great contribution to the Bhakti movement in India

suchandra · May 10, 2006

Singing of Krishna

http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=1028576&CatID=19

Sonavi Desai

Tuesday, May 09, 2006 21:50 IST

Narsi Mehta, the 15th century saint-poet of Gujarat, began his spiritual journey with a highly mystical experience. One day, walking to the forest in deep contemplation, he came upon a secluded Shiva temple and sat down to pray. He spent seven days there, without food or water, lost in contemplation. At the end of the week, he had a vision of Mahadeva.

“What do you seek from me?” Shiva asked. “I am an ignorant man; I do not know what to ask for. I shall accept whatever you give me,” replied Narsi.

Shiva granted him a glimpse of Gokul, where Lord Krishna was lost in ecstatic song and dance with the gopis. Krishna blessed Narsi, saying, “You have been witness to the divine rasa-lila. Go forth and compose poetry and spread the word of the Lord.”

Filled with ecstasy, Narsi began composing songs of Krishna. People flocked to hear his soul-stirring bhajans and his inspiring words. “Happiness and joy are within you,” he said. “When one is asleep to the illusions of this world, one is truly awake.”

Narsi Mehta was also a social reformer. He welcomed all to his kirtans, in strong rejection of the caste system. To him, the untouchables were Harijans—the children of God. “Mere religious rites and rituals do not lead to the Divine,” he urged.

“Search for and experience the Truth. There are many paths to liberation. Some follow the path of jnana, others that of karma, and yet others, the path of bhakti.”

bija · May 11, 2006

The divine as reflected in the Vedas is the same as that in the Puranas. It is clearly a matter of choice as to which set of mysteries one chooses.
The joys of Vraja are all inside of you in reality.
Real awakening means becoming asleep to the phenomenal world.
The world is born out of the sheer desire of Shiva.
Many are the paths to mukti. The daityas opted for conflict. The yogis took the path of jnana and vigyan. The gopis took to love.
Human birth has been achieved after a tedious journey. Kicked around as a dog or a cat, bound to work as an ox, neighing for food as a horse and stretching for foraging as a burdened camel, pulled by the hook as an elephant we have finally arrived here. Still we are not cognizant and respectful of the Lord. We know not how to bow in reverence or dance in exuberant joy to the melody of His names. Indulging in clothes, ornaments and perfumes we fail to live a life of gratitude.
Shun mere religious disciplines for they are all for self- maintenance. It is more important to search and realize the Fundamental Truth.
Association with those who are non conducive to your sadhana is worse than consuming poison. The latter can only destroy the body. Association with the good on the other hand can destroy demerits accumulated over several births.
Be selective in your beliefs for many have devised theories and philosophies to suit their own ambition.
If you have not tried to see Him, mere recitation of His names is of no value. Each time you visit the temple and ask God to help you with one problem or the other. How is it that your misery has not yet abated? Outwardly you sing, pray and show holiness yet inwardly you harbor many a concern! When life is good you say it is by the grace of God. When ill luck comes your way why then do you say it is due to karma? All these acts are merely mechanical for you have not asked yourself as to who you are in reality!
He is to be called the Vaishnav who sympathizes with the affliction of others. He tends to the sorrows of others but gets not conceited in that act. He tolerates others with humility. He does not censure anyone. His words and mind are steadfast. Such a person’s mother is indeed wealthy. With equanimity he has given up his cravings. To him all women are his mothers. Words of untruth never issue from his mouth. He lays not his hand on the wealth of others. He is free from passion and delusion. His mind is dispassionate from conviction. He readily claps his hands to the names of Ram. In his body reside all holy places. He is free from greed and deceit as also from lust and anger. Says Narsi the sight of such a person enables the seer and his entire clan to cross sansar.