Narasimha Saraswati

Life

Shri Narasimha Saraswati (birth name - Shaligramadeva or Narhari) lived from 1378 to 1459 (Shaka 1300 to Shaka 1380). Saraswati was born into a Deshastha Brahmin family in Karanjapura, modern-day Lad-Karanja (Karanja) in the Washim district, which is a part of Vidarbha region of Maharashtra, India. His father (Madhava) and his mother (Amba-Bhavani) initially named him Narahari or Shaligramadeva, with the surname Kale.[[File:SriPada Sri vallabha.jpg|thumb|First Incarnation - Sripada Srivallabha]]

Shri Narasimha Sarswati is considered to be the second incarnation of Dattatreya, the first Incarnation was Sripada Srivallabha, as per his blessings to Amba Bhavani, in her previous birth, Sripada Srivallabha had blessed her & he advised her to perform shiva pooja. Later he also told that he would be born to her in her next life as Narasimha Saraswathi to uphold the Sanatha Dharma in Kali Yuga. This instance has been well narrated from chapter 5 to Chapter 12 in the holy book Guru Charithra

Shri Narasimha Saraswati left home in 1386 at the age of 7 all alone and went on a pilgrimage to Kashi on foot. He took Sanyasa at Kashi from Old Sage Shri Krishna Saraswati. The second part of his name came from this guru, who eventually named him Shri Narasimha Saraswati. (This is a Sanskrit name.)

After becoming a Sanyasi, Narasimha Saraswati visited several holy places (tirtha) before returning to Karanja at the age 30 to meet his parents. He visited various places and stayed before settling in Ganagapura (Ganagapur) (now in the state of Karnataka) for the last 20 years of his life.

Towards the end of his life, Shri Narasimha Saraswati met with the Muslim king (Sultan) of Bidar, possibly 'Ala-ud-Din Ahmed Shah' of the Bahmani Sultanate, who was ruling the area at that time.

Since his karma for that avatar had completed, thus he decided to take samadhi. He left for the forest of Kardali (Kardali vana near Srisailam). Saraswati took Nijanandagamana (निजानंदगमन) type of samadhi in 1459 for 300 years.

Chronology

The main events of Sri Narasimha Saraswati's life are given below. Possible years and dates are given according to descriptions of the lunar and stellar events calendar mentioned in the Shri GuruCharitra. Bharatiya Itihas Sanshodhan Mandal trimonthly 9.4 (Gurucharitratil Aitihasik Mahiti, J. S. Karandikar) pp.6-16; Maharashtramahodayacha Purvaranga: N.S.K. Gadre, pp.68

• Sha. 1300 (1378 CE): Birth Karanja, Washim district, Vidarbha region, Maharashtra
• Sha. 1307 (1385 CE): Upanayan
• Sha. 1308 (1386 CE): Left home
• Sha. 1310 (1388 CE): Took Sanyas
• Sha. 1338 (1416 CE): Arrived back home at Karanja
• Sha. 1340 (1418 CE): Travelled along the banks of the river Gautami
• Sha. 1342 (1420 CE): Stayed at Parali-Vaijanath, Beed district, Maharashtra
• Sha. 1343 (1421 CE): Stayed at Audumbar (near Bhilavadi), Sangli district, Maharashtra
• Sha. 1344-1356 (1422-1434 CE): Stayed at Narasoba Wadi (Narasimhapur), Kolhapur district, Maharashtra
• Sha. 1357-1380 (1435-1458 CE): Stayed for 23 years at Ganagapur, Kalaburagi district, Karnataka
• Sha. 1380 (28 January 1459 CE): Nijanandagamana in Kardali Vana at Srisailam, Nandyal district, Andhra Pradesh

Teachings

Shree Narshimha Saraswati taught that the life of saints was fully covered by the rules given in the old scriptures and the rules were to be strictly followed by the saints in their daily lives in order to achieve happiness and, ultimately, moksha. He insisted that his disciples follow these routines.

Biography

Many parts of Saraswati's life are told in the Shri GuruCharitra, written by Saraswati Gangadhar.

Legacy

Saraswati's house where he was born is located in Karanja Lad. Although the house is no longer in the original shape, some parts remain and have been converted into a temple.

References

References

1. ''Shri Dattatreya Dnyankosh'' by Dr. P. N. Joshi (Shri Dattateya Dnyankosh Prakashan, Pune, 2000)
2. "Sree Nrusimha Saraswati Swamy | Sree Datta Vaibhavam".
3. "Narasimha Saraswati".
4. ''Shri Narasimha Saraswati'' (Karanja) page with [http://www.gurumandir.org/gurucharitra.html Shri Guru Charitra.]
5. "Gurumandir Temple".
6. Marathi, TV9. (2022-01-04). "Gurucharitra {{!}} जन्मानंतर लगेच ॐचा जप, नरहरी म्हणून प्रसिद्ध जाणून घ्या श्रीनृसिंह सरस्वती स्वामींची संपूर्ण माहिती".
7. "Shri GuruCharitra (English) {{!}} Guru {{!}} Shiva".
8. "Ganagapur".
9. "Shri Guru Charitra.".
10. (4 July 2019). "Marathi Vishwakosh (मराठी विश्वकोश)".
11. ''Akkalkot Niwasi Shree Swami Samarth (Shri Narasimha Saraswati)'' Complete Biography
12. ''Shri Narasimha (Nrusimha) Saraswati'' (Karanja) page with [http://www.gurumandir.org/gurumaharaj.html Brief life history of Shri Gurumaharaj.]
13. link. (16 December 2018)
14. ''Shri GuruCharitra'' (Sri GuruCharitra) [http://www.saidarbar.org/glory/glory4.htm see point 2] on this page to see the difference between modern and old Shri Guru-Charitra
15. [http://divyajanani.org/saibharadwaja/books/SreeGuruCharitra/Introduction.html Sree Guru Charitra] {{Webarchive. link. (18 October 2007 Complete online book in English by Acharya Ekkirala Bharadwaja.)
16. ''Shri Gurumandir Sansthan, Karanja - Birthplace of Shri Nrusimha (Narasimha) Saraswati Swami Maharaj'' [http://www.gurumandir.org - Home Page of Gurumandir - a Lord Dattatreya Temple]