॥ શ્રી સ્વામિનારાયણો વિજયતે ॥

VACHANAMRUT PARATHĀRO

1. The Birth of Shri Hari

Akshardham, the divine abode of God, situated in the midst of Golok,¹ with its luminosity excelling the light of millions of suns and moons in its exceeding brightness. It is also known as Sat-chit-anand, as Brahmpur, Amrutdham and also as Paramapad, the highest place coveted by a devotee. It is infinite and is also known as Brahman or Chidakash. In this Akshardham, Lord Krishna resides who is also called Purushottam, Vasudev, Narayan, Parameshwar and Vishnu. He transcends both kshar and Akshar. He is omniscient, all-doer, controller, antaryamin, the cause of all causes, nirgun, self-luminous and independent. He is worshipped by an infinite number of liberated souls who have attained the brahmic state.

He indulges in His divine leela, such as creation, sustenance and destruction of millions of brahmands. Prakruti Purush, Kal, Pradhan Purush, and Mahattattva are his various media whom He inspires to work in tune with His wish. He is the sovereign King who enjoys suzerainty over millions of brahmands. He always looks young and has charm which excels the charm of millions of Kandarpas. He has a dark complexion, dark as the clouds of an ensuing monsoon season.

He has been adorned with various precious ornaments and is richly dressed. His ears are adorned with golden kundals of the shape of a fish. On His head lies a crown with precious jewels embedded in it. His eyes are like lotuses which blossom in the monsoon. His body is anointed with sandal paste which exudes rich fragrance.

He plays the divine flute. Radhikaji and Lakshmiji, waiting upon Him with devoted fervor, serve Him with devotion. He is also worshipped by Nand, Sunand, Shreedama and other infinite number of parshads. Sudarshan and other divine weapons are also in His service. He is as luminous as the luminosity of millions of suns and moons. He is full of divine attributes. Dharma, gnan, vairagya compose His aishvarya, and anima, laghima, the various Siddhis wait upon Him to serve at His lotus feet. The four Vedas in personified form pray to Him for His grace. He is the sustainer of the Chaturvyuh, namely, Vasudeva, Aniruddha, Pradyumna and Sankarashan, and also of the twenty-four forms beginning with Keshav, and from whom the Varah and various other incarnations emanate.

This Shree Krishna Purushottam Bhagwan with all His aishvarya has manifested Himself on this earth in Koshal Desh (Uttar Pradesh) to found Ekantik Dharma and to afford protection to His devotees, including Dharma, Bhakti, the Rishi Marich and others and to shower upon them His grace, besides affording redemption to other jivas.

Once, the Rishi Marich and others had assembled in Badarikashram to have the darshan of Bhagwan Narnarayan. Hearing this, Dharmadev, along with his consort Murti Devi, went to this ashram for the darshan of Shree Narnarayan. In this assembly, Narnarayan, who was seated along with Uddhavji, respectfully welcomed Dharmadev and prayed to him to be seated. The Rishi Marich and others had narrated to Narnarayan the adverse conditions which were prevailing in Bharat. Narnarayan began to repeat this story to Shree Dharmadev and to the other Rishis and to Uddhava. They became engrossed in listening to the same.

At this time came Rishi Durvasa from Mount Kailas. The assembly was engrossed in hearing the story from the mouth of Shree Narnarayan. No cognizance was therefore taken of the Rishi’s arrival. Durvasa felt insulted. In a mood of fury, he cursed the whole assembly, saying, “You have all insulted me. You shall therefore all descend to Bharatkhand where, in your human forms, you shall all suffer the miseries inflicted upon you by the demons.” Hearing this curse, the assembly was stunned. Dharmadev prayed for mercy. Durvasa complied with his request and granted, “I understand now that you were all attentively hearing the talks from the mouth of Shree Narnarayan Rishi. I realize that in such a state of unawareness, you did not know of my arrival and could not therefore respectfully receive me. My curse is irrevocable, but I shall lessen the intensity of its effects. I bless you, Oh Dharma! that you and your consort Murti shall be born in a Brahmin family and this Narayan will be born of you as your son. He will then deliver you all from my curse and shall protect you from its evil effects.” So saying, Durvasa Rishi returned to Mount Kailas.

Then Narayan Rishi, addressing Dharma and others in the assembly said, “You have been cursed without any fault. If I wish I can revoke the curse. But Kali – the dark age – has spread its vicious influence. I have, therefore, accepted the curse. Oh Dharma! I shall be born as your son and shall destroy the demons and their demoniac influence. I shall protect you all. Shed all fear and be prepared to be born on earth.” Hearing these words of solace, Dharma and others paying obeisance to Narnarayan Rishi left the ashram to be born on the earth.

There is a town called Itar in Koshal Desh (Uttar Pradesh). In this town lived Samvedi² Pande Bal Sharma, a brahmin, of the Sarvariya branch. Through his wife Bhagyavati was born at noon Dharmadev on the 6th day of the bright half of the month of Kartik in the Samvat year 1796. Bal Sharma performed the purificatory rites. On the twelfth day, the child was named Dev Sharma.

Murti was born of Travadi Krishna Sharma and his wife Bhavani in Chhapiya, a village in Koshal Desh, on the 15th day of the bright half of the month of Kartik in the Samvat year 1798, at an evening hour. As she grew up, she was found deeply devoted to Shree Krishna and was therefore known amongst the village folk as Bhaktidevi.

Krishna Sharma, the father of Bhaktidevi, decided to marry his daughter to Dharma who was like a personified form of Dharma. After the marriage, Krishna Sharma requested his son-in-law to stay with him and Dharma consented. Both Dharma and Bhakti devoted most of their time to the worship of Shri Krishna. People therefore called them Dharma and Bhakti.

As time passed, Dharma was overcome with troubles flung at him by demoniac people. He, therefore, left Chhapiya for Vrindavan. Here Marich and other Rishis met them and the pre-natal acquaintance renewed. They all with renewed vigor worshipfully prayed to Shree Krishna. Pleased with their devotion, Shree Krishna gave them His darshan, and, gracefully blessing Dharma and Bhakti, said to them, “Oh Dharma and Bhakti! The demons who were killed by Me in Krishnavatar bear vengeance against Me. Since you are my devotees, with all venom in their hearts, they enjoy harassing you. But now I shall be reborn as your son in the form of Narayan Rishi. I will be known as Harikrishna. I shall protect you from these evil doers and shall redeem you all of the curse inflicted upon you by Durvasa. Rest assured, the evil will be wiped off completely and I shall found Ekantik Dharma on the earth” So saying, Shree Krishna Bhagwan disappeared from there but manifested Himself in the heart of Dharmadev. Pleased at this divine darshan, Dharma and Bhakti returned to their village, having become fully fulfilled. As Krishna had showered His grace (prasad) upon Dharma, the village folks began to address him as Hariprasad.

After some months passed, on the 9th day of the bright half of the month of Chaitra in S. Y. 1837³ at night at 10.00 p.m. Shree Krishna was born to Dharmadev and Bhakti Devi. The news of the birth of a son plunged Hariprasadji and the village folk in an ocean of merriment and joy. Hariprasadji celebrated the occasion with great pomp and splendor. Indra and the other devas also became jubilant and hailed the auspicious birth of this child on the earth. They played pipes and beat drums. They showered flowers in abundance. Apsaras (celestial maidens) danced and the singers sang divine songs. The munis blessed the child. The devas and the sadhus were pleased at the advent of this auspicious time which marked the birth of this divine child. The minds of the demons became obsessed by the ensuing threat which this child held for them. Village women sang songs and blessed the infant Hari. The atmosphere became pleasant with cool breezes and exuded fragrance. The sky became clear and the stars gleamed brightly.

The family priest assisted Hariprasad in performing the purificatory rites. He then gave alms in abundance to waiting brahmins.

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