Narasinha Mehta
Narasinha Mehta
Narasinha Mehta was born in Talaja, in a village near Bhavanagar in Gujarat State. When he was small, his parents died. He lived with his brother and sister-in-law.
One day, his sister-in-law spoke harshly to him. He could not bear it.
So, he went to the forest and there, he stayed for seven days in the temple of Lord Siva, praying to the Lord without partaking of any food. As he has expressed in his poem, Siva was pleased with his devotion and yearning.
The Lord manifested there and asked Narasinha to choose a boon. Narasinha left it entirely to the sweet will of the Lord Siva to give him whatever he liked as the best.
Siva took him to Dwaraka and showed him the Rasa of Lord Kishna with the Gopis. He stayed in Dwaraka for three months. Lord Krishna gave him flowers and blessed him to compose poems.
When he returned, he was welcomed by his brother and sister-in-law. Now, the course of his life had changed. He loved singing Hari’s name, ruminating on Hari, and preaching Hari’s name. Many devotees, pious men, and saints came to listen to him from far and near. During this time, he came and settled in Junagadh, a small town.
Quite a few incidents from his life reveal his great faith and devotion to Lord Krishna. Among them, the incidents of Mamera, Hundi, and Hara (Necklace) are well known. During the occasion of ‘Mamera’, he was given very hot water for bathing. At that time, he sang Malhar and the Lord sent the cool showers in time. He has sung this in one poem, “My daughter-in-law ridiculed me by giving me very hot water that time. Oh, Lord, You sent rain and honoured Your servant.”
Even in Dwaraka, the Lord had to become Samalsha Sheth to pay Rs.700/- to the pilgrims, who had deposited money with Narasinha Mehta in Junagadh.
Hara’s (Necklace) incident is very touching and pathetic. King Ramandalika imprisoned him and threatened him that he would accept him as a true devotee, only if the Lord garlanded him in jail. Otherwise, he would behead him before the next dawn.
Mehta sang the whole night from the very core of his heart. In the beginning, he requested and beseeched the Lord, but there was no response. Then, like a shrewd ‘Nagar’, he used the trick, saying, “Oh, Lord do not look at my Karmas, for then You will lose the title of ‘Patitapavana’. If You try to abandon me, You will not be able to do so, because the people will mock and ridicule.
When there was no sign of the Lord’s arrival, he spoke aloud to the Lord, saying, “Why are You attached to a garland of flowers. If only You would give me a garland, Your fame will spread. I was singing Your glory and if You do not protect Your bhaktas in critical times, no one will pray to You any more and no one will sing Your glory. I am not afraid of death, but You will be defamed.” Finally, the Lord was moved by his devotion and the garland fell on his neck from the skies above.
There are many incidents in his life, when the Lord has saved him and his reputation at important moments of his life. He was not only a great bhakta, but also a great jnani like Sankaracharya. He believed in Advaita. He had read Vedas, Upanishads, and scriptures. His intense bhakti was such that he forgot the requirements of his body. He did not feel hunger or thirst; neither was he affected by worldly joy or sorrow. In his love intoxicated state, he was not conscious of what the public would say. Nothing could hamper or dampen his spiritual progress. His mind, intellect, and senses were rejoicing in the love of the Lord. He surrendered his whole personality to the Lord. This complete Saranagati we rarely see in a bhakta.
Mehta was kind, generous, and friendly to mankind. He cared for the spiritual upliftment of the people and he preached spirituality through his poems. Children should read the life of such bhaktas to develop love for the Lord and His creation.
[Illustrations by A. Priyadarshini, Sri Sathya Sai Balvikas Student.]
[Source: Stories for Children II, Published by Sri Sathya Sai Books & Publications, PN]