Arrival of Bhagwan Shri Hari in Panchalpur of Hematsinh Raja and celebration of many festivals.
Arrival of Bhagwan Shri Hari in Panchalpur of Hematsinh Raja and celebration of many festivals.
Suvrat said:-
Thus after staying for five days at Nagatakapur, Shri Hari set out with his devotees including Survarma and others to Junagadh. 1.
While going on the way Shri Hari told the sajjanas to tell Hemantsinh, ‘O King, please take us to your Panchala town. Hemantsinh responded in the affirmative and respected his message upon his head. 2. On
the sixth day, Shri Hari arrived at Panchala town where there were many green trees. Hearing about the arrival of Shri Hari, Anupasinh himself (Hemantasinh’s younger brother) came forward with all the devotees. 3.
They all bowed down to Shri Hari with deep respect and faith, joined by Hemantasinh and all. They all took Shri Hari in procession with drums, trumpets etc. into the town. 4.
O King, Hemantasinh took Shri Hari to his own house to stay with his devotees. All other devotees were arranged for stay in different houses. 5.
Then King Hemantasinh treated all the devotees, Sri Hari and others with deep respect and hospitality according to his wealth. 6.
O King, what to tell about the deep respect of King Hemantasinh! This King, with all his wealth and prosperity, offered his service to Shri Hari. 7.
Then one day, observing the reducing faith and growing non- religious attitude of the town dwellers, 8.
Shri Hari said:-
O King, mostly I prefer to stay in the forest, but I came to your town. This town seems to be good for pious people to stay. 9.
This, town of yours is an old one, but I see nothing particular in this town. I came here at your request. 10.
As you wished me to do a favor on your people, I’ll come and stay there for two-three days. And I’ll stay in this town for two- three months. 11.
O King, when Bhagavan told him this, that king was very satisfied and said with love, ‘O Lord, you are our master, you can stay wherever you wish to.’ 12.
Oh, Hari, there is nothing particular in our town as well, all the citizens come here only to have a look at your face for your vision. 13.
In this way, Shri Hari liked to stay there, with his devotees; he made all the devotees and the members of their family very happy. 14.
As he stayed in Uttam’s house, at Durgapur just as he would do in his own house, he stayed at this King’s house, considering it as his own. 15.
Shri Hari lived there for one and half months, making the King’s family, his devotees and all very happy, pleased and joyful. 16.
The residents of Junagadh came there to have the pleasing vision of him along with men, women and all the devotees who had warm faith in him. 17.
People from other villages also came in thousands, to catch a glimpse of Shri Hari. They all honored and respected the Lord, and became very happy and pleased. 18.
At that time, the festival of Mahashivaratri was celebrated with great enthusiasm. Shri Hari observed fast with his devotees. 19.
Brahmins performed the Maharudrabhiseka along with Sri Hari. Shri Hari then offered monetary gift to Brahmins. 20.
Next day, Shri Hari, the master and savior of religion celebrated the Parana of Shivaratri; he offered a feast to thousands of Brahmins. 21.
Every day, Shri Hari preached to all the devotees the teachings of Upanisads, the Brahmavidya and the Vedic philosophy. 22.
Then in the month of Phalguna, Shri Hari celebrated the birth festival of Narnarayan on the Uttara Phalguni constellation. 23.
He performed/celebrated the festival here in the same way he did in Vrttalay. 24.
Many people from far off places had come in devotion to attend this festival. They all honored Shri Hari by worshipping him with sandalwood, flowers and various presents. 25.
King Hemantasinh also offered his worship everyday with all his men. 26. He, the King, offered various white, red robes and gold ornaments to Shri Hari. 27.
He offered Kashmiri saffron, sandalwood paste, unbroken white rice grains (aksata), flowers, garments (to the Lord). 28.
He also offered Abeera, Gulal, and a ghee lamp; he offered flowers and did a Sashtanga namaskara with deep devotion and faith in him. 29.
Then the king’s brother, Ramapratap, also worshipped Sri Hari with sandalwood paste, various pricey clothes, rice , and ornaments. 30.
Hemantasinh’s mother - Ganga, his aunt Aditi and other women devotees worshipped him with faithful respect. Along with other citizens from Junagadh, people of Panchala town also worshipped him with respect and honored him. 31.
The King, Hemantasinh and his brother also worshipped Shri Hari and other sages with devotion. They offered sandalwood paste, unbroken rice grains, flowers and various clothes. 32.
Then the generous King gave delicious meals, with sweets and pure ghee to all of them. 33.
During a night of the festival, Shri Hari sat on a throne with all his devotees. The arrangement resembled the imperious moon surrounded by constellations. 34.
In that assembly, all the men, women – married and widowed, enjoyed the honey-laden speech (of the Lord) laced with beautiful teaching sentences without batting an eyelid. 35.
There in that assembly Shri Hari said – ‘If at all anyone of you have any doubt about religion in your minds, you can happily ask me, I’ll answer all of them.’ 36.
At that time when Shri Hari said this, an inspired Akhandanand joined his palms in respect and asked him questions which were duly answered by Shri Hari. All of them were fully pleased and contended, they joined their palms in respect. 37.
Thus ends the twentieth chapter entitled ‘Return of Narayan Muni to Junagadh’ in the fourth Prakaran of Satsangijivan, the life story of Lord Narayan, also titled as ‘Dharmashastra’ (the rules of the code of conduct). 20
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