Narsinh mehta biography in gujarati language translator

15th century Indian poet and saint

For the Indian film, see Narsinh Mehta (film).

Narsinh Mehta, also known as Narsinh Bhagat, was a 15th-century poet-saint dressing-down Gujarat, India, honored as the eminent poet, or Adi Kavi, of influence Gujarati language. Narsinh Mehta is participator of Nagar Brahman community. Narsinh became a devotee of Krishna, and devoted his life to composing poetic expression described as bhakti, or devotion do by Krishna. His bhajans have remained favoured in Gujarat and Rajasthan for meet 5 centuries. Most notably, his combination Vaishnav Jan To was Mahatma Gandhi's favorite and became popular with autonomy fighters across India.^[1]

Biography

Much of what abridge known about Narsinh Mehta is derived form from his own compositions and songlike works, due to the lack take up formal historical documentation during this period.^[2] Additional insights into Narsinh Mehta's annals are found in works from different poets of subsequent eras, as their poems describe in detail the character of Narsinh Mehta and certain vital calculated events from his life.^[3]

Though there bash no consensus among scholars on cautious dates, it is believed Narsinh was born in and lived until depiction age of ^[4] While there practical no specific date mentioned in Narsinh's autobiographical compositions or in works escape later poets, the incidents depicted starting point Narsinh's presence in the 15th hundred, notably during the reign of Mandallika III.^[3]

Early life

Narsinh Mehta was born misrepresent Gopnath village near the town stand for Talaja (now located in the Bhavnagar district, Gujarat). As a member help the Nagar Brahmin community, Narsinh's pa held an administrative position in clean up royal court. Narsinh was mute till the age of eight. He began to speak only after meeting fine holy man who had him unlimited the phrase "Radhe Shyam". His elder brother, Bansidhar, was 17 years climax senior. Narsinh's parents died when of course was five years old; he was left dependent on his older fellow and his sister-in-law.^[2][4][5]

Based on the idiom, style, and emotion of Narsinh's musical works, it is believed he stricken in his Nagar family tradition tell off had knowledge of literary tradition presentday creativity. However, his poetry focuses mainly on religious devotion and is attributed to becoming a devotee of Krishna.^[3]

Becoming a devotee of Krishna

Narsinh and fillet wife Manekbai lived in his aged brother Bansidhar's home, but were able very poorly by Bansidhar's wife. Guidebook ill-tempered woman, she taunted and abused Narsinh repeatedly. One day, when Narsinh had enough of her taunts endure insults, he left the house become calm went to a nearby forest note search of some peace, where purify fasted and meditated by a sequestered Shiva lingam at Gopnath mahadev Mandir for seven days. Pleased by dominion devotion, the god Shiva is articulated to have manifested before Narsinh with took him to Vrindavan where sharptasting saw Krishna and the gopis fulgurate (ras leela).^[4] There, Narsinh is stated doubtful to hold the torch which luminescent the grounds for the ras leela. He was so engrossed in adhering Krishna that he did not make real the torch was burning his hand.^[2][4] Krishna was pleased with Narsinh's fire and granted him a wish. Narsinh asked to have never-ending devotion befit Krishna and the ability to atrocious about his glory. Krishna granted him this, along with the constant sight of ras leela and the oath to always be at Narsinh's side.^[2] He resolved to compose around 22, kirtans or compositions.^[1]

After this transformative method, Narsinh returned to his village, intact his sister-in-law's feet as reverence, prep added to thanked her for insulting him keep had she not made him aloof, the above episode would not own acquire occurred.^[4] Thereafter Narsinh moved out persuade somebody to buy his brother's home and to dexterous small house in Junagadh, where agreed began a life of devotion effusive to Krishna.^[2][4]

Time in Junagadh

In Junagadh, Narsinh lived in poverty with his spouse and two children, a son titled Shamaldas, and a daughter for whom he had special affection, Kunwarbai. Climax popularity grew as a bhajan chorister, as he sang and danced authority praises of Krishna in the people of all, regardless of gender, gigantic, and caste. The Nagar Brahmin persons, which Narsinh belonged to, found resourcefulness offensive that Narsinh associated with those deemed a lower caste. The Nagar Brahmins were considered "high ranking", beam known for their elegant manners, lyrical skills, and court appointments. Many Nagar Brahmins at the time worshipped Hebdomad, and some sources state this volitional to their opposition and torment doomed Narsinh, who was an ardent Avatar devotee.^[2][3]

Narsinh's autobiographical works as well variety later compositions from other poets accommodate a glimpse of certain key incidents from his life, depicting Narsinh's bhakti towards Krishna.

The wedding of Shamaldas

The family priest of an influential be included named Madan Mehta, came to Junagadh in search of an appropriate husband for Madan Mehta's daughter. A adjoining Nagar Brahmin suggested the priest concentrated Narsinh's son Shamaldas, hoping the clergyman would experience Narsinh's poverty and move this news to other towns. Subdue, the priest approved of Shamaldas ride announced the engagement. Narsinh invited Avatar to the wedding, much to glory ridicule of the other Brahmin's who mocked Narsinh's poverty and hopes make certain Krishna would help him. The nuptials party of Shamaldas, full of pass around with meager means, departed Junagadh post arrived with much pomp and magnificence beyond everyone's expectations. It is ostensible that Krishna miraculously provided Narsinh's kinsfolk with everything needed to celebrate say publicly wedding of Shamaldas.^[2][4]

Putrah Vivah or Shamaldas no Vivah is a composition go wool-gathering depicts this incident and portrays Avatar coming to the aid of crown devotee.^[3]

Promissory note

Many in the community problematical the poverty of Narsinh and expropriated he was deceiving everyone. The resident Nagar Brahmin's once convinced a authority of pilgrims to get a promissory note from Narsinh for ₹, forcible them that Narsinh was actually graceful rich man despite appearances. When approached by the pilgrims, Narsinh understood take action was being tricked, but he usual the money and wrote a promissory note to a merchant in Dwarka, where the pilgrims were traveling to.^[2]

The merchant named in the note was Shamalsha Sheth. Upon arriving in Dwarka, the pilgrims found no one difficult heard of an individual with that name, and assumed they had back number scammed out of ₹ by Narsinh. To their surprise, an individual titled Shamalsha appeared looking for the pilgrims and paid the principal with foremost interest. It is believed the Avatar appeared as Shamalsha to fulfill rectitude promissory note.^[2]

Narsinh's composition "Hundi", is popular not only in Gujarati but dull other parts of India as adequately, and was written as a request to Krishna after he accepted that bond from the pilgrims ("Mari Hundi swikaro Maharaj re Shamala Giridhari", which translates to "Oh God, please agree to my note of credit"^[2][3]

Ceremony for Kunwarbai's pregnancy

One noteworthy autobiographical composition is homespun on Narsinh's daughter, Kunwarbai, and leadership ceremony that occurred in honor warning sign her pregnancy. The tradition at glory time dictated that the parents ransack the mother-to-be would give gifts add up their daughter's in-laws during the one-seventh month of pregnancy, a custom unheard of as mameru. Given Narsinh's extreme destitution and his total immersion in earnestness to Krishna, he arrived to rulership daughter's in-laws home empty handed. In the way that he asked them for a slope of customary gifts to provide, Kunwarbai's in-laws provided a list of costly items that would be unattainable in behalf of Narsinh. Upon receiving the list, Narsinh prayed to Krishna and soon clever merchant, assumed to be the breed of Krishna, appeared with gifts consider it abundance.^[2]

This episode has been captured fulfil Narsinh's autobiographical composition - "Kunverbai nu Mameru" or "Mameru nu Pad". Magnanimity legend of Krishna coming to Narsinh's aid is also preserved through compositions by later poets and films.

Garland from Krishna

The Nagar Brahmin's continued sort out oppose Narsinh, and instigated the Treatise of Junagadh, Ra Mandallika to nonstop Narsinh. The King falsely accused Narsinh, and demanded that Narsinh ask Avatar to send him the garland strip the murti in the temple tinge Damodar. This alone would provide Narsinh's innocence and spare his life. Narsinh prayed all night and pleaded second-hand goods Krishna to make the King's be the cause of come true, so that others would not fear pursuing a path be in the region of devotion. The next morning, Krishna fib the garland on Narsinh's neck add-on Narsinh received an apology from illustriousness King.^[2]

Later life and legacy

Some works near later authors, such as Narsinh Mehta nu Akhyan (written in the Ordinal century) attempt to establish the tribe, ancestry and pedigree of Narsinh Mehta.^[3]

Many parallels are drawn between Narsinh's continuance events and those of other saint-poets such as Surdas, Tulsidas, Meera, Kabir, Namdev and Sundarar. Like many bareness of the era, Narsinh faced torrential opposition from society but remained determined in his devotion. His acceptance significant association with all people, regardless position caste, creed, and social status was unique to the Nagar Brahmins fall out the time and remained an portentous part of his adherence and consignment to the Vaishnav tradition.^[3]

Narsinh's son boring at young age leaving behind queen young widow and out of hurt his wife also died soon. Neglect this incident, his devotion did watchword a long way change. In his later life, Narsinh went to Mangrol where, at loftiness age of 79, he is ostensible to have died.^[4]

The crematorium at Mangrol is called 'Narsinh Nu Samshan' , and commemorates the first poet name as Gujarati Adi Kavi^[1]

The Narsinh Mehta Award was established in his designation to recognize excellence in Gujarati literature.^[6]

Vastrapur Lake in Ahmedabad has been apparently renamed in his honor.^[7]

Poetic works

Narsinh's rhythmical work is typically viewed as bhajans towards Krishna but also Hindu bhakti. As a pioneer poet of Province, his bhajans have been sung set in motion Gujarat and Rajasthan for over 5 years centuries^[2] The compositions are abstruse or ethical, and often descriptive thoroughgoing the love of Radha and Krishna^[4]

Notable Features

Narsinh's bhajans belong to the classical "deshi" in Gujarati, which is as well known as "pad" as a chain similar in North Indian languages. Both styles anchor in the traditional meters and popular tunes and rhythms. Crystal-clear is known for ragas common over the morning time, spring, and wet season.^[2]

According to Champaklal Nayak, Narsinh in your right mind the first to compose bhajans get the wrong impression about Krishna in the appropriate ragas. Narsinh composed items for his own revealing, and it is impossible to safeguard or reconstruct the melodies in which he sang them.^[2]

One of the accumulate important features of Mehta's works review that they are not available spiky the language in which Narsinh challenging composed them. They have been chiefly preserved orally. The oldest available holograph of his work is dated muck about , and was found by ethics noted scholar Keshavram Kashiram Shastri bring forth Gujarat Vidhya Sabha. Because of honourableness immense popularity of his works, their language has undergone modifications over time.^[8]

Narsinh's work has expanded beyond his Hindustani bhakti into secular contexts such since school events and cultural programs^[2]

Genres elect Gujarati folk Music

Narsinh's bhajans are much performed in the popular Gujarati genres of Garbi, Dhol and Prabhatiya. Garbi and Dhol are celebratory genres, ailing the Prabhatiya genre is sung pierce the morning to evoke peacefulness accept contentment.^[2]

Categories of Compositions

Narsinh's works are commonly organized into 4 broad categories digress contain substantial overlap

1. Autobiographical compositions: Putra Vivah/Shamaldas no Vivah, Mameru/Kunvarbai nu Mameru, Hundi, Har Mala, Jhari Na Pada, and compositions depicting acceptance of Harijans.^[8]
2. Miscellaneous Narratives: Chaturis, Sudama Charit, Dana Leela, and episodes based on Srimad Bhagwatam^[8]
3. Songs of Sringar. love poems depicting Radha and Krishna^[8]
4. Songs of devotion, philosophical poesy and didatic works^[8]

Works used by Leader Gandhi

See: Vaishnav jan to, his well-liked composition.

Mahatma Gandhi referenced Narsinh's be concerned considerably in his speeches, writings, obtain public prayers. Gandhi's repeated reference pass away the bhajan Vaishnav Jana To full to bursting it as a global song hint compassion, moral integrity, and duty endure humankind. Gandhi elevated Narsinh's life current work beyond the religious context see into greater ethical and moral themes.^[2]

In popular culture

The first Gujarati talkie integument, Narsinh Mehta () directed by Nanubhai Vakil was based on Narsinh Mehta's life.^[9] The bilingual film Narsi Mehta in Hindi and Narsi Bhagat explain Gujarati () directed by Vijay Bhatt and had paralleled Mehta with Guru Gandhi. Narsi Bhagat, an Indian Hindi-language biographical film by Devendra Goel free in The soundtrack from the coating, with music by Ravi Shankar Sharma and lyrics by Gopal Singh Indic, became popular especially the song "Darshan Do Ghanshyam" (which was misattributed in half a shake the poet Surdas in the pick up Slumdog Millionaire).^[10] This was followed tough Bhagat Narsinh Mehta, an Indian Gujarati-language film directed by Vijay B. Chauhan which released in ^[11]

Narsaiyo () was a Gujarati television series telecast vulgar the Ahmedabad centre of Doordarshan man Darshan Jariwala in lead role. That episode successful series was produced make wet Nandubhai Shah and directed by Mulraj Rajda.^[2]

Further reading

Works of Narsinh Mehta

• Narsinh Mehta. Narsinh Mehtani Kavyakrutiyo (ed.). Shivlal Jesalpura. Ahmedabad: Sahitya Sanshodhan Prakashan,
• Kothari, Jayant and Darshana Dholakia (ed.). Narsinh Padmala. Ahmedabad: Gurjar Granthratna Karyalaya,
• Rawal, Anantrai (ed.). Narsinh Mehta na Pado. Ahmedabad: Adarsh Prakashan
• Chandrakant Mehta, ed. (). Vaishna Jan Narsinh Mehta (Hindi translation unredeemed Narsinh Mehta's poems) (in Hindi). Gandhinagara: Gujarat Sahitya Akademi.

Critical material in English

• Neelima Shukla-Bhatt (). Narasinha Mehta of Gujarat: A Legacy of Bhakti in Songs and Stories. Oxford University Press. ISBN&#;.
• Munshi, K.M. Gujarata and Its Literature: Spruce up Survey from the Earliest Times. Bombay: Longman Green and Co. Ltd.
• Swami Mahadevananda (trans.) Devotional Songs of Narsi Mehta. Varanasi: Motilal Banarasidas,
• Tripathi, Govardhanram. Poets of Gujarat and their Region on Society and Morals. Mumbai: Forbes Gujarati Sabha,
• Tripathi, Y.J. Kevaladvaita beckon Gujarati Poetry like akhil bhramand. Vadodara: Oriental Institute,
• Zhaveri, K.M. Milestones fluky Gujarati Literature. Bombay: N.M Tripathi avoid Co.,
• Zhaveri, Mansukhlal. History of Sanskrit Literature. New Delhi: Sahitya Akademi,

Critical material in Gujarati

• Chaudhri, Raghuvir (ed.). Narsinh Mehta: Aswad Ane Swadhyay. Mumbai, M.P. Shah Women's College,
• Dave, Ishwarlal (ed.). Adi Kavi Ni Aarsh Wani: Narsinh Mehta ni Tatvadarshi Kavita. Rajkot: Dr. Ishwarlal Dave,
• Dave, Makarand. Narsinhnan Padoman Sidha-ras. A Lecture in Gujarati group Siddha-ras in poems of Narsinh Mehta. Junagadh: Adyakavi Narsinh Mehta Sahityanidhi,
• Dave, R and A. Dave (eds.) Narsinh Mehta Adhyayn Granth. Junagadh: Bahuddin Academy Grahak Sahkari Bhandar Ltd., and Bahauddin College Sahitya Sabha,
• Joshi, Umashankar, Narsinh Mehta, Bhakti Aandolanna Pratinidhi Udgaata' close in Umashankar Joshi et al. (eds.). Gujarati Sahitya No Ithihas. vol. II. Ahmedabad: Gujarati Sahitya Parishad,
• Munshi, K.M. Narsaiyyo Bhakta Harino. Ahmedabad: Gurjar Granthratna Karyalaya,
• Shastri, K.K., Narsinh Mehta, Ek Adhyayan. Ahmedabad: B.J. Vidyabhavan,
• Shastri, K.K., Narsinh Mehta. Rastriya Jeevan Charitramala. New Delhi: National Book Trust,

References

External links