Arrival of Bhagwan Shri Hari in Loya-Nagadka granting joy to Sura Bhakta.
Arrival of Bhagwan Shri Hari in Loya-Nagadka granting joy to Sura Bhakta.
Suvrat said:-
Preparing for his departure, Uttam packed his things, necessary books and others in boxes; he then approached Shukanand muni, panting from of all the toting. 1.
Uttam told him about his decision to leave; this devotee responded with a smile. 2.
Uttam said:-
O Lord, your decision to leave has made Jaya and others very upset, considering how your delicate, tender body can bear the extreme cold of the season. 3.
Shri Narayan muni said:-
My birth place is in the Himalayas, so I can naturally bear the cold; my body is used to it. 4.
O King, you should not worry about it; tell the king so.’ Hearing this, Uttam realized his independent behavior and said nothing. 5.
Then king Uttam with his sister Jaya and others thought about their decision and decided to go with Shri Hari to bring him to his town. 6.
Then Bhagavan uttered the blessing words “Jay, Jay” with deep love to Mayaram and other Brahmin, rode his maven named Tajana, and set off with his Munis and others to the Nagadakapur. 7.
Hemant, Uttam and Vastu, the kings and others also rode on their horses with spears in hands, while Jaya and other ladies went in chariots. 8.
Then Shri Hari, keeping all his books in boxes, followed them in his cart. Shukmuni overtook (Shri Hari) on his horse swiftly. 9.
Galloping fast on his mare, Shri Hari overtook all with his speed. He smiled at the Munis who were also riding their horses. 10.
At that time on the lengthy highway, youths had a vision of Shri Bhagavan from both sides of the road. 11.
Bhagavan Shri Hari arrived at the town named Loya, where Surakhachar lived. In that town, Surakhachar honoured and felicitated Shri Hari and the other Brahmins who accompanied him. He served them food that he had already kept ready (for them). 12.
When Bhagavan was going through Surakhachar’s town Loya, people who had come to see him from Nagadakapur, bowed to him with respect and took him in procession with the sounds of drums and accompanying bands. 13.
There, the chief of the town Loya, was named Simha [Patel], belonging to Vaisya caste and his men joined Surakhachar. They all served Shri Hari and the Munis. 14.
In that town, devotees served and honoured Shri Hari as he spent some days there. 15.
Shakotsav Leela in Loya.
Everyday Shri Hari preached them about the religion according to the four Varnas along with his Munis. 16.
In the assembly, Sursinha and other devotees worshipped Shri Hari, offered him clothes and ornaments. 17.
People of that town, namely Vrtanka and others offered him various vegetables with deep devotion. 18.
There, Shri Hari saw their cooking skills and joined to help them, adding ghee among other things. 19.
Shri Hari’s behavior is described as follows At first, Shri Hari lit the fireplace and placed a big deep pan on it;, he poured some ghee [clarified butter] in it. He then dropped Vaitaka vegetables, held the firewood in this hand and his yellowish cloth was used frequently. He smiled as a he glance at the onlookers. Shri Hari looked very charming at that time. 20.
After preparing vegetables, Shri Hari made everyone sit in rows for dinner. He then took the pot in His hand and served the cooked vegetables with ladle. As he kept serving them he heard words of praise about the tastiness of the preparation. 21.
Making thus happy them by displaying his accessibility, he came to Nagadaka town with his retinue of devotees and Munis. 22.
In that town, Shri Hari stayed in Surakhachar’s house while other devotees camped at other places according to their status. 23.
There, Surakhachar, his wife and son served and honored Shri Hari with deep devotion, love, faith and generosity. 24.
He performed Shri Hari’s worship devotedly, offered him clothes, ornaments and silver coins according to his ability. 25.
He offered sandalwood paste, garlands of flowers and delicious foods of all types. 26.
In this way, Bhagavan Shri Hari, was honored, respected and worshipped by the King. He lived there for five days and preached them religion. 27.
On the fourth day, sitting in an assembly, Shri Hari addressed all his devotees — householders and others. 28.
Shri Narayanmuni said:-
O all of you devotees, please listen. From tomorrow begins Uttarayana (the movement of the Sun to the north of the equator); you can take bath and offer alms to your capacity. 29.
This time, when the sun enters Capricorn, is auspicious for twenty four Ghatikas. We should have holy bath and perform other rituals (in this period). 30.
On this Sankramana- transition, all men should start Magha snana, the holy bath; the main ritual of duty is offer sesame as alms. 31.
In this month of Magha, it is preferred to perform the Chandrayan vrata, you should all perform it, as it is one which abolishes sins. 32.
Kruchhra vrata is very useful and advantageous to all men and women, for the purification of body and it satisfies Lord Vishnu- Ramapati. Hence you can/should all observe this. 33.
Thus ends the seventeenth chapter entitled ‘Description of Narayan Muni’s visit to Loya and Vrtanka’ in the fourth Prakaran of Satsangijivan, the life story of Lord Narayan, also titled as ‘Dharmashastra’ (the rules of the code of conduct). 17
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