* Shree Ghanshyam begins studies. Birth of Iccharambhai. * Daily routine of Shree Hari and His worship of Lord Shree Ramchandra. * Veneration of Shree Ramchandra.
Shri Ghanshyam begins studies.
Suvrat said:-
In the same his fifth year, on the second day of bright fortnight in the month of Chaitra on a Friday, in an auspicious hour, influenced by the Leo sign and of star Ashvin, Dharmadev observed the commencement of education for his son Shri Hari. 1.
He commenced the procedure with the worship of Ganesh in accordance with rituals, followed by worship of Lakshminarayan, Sarasvati, the Samaveda, and the preceptor Gobhil. 2.
He offered ghee etc. in the sacrificial fire and gave food to the Brahmins. Then he gave cows, gold and money to them as much as he could. 3.
Krishna being very brilliant learnt the alphabets and numbers in short time and started reading the books. 4.
Seeing Shri Hari’s sharp intelligence, educated Dharmadev, taught him humbly all the six additional texts of the Vedas. 5.
Without much difficulty he studied all of them before his ritual of wearing sacred thread, which made his father happy. There he saw that huge river who happens to be the dearest consort of the ocean. 6.
His early childhood was passed with engaging himself in plays adoring Vishnu. Therefore Shri Hari, the son of Dharma entered into the later stage of childhood. 7.
Birth of Iccharambhai.
O king, when he was six years old, on the second day of the first half of Vaishakha month, on Sunday, early in the morning, Bhaktidevi was blessed with another son. 8.
Possessing qualities like Pradyumna, he always followed Shri Hari. He became popular by name Iccharam, adored by all. 9.
Very early in the morning ‘Shri Hari always used to go to Sarayu for taking bath. Then he used to adore Raghunatha by reciting his name and hymns. 10.
He worshipped Rama by sandal-paste, whole grains of rice, flowers, incense-stick and lamp. While worshipping he used to offer some food or fruits to Lord Rama and ate only whatever offered. 11.
Being pure himself holding the rosary made of the Tulasi wood in his right hand, used to chant the name of Rama repeatedly, everyday. 12.
Putting a vertical mark on the forehead with sandal-paste after taking bath, he used to circumambulate Ramakuta. People wondered at the child’s composure. 13.
He used to go everyday to Laksmanatirtha, the birth place of Rama and Vidyakunada to see Rama’s idol. 14.
Having Darshana of Lord Rama, prostrating before him and knowing Ramayan through listening, he used to praise the greatness of Rama. 15.
Shri Hari worships Rama and Maruti.
By the mere touch of lotus feet of Rama, Ahalya the wife of Gautama got enlightened instantly, who was lying in the forest in the form of stone helplessly. I adore that benefactor of living beings, who is compassionate and loving unconditionally. 16.
I worship Lord Rama, who not considering the caste and belief of Guha, the king of Nishdas, the cruel one, who happened to be born in the wicked natured cruel tribe, wandering like a beast in the dark woods, and of low intellect, embraced him with great compassion. 17.
Jayanta, the son of celestial king Indra, though being mischievous to Sita in appearance of a crow and deserved to be killed by an arrow of Rama, who wandered in three worlds to protect himself but did not succeed and he was left with only one choice of saving himself by going to Rama, thus he went surrendering unto Rama in a nervous, sorrowful state, he was forgiven. I worship that Rama. 18.
Compassionate Rama visited the place of Sabari a low-caste tribal woman by birth, who was longing to see Him, and by eating the jujube fruits offered by her, became pleased. I salute Him the companion of Sita. 19.
Rama performed all the final rites humbly as a son would do to his father, for Jatayu though a flesh eating vulture, born in the family of birds, who was devoid of all asceticism. 20.
Having seen Sugriva, the leader of monkeys, becoming home-less, threatened by his brother, and coming surrendered unto Him, Rama, having killed Vali, brought back the lost throne for Sugriva, as a token of intimate friendship between them. 21.
Though Vibhishana being the brother of His rival, Rama, seeing him coming even from distance, greeted and embraced him, happily. I salute that Rama. 22.
It is believed that remembrance of creatures like bear and monkeys bring forth inauspiciousness for men, even those were rendered piety like hymns of Vedas in His refuge. Other innumerable living beings are saved from the earthly bondage which otherwise is an ocean miseries. 23.
With folded hands, he used to praise lord Rama always, coming home he used to continue the study of ancillary texts of the Vedas. 24.
O King! While naming him Markandeya predicted the noble qualities in him, thus everyone around him including Dharma, were experiencing those qualities. 25.
He became famous everywhere through his ritualistic steadfastness as a boy, excelling even his forefathers’ reputation. 26.
As he was saved from the demonises in his infancy by the son of Marut, (wind) Maruti, he was advised to worship Maruti, by his parents, which he used to follow devotedly, respecting their words. 27.
The beloved son of Dharma used to teach the religious worship of Shri Vishnu like Prahlada when the children and the natives came in his contact. 28.
All the friends of shri Shri Hari, by his influence, leaving child-plays instantly, became engaged in adoration of Shri Krishna, like Sanaka and other sages. Seeing this, their parents also became surprisingly happy. 29.
With an intense detachment and being completely spiritual, and disinterested in the pleasures of worldly things, he was desirous of leaving the house, but stayed there like a water droplet on the petal of a lotus, awaiting his sacred thread ceremony to be a celibate. 30.
Thus ends the twenty-eighth chapter entitled ‘Shri Hari’s devotional activities in his later childhood’ in the first Prakarana of Satsangi Jivan, the life story of Lord Narayan, also titled as ‘Dharmashastra’ (the rules of the code of conduct) 28