mehta to put it on the idol of Radha-Damodar and if in the morning,
the Lord puts that garland in the neck of Narsi Mehta he would be proved innocent.
The doors of the temple were then closed. Aworried Narsi Mehta sat in the court-yard
of the temple. He could not sing Kedar-Raag,as he had pledged the same and the Lord
would not wake-up till he (Narsi Mehta) sings Kedar-Raag. On the other side, the
Lord took the form of Narsi Mehta, went to Dharnidhar and paid him the money. The
Lord then dropped the receipt of the payment made to Dharnidhar in the court-yard
of the temple. Narsi Mehta was overwhelmed by the grace of the Lord. He sang Kedar-Raag
to invoke the Lord. He sang that he was not afraid of death but he was afraid of
bringing disgrace to the Lord that the Lord could not save his Bhakt. It was about
to dawn that the doors of the temple opened up on their own and the Lord put the
garland in the neck of Narsi Mehta. Everyone started shouting in the praise of the
Lord. Ravmandalik felt ashamed and sought forgiveness of Narsi Mehta. After this
incidence Narsi Mehta went away to Dwarka. The last five years hespent in Dwarka.
In Vikram Samvat 1577, he left this mortal world to live with his Lord for the eternity.
One of his most famous Bhajan is:
VAISHNAV JAN TO TENE KAHIYE, JE PIR PARAI JANE RE,
PAR DUKHE UPKAR KARE TOYE, MAN ABHIMAN NA AANE RE.
SAKAL LOKMAN SAHUNE VANDE, NINDA NA KARE KENI RE,
VAACH, KKACH MAN NISCHAL RAKHE,
DHAN-DHAN JANANI TENI RE.
SAMDRISHTI NE TRISHNA TYAGI,
PAR STREE JENE MATA RE,
JIHVA THAKI ASATYA NA BOLE, PARDHAN NAV JHALE HAATH RE.
MOHMAYA VYPE NAHI JENE, DRIDH VAIRAGYA JENA MANMA RE,
RAM NAAM SHOON TALI LAGI, SAKAL TIRATH TENA TANMA RE.
VAN LOBHI NE KAPAT RAHIT CHE, KAAM KRODH NIVARYA RE,
BHANE NARSAIYO TENU DARSHAN KARTA, KUL EKOTERE TARYA RE.