Bhakta Narasi Mehta by Smt M Rajya Sri

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Bhakta Narasi Mehta by Smt M Rajya Sri

 

Manushyanam Sahasreshu Kaschidyatati Siddaye

Yatatamapi Siddanaam Kaschinanam Vetti Tatvataha

Bhagavadgita (7-3)

 

All of us have the same privilege of being born as human

beings but our life styles are different. Some think life is for

pleasure and so they enjoy. Some think life is for amassing wealth

and so they slog for money day in and day out. Such people are cut

off from God. Some people think of God only when they are in

troubles. If they come out of them successfully, they develop faith

in God; otherwise they entertain their own doubts

 

Only a handful of people realize their life purpose and

dedicate their lives totally for God. God takes care of such devotees

and protects them always like a father. Bhaktas too found pleasure in

their pain. They were tortured in the materialistic world by the

people around, but they were unnerved. They were lost in their own

sweet affinity with God. This is one such story.

 

Bansidhar woke up suddenly from his sound sleep. A sweet

music touched his musical ears and woke him up. He stood at the

threshold of his house to see the person. It was the early hours of

the day. The first rays of sun were scattering the darkness spread

around. In the morning sunlight he saw a tall man with a wheatish

complexion holding 'tambura' in one hand and singing away in ecstasy

a Keertana of God. He wore a garland in his neck. The saintly look on

his face, the simplicity in his garments lured Bansidhar towards him.

He wanted to prostrate before the holy man to be rid of his sins.

 

Oh no! A closer look at the saint drove out his first

thoughts of respect since he was the one whom he drove out of the

house a week ago. It was his useless brother.

 

'You stupid! What happened to you all these days? Why are you

dressed like this? From whom did you rob this dress? Who provoked you

thus? 'Showered Bansidhar a number of questions on his younger

brother.

 

Narasi Mehta spoke in a dignified manner. 'Nobody provoked

me. Lord Krishna ordained me to lead such a life. If I am standing

like a saint before you, the credit goes to Him.'

 

'Don't be silly! This is nothing but sheer escapism. Whoever

wants to shirk his responsibility turns himself into a sanyasi' spoke

Bansidhar angrily.

 

'Oh my brother! Why should I try to shirk my responsibility?

Am I new to it? Every human being has to undergo the ordeal

of 'Grihastu Dharma' What's so special about it ? Even animals lead a

family life. And if you think I am lazy you are mistaken. A lazy man

cannot chant the name of God all the 24 hours. I want to be Lord

Krishma's devotee.'

 

This answer angered his brother all the more. 'You can't fool

me easily! If you just want to be a devotee why dress up like a

saint? Will not your change of heart suffice?'

 

Narasi Mehta let out a sigh! He realized that his brother

would not trust him until he told him the real story. So he

began, 'Oh dear! In fact the credit goes to you. This is not a

hypocritical dress! Let me remind you of what happened a week ago.

That day I came home from Temple. My sister-in-law had successfully

poisoned your mind against me. You became a prey to her and did not

listen to my prayers. You scolded me, hit me and drove me out of the

house. I was left alone in the whole world. I wanted to see my family

at my in-law's house but on second thoughts I changed my opinion. I

walked into the forest. There I came across a Siva Linga. I hit my

head against the Siva Linga and cried bitterly. Siva must have

melted. So he appeared before me and asked me to seek a boon. I was

so thrilled that I could not think of any boon. So I left the choice

to God himself. Lord Siva looked at me and smiled. Lo! We were in

Gokulam in a split second. 'Oh Narasi! I like the rasaleela of Lord

Krishna with his Gopikas. That's why I brought you here. It is a

feast to the eyes' said Sadasiva. My joy knew no bounds.

 

The surroundings wore such a wonderful sight that I can't

explain to you in words. The Gokulam turned out to be so colorful. It

is filled with the incense of flowers the melodious song of the

Gandharvas in the pleasant atmosphere stole our hearts.

 

First I saw Lord Krishna, the heart throb of Gopikas, playing

on his flute pleasantly. Then emerged Radha from Sri Krishna. From

Radha emerged eight Gopikas and from them 16,000 Gopikas. They were

all dancing around Krishna in ecstasy. The Rasaleela is really a

feast to the eyes. Lord Siva was playing on the Mridanga; Lord

Krishna was playing on the flute in tune with the Mridanga while the

Gopikas danced rhythmically. I too was dancing being engrossed in the

scene till I felt a tender touch on my shoulder. I opened my eyes to

see eight Gopikas merge into Radha and Radha into Krishna.

 

With tears gushing out of my eyes, I fell to the feet of Lord

Krishna and prayed not to drive me away from him.

 

Krishna lifted me up and said " Narasi! You are a blessed

soul! You are born with a purpose. Your duty is to enkindle the light

of Bhakti in thousands of hearts, Go back to your town! So saying he

gave me these things - Tambura, Chirutalu, Tulasimala and this

saffron robe. Next second, I was before the Sivalinga. I cannot

dismiss the miraculous experience as a dream, since I have these

things with me. So I have decided to fulfill my goal, as ordained by

God.'

 

Bansidhar's wife Duritha Gouri laughed it away as a cock and

bull story. Scornfully, she spoke to Narsi! `Oh what a concocted

story! When did you turn out to be, a poet? What a wonderful idea

for a new business.'

 

'Yes sister! I've begun a new business. I am unmindful of

profit or loss in this business. All I know is only to do my duty.'

He sang a song in Gujarathi.

 

Santho Hamare Vevariya Sri Ram namna

Vesari Ave che Badhagama Gama Na

 

'Dear people! I have come to sell the name of God to you! It

is open to all castes of people. It is available at all times. It

cannot be stolen. It cannot be levied taxes. I spend my time in

filling the name of the Lord in balance sheet.'

 

His brother was irritated at his, words and imprisoned him in

a room. When God himself is imprisoned in his heart will he be scared

of these petty punishments? He prayed to his brother 'Oh leave me

alone with my God!'

 

Narasi Mehta, true to his words, was a blessed soul. He was

born in Junagad in Gujarat to Damodardas and Lakshmi Gouri.

 

When his parents expired in his childhood, his brother and

his aunt took care of him. He behaved strangely in childhood itself.

 

Once there was a 'Radhostav' in their town. His aunt

Jayakuvari Devi took him there. She met a Sadhu there and told him

that Narasi doesn't speak. The Sadhu looked at him and said, 'Come

on! Why are you silent? Sing Radha - Syam, Radha - Syam!' Accordingly

he sang at once melodiously. As he grew up he sang it as a Keertana.

 

'Dwara dayaka jab tu khole

Panchana swarame ginga bole'

 

'Oh God! The dumb speaks, the blind sees, the lame walks unto

Kasi when your door of kindness opens unto them!'

 

Narasi bore many problems in the hands of his cruel sister-in-

law. He was married to Manika Gouri when he was 15. He gave birth to

two children namely Kuvaribai and Syamaladas.

 

He took up the duty of a watchman as his livelihood. One day

he was lost in his prayer and ignored his duty. Lord Krishna took up

his duty that night. Narasi Mehta was touched by this kindness. He

did not want to trouble his Lord anymore. So he gave up the job.

 

The cruel sister-in-law had no heart to look after his

family. She harassed them in every possible way. His wife went to her

mother's place with children. The sister-in-law seized the

opportunity and saw to it that her husband bet his brother and drove

him out of his house. The rest is known. He came back, blessed by

God, only to bear further atrocities. His family came back only to be

driven away cruelly.

 

Narasi Mehta set up his family in a small house. He was

engrossed in his mission. The people, who came to listen to his

songs, offered him money and fruits which helped him to get along.

 

Narasi performed his, daughter's marriage at an early age.

She was in her in-law's house. She matured one day. Narasi's wife

said that they had to perform the function. Narasi agreed and went

there at once but the relatives laughed and the son-in-law frowned at

his Haridas' get up. They sneered at his empty hands. His daughter's

mother-in-law was so angry that she wanted to kick her out of the

house. His daughter wept bitterly before her father.

 

Narasi was moved and challenged the crowd gathered

there, 'Come on! Give me the list of things I should buy for this

function. I'll provide them this very day.'

 

Pat came the list. Sarees, jewels, utensils, delicacies and

what not! Some mischievous person was jotting down the list. Narasi

humbly asked them to write down whatever they wanted. This mischief

monger wanted to pull his leg. So he added a big stone.

 

Narasi Mehta went with the list to Panduranga temple. He held

it in his hand and sang Keertanas in praise of God with tears in his

eyes.

 

Tu tara virada samhamu jo

Je samala najo Eesa karani hamari re

 

Oh Krishna! You forgive our crimes and bless us. You have

saved many people like Pandavas, Jayadeva's wife Padmavathi, Gajendra

etc. I request you to save me from humiliation.

 

Sincere prayers never go waste. Lord Panduranga himself took

all the items in the list in a cart. Of course nobody could guess it

was the Lord himself. He approached Narasi Mehta's daughter's father-

in-law and said, 'I am the assistant of Narasi Mehta. I brought what

he sent with me. Please check them.

 

Surprisingly every item mentioned in the list was there

including the big stone. Very fondly they asked for Narasi and the

Lord couldn't control his laughter at the hypocrisy of his own

creation. Innocently he said, 'In Panduranga Temple'

 

The relatives hastened to the temple and were surprised to

see Narasi Mehta in a dazed state. He was shocked to see the

relatives as a group and pleaded with them to give him some time.

They were perplexed and narrated the incident. They added, 'Your

assistant seems to be so good. He told us your whereabouts. We are

awfully sorry for our behaviour. You sent every thing, to the last

detail, including the big stone we asked.' Narasi Mehta could

understand at once that it was the Leela of the Lord. Oh God! How

kind of you! Did you come down personally to help me, that too as my

assistant! How infinite is your love? How I wish I had your Darsan!'

He turned to the relatives and fell to their feet, 'How lucky you are

to be blessed with the Darsan of my Lord.' He sang a Keertana in

praise of God.

 

People realized his greatness but not all are good in the

materialistic world. One jealous man, in due course, complained

against Narsi Mehta to the ruler of Junagadh! His complaints were he

was befooling people that he had witnessed Krishna's Rasaleela and

that God spoke to him. Accordingly Narsi was called and questioned.

Narasi accepted them. The king asked him to prove them! How can one

prove them! How can one prove his spiritual bliss! It is purely a

personal bliss. It is an experience of the heart, not of the mind!

The foolish king insisted on his order.

 

Oh! God's Leela is unimaginable. Suddenly there was a glow in

their hearts. The temple doors broke open on their own; from the

temple a garland moved on its own, in the air, towards Narsi and fell

into his neck. One who believes in God's Leela can guess God could

have come personally to deck his disciple with the garland. Yes very

much true! Narsi alone could see Him and others could only guess the

love of God! That itself made them accept him as a blessed soul.

 

There was a rich man called Madan Mehta in Boodhnagar. His

daughter Jyothi bai reached marriageable age. He sent his priest in

search of a suitable boy for his girl. The Brahmin reached Narsi's

village and contacted Sarangadhar Mehta. The latter was waiting for a

chance to ruin Narsi Mehta, out of sheer jealousy. So he directed the

priest to Narsi's house. Both the priest and Narsi had no objection

to the alliance. The match was fixed but Sarangadhar Mehta played a

foul game. He wrote a letter against Narsi to the girl's parents. He

spoke about their poverty. The angry father wrote back to Narsi to

come to his house with all the pomp and show if he wished for their

alliance.

 

The news grieved Narsi's wife but he was rest assured of

God's help. He proceeded the next morning just with his wife and son

praying to God all the while. They hardly reached the outskirts then

relatives began to swarm in. They were bringing with them all that he

needed. Guess who they were! They were the relatives of Rukmininadh !

When God joined them, God's relatives joined him. Lord Krishna Radha,

Rukmini, Satyabhama, Jambavati and other wives; Uddava, Akrura,

Kuchela, Gopikas, Prahlad, Narad and other devotees Pundarika,

Parasa, Ambarisha, Suka, Sounaka rishis; kubera, Indra and other

devatas; Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari and other river goddesses;

Senapaths, Purohits, Devarishis, Maharishis, Siddas, Gandharvas and

saints - all joined hands in the large procession.

 

Lord Krishna hastened himself to the girl's house and

informed him of their arrival. He asked for the arrangements on their

side. The girl's father bowed before Krishna and pleaded guilty. How

lucky! Unknowingly he bowed before the Lord himself! The Lord assured

him of his help. He sat between the two and performed the marriage on

a grand gala scale. The whole procession came back to Narsi's place

and then disappeared! That is the blessing of the Lord.

 

On a different occasion, some devotees were proceeding to

Dwaraka. It was customary those days to deposit their money with a

rich man in their town and to borrow that much amount from another

rich man in the holy place. Some mischievous people wanted to pull

the leg of Narsi. So they guided the pilgrims to Narsi. Narsi,

without any second thoughts, wrote a letter to Sri Sanvalsa in

Dwaraka. Poor Pilgrims roamed all over the town in search of this

Sanvalsa in vain. As they were about to curse him, somebody appeared

before them, introduced himself as Sanvalsa and offered the money

they wanted. He disappeared the next minute and they could guess at

once that he was the God himself!

 

The news spread like wild fire and they all became Narsi's

disciples. Narsi served them with love since he could see God in

them. He was serving an untouchable when his wife was breathing her

last. He thought he was freed from family when his wife and son

passed away. That was the height of his Vairagya.

 

He composed books like 'Aaiswarya Leela' 'Rukmini Kalyanam'

and 'Sudama Charitra. 'His Krishna Vaishnava Janata' is full of

principles for human kind.

 

A true Vaisnavaite sees God in everyone. He doesn't criticize

any one. He has equanimity of mind. He has a motherly feeling

towards other women. He chants Ramanama incessantly. His body is as

holy as all the holy rivers put together.

 

Such saintly lives are sources of inspiration for us impure,

unholy and jealous human beings lost in the mundane world.