Narsinh Mehta, known as Narsinh Bhagat, was a 15th-century poet-saint of Gujarat, India, honored as the first poet, or Adi Kavi, of the Gujarati language.
31 Facts About Narsinh Mehta
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Narsinh Mehta's bhajans have remained popular in Gujarat and Rajasthan for over 5 centuries.
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Much of what is known about Narsinh Mehta is derived from his own compositions and poetic works, due to the lack of formal historical documentation during this period.
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Additional insights into Narsinh Mehta's biography are found in works from other poets of subsequent eras, as their poems describe in detail the personality of Narsinh Mehta and certain key events from his life.
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Narsinh Mehta began to speak only after meeting a holy man who had him utter the phrase "Radhe Shyam".
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Narsinh Mehta's parents died when he was five years old, and he was left dependent on his older brother and his sister-in-law.
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One day, when Narsinh Mehta had enough of her taunts and insults, he left the house and went to a nearby forest in search of some peace, where he fasted and meditated by a secluded Shiva lingam at Gopnath mahadev Mandir for seven days.
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Pleased by his devotion, Shiva manifested before Narsinh Mehta and took him to Vrindavan where he saw Krishna and the Gopis dancing.
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Narsinh Mehta was so engrossed in watching Krishna that he didn't realize the torch was burning his hand.
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Narsinh Mehta asked to have never-ending devotion of Krishna and the ability to sing about his glory.
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Narsinh Mehta resolved to compose around 22,000 kirtans or compositions.
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Thereafter Narsinh Mehta moved out of his brother's home and to a small house in Junagadh, where he began a life of devotion dedicated to Krishna.
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In Junagadh, Narsinh Mehta lived in poverty with his wife and two children, a son named Shamaldas, and a daughter for whom he had special affection, Kunwarbai.
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The Nagar Brahmin community, which Narsinh Mehta belonged to, found it offensive that Narsinh Mehta associated with those deemed a lower caste.
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Many Nagar Brahmin's at the time worshipped Shiva, and some sources state this contributed to their opposition and torment of Narsinh Mehta, who was an ardent Krishna devotee.
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The family priest of an influential individual named Madan Narsinh Mehta, came to Junagadh in search of an appropriate partner for Madan Narsinh Mehta's daughter.
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Narsinh Mehta invited Krishna to the wedding, much to the ridicule of the other Brahmin's who mocked Narsinh Mehta's poverty and hopes that Krishna would help him.
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Many in the community questioned the poverty of Narsinh Mehta and assumed he was deceiving everyone.
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The legend of Krishna coming to Narsinh Mehta's aid is preserved through compositions by later poets and films.
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The Nagar Brahmin's continued to oppose Narsinh Mehta, and instigated the King of Junagadh, Ra Mandallika to test Narsinh Mehta.
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The King falsely accused Narsinh Mehta, and demanded that Narsinh Mehta ask Krishna to send him the garland from the murti in the temple of Damodar.
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Narsinh Mehta prayed all night and pleaded with Krishna to make the King's demand come true, so that others would not fear pursuing a path of devotion.
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The Narsinh Mehta Award was established in his name to recognize excellence in Gujarati literature.
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Narsinh Mehta's bhajans belong to the genre "deshi" in Gujarati, which is known as "pad" as a close similar in North Indian languages.
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Narsinh Mehta is known for ragas common during the morning time, spring, and rainy season.
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Narsinh Mehta composed items for his own singing, and it is impossible to confirm or reconstruct the melodies in which he sang them.
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One of the most important features of Mehta's works is that they are not available in the language in which Narsinh had composed them.
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Narsinh Mehta's work has expanded beyond his Hindu bhakti into secular contexts such as school events and cultural programs.
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Narsinh Mehta's bhajans are frequently performed in the popular gujarati genres of garbi, dhol, and prabhatiya.
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Narsinh Mehta's works are typically organized into 4 broad categories that contain substantial overlap.
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The first Gujarati talkie film, Narsinh Mehta directed by Nanubhai Vakil was based on Narsinh Mehta's life.