Narsinh Mehta, the Devotee-Poet

The fifteenth-century saint of Junagadh and Adi Kavi of Gujarati, whose prabhatiyan and "Vaishnav Jan To" still live in every Gujarati heart.

Narsinh Mehta was a great fifteenth-century devotee of Krishna and a poet, honoured as the Adi Kavi, the first poet, of the Gujarati language. According to tradition he was born at Talaja into a Nagar Brahmin family and spent most of his life in Junagadh. Orphaned in childhood, he lived with his elder brother and sister-in-law. The story goes that one day, hurt by her sharp taunts, he went away to an old Shiva shrine in the forest and sat there worshipping Shiva without food or water. Pleased, Bhagavan Shiva granted him a vision of Shri Krishna's raas, and from that day his life was given over to singing Krishna's glory.

His prabhatiyan, songs meant for the hour of dawn, still ring through Gujarati homes in the early morning. His best-known bhajan, "Vaishnav Jan To", says that a true Vaishnav is one who feels the pain of others as his own, helps without pride and honours everyone. It was one of Mahatma Gandhi's most cherished hymns.

Tradition preserves many stories of the Lord himself coming to protect his devotee's honour. When his daughter Kunvarbai's mameru (the gifts from her parental home) was due and the poor Narsinh had nothing to give, Krishna came disguised as Shamalsha Sheth and brought gifts in abundance. Once some pilgrims bound for Dwarka gave him money and asked for a hundi, a bill of exchange; Narsinh wrote it on "Shamalsha Sheth" of Dwarka, and, as the story is told, the Lord himself appeared as that merchant and honoured it. The tale of the Lord placing a garland on him in the court of Ra Mandlik is also well loved.

At Junagadh, at the foot of Girnar, is Damodar Kund, where by tradition Narsinh Mehta bathed every day. The town also has "Narsinh Mehta no Choro", where he is said to have held his kirtans. Devotees visit these places to bow to a devotion that was fearless and free of pretence.

District

Junagadh (born at Talaja, Bhavnagar district, by tradition)