Story of the bhakta - Narahari

 The story of a bhakta – Narahari Sonar- Part 1

There are bhaktas of all kinds in Sanatana Dharma. We have many Gods and many forms of worship. Does it mean that only a particular form of God will help me? Is there a hierarchy in the Gods? These are questions that many of us have daily. Let us see if we can find the answers through a story.

We all know that the naughty but powerful Vittala resides in the beautiful temple of Pandarpur. One of the defining traits of Vithoba (as Vittala was fondly called by the townsfolk) was to play with his devotees and give them his blessings. This is about one such blessed person who was felt by Vittala as deserving of his grace and blessings.

In the temple town of Pandarpur where Vittala resided, there lived a gold smith called Narahari. Narahari got the name of Narahari Sonar as he was a gold smith by profession. He was an excellent craftsman and was known across the many towns in the area for his jewellery and silver ornaments. He was particularly adept at making jewellery for temples and deities. Narahari was very proud of his skill. He lived happily in Pandarpur with his family.

We have to understand that Vittala was the father, mother and child for many in Pandarpur. The God in the temple was treated as a member of the family by many and they though about him, talked about him, sang about him and praised him. Most of the towns people visited their much loved Vithoba in his temple once or twice a day.

In this respect, Narahari was very different from his fellow towns people. He was an ardent devotee of Shiva. There was a Mallikarjuna Swamy temple in the town. That was Narahari’s favourite place. He made it a point to visit the Mallikarjuna swamy temple before he opened the shop in the morning. Then he finished his work for the day and went back to the Shiva temple in the evening.

Interestingly, while visiting the Shiva temple, Narahari used to be very careful to avoid the vicinity of Pandarpur Vittala temple. He used to take a longer route. His love for his Shiva and his distrust of Vittala was so strong, that he refused to even look at the gopuram (the raised roof) of the Vittala temple.

The towns people used to make fun of Narahari. When he was going towards the Shiva temple, one morning, his friend called out “Narahari, there is a festival at the Vittala temple. Let us go there, take prashad and then go to your Shiva temple. “

Narahari looked at him angrily. “You know very well that I do not want to see that place. I have to visit my Swami. I have better things to do.”

His friend was not letting him go. “Okay. You do not have to come into the temple. Atleast wait outside. I have something to discuss with you regarding your profession. Let us walk together to the Shiva temple.”

Narahari was enraged by now. He shouted at his friend. “You are my friend. That is why I am still talking to you. I will not say his name, I will not visit his house and I will not even walk on the road that he lives.”

His friend was hurt and taken aback. But kept quiet. This outburst of Narahari’s became quite famous and after that people started making fun of his unreasonable hatred towards their Vittala. Some were amused, a few were irritated and others called him crazy.

Nothing moved Narahari. For his own reasons, he was very firm in his conviction that his Mallikarjuna Swamy (Shiva) was superior to the Vittala.

Things were going onl like this for a while. Vittala decided he wanted to play a small game with Narahari. So did Vittala manage to change Narahari. Let us see......