Post by J.K. SIVAN on Aug 6, 2013 5:44:26 GMT 5.5
Dear Children
5. “The Letter"
Have you ever heard or come across a devotee writing any letter to God? Is not funny and weird to even think so? How is it possible for any devotee of Vitoba to write a letter to Himl? To which address any letter can be written? While we all would agree that it is impossible, to Narsi Metha it was possible and he did write a letter to Vittal and Vittal acted on it!
Narsi Metha was a poor but sincere Vittala devotee. He had a daughter who was so beautiful like the celestial beauties Ramba and Urvasi. She was ready for marriage but Metha spent most of his time in meditation, bhajans and serving Vittala's devotees. His mind was full of thoughts on Vittal and there was no place in it for any worry about his daughter's marriage.
One day a merchant came to Metha's town. He was very thirsty. So he went into Metha's house to quench his thirst. Mehta’s daughter welcomed him, gave him something to eat and drink asked him to take some rest. He was very impressed by Metha's daughter's good qualities. He said to Metha "I have a son and I want him to marry your daughter". Metha replied "I am very poor and you are very rich. How is it possible?". The merchant said "I am not interested in money. I want the girl to have good qualities and I am very happy that your daughter is a very nice girl. So let us arrange for their marriage". After that, the marriage took place and the girl went to her in-law's place. The merchant's wife was narrow minded and was always after money and wealth. Therefore she was not happy with Narsi Mehtha or his daughter, because they came from a poor family. So she ill-treated the girl and one day she sent the girl back to her parents, telling her that she could return to her husband's house only with money.
The girl came back and Metha and his wife were very upset and they started crying. The girl kept quiet but inwardly she was crying. During prayers Metha lamented "Hey Vittala! You were a witness to this marriage. Now where will I get so much money?". Unable to see their daughter's situation, the mother said to Metha "I cannot see our daughter suffering. I do not know how you will arrange for the money but you please go and leave her at her husband's place".
Next day, Metha took his daughter to her husband's house. Throughout the journey, he was praying to Vittal. When they entered the house, Merchan't wife was not happy. She did not receive them and showe no respect for Mehta. She asked for the money again.
Lo! Mehta acted quite opposite to his nature. What happened to him suddenly? Metha gathered courage and shouted "What is this? You are always asking for money. Give me a list of what you want and I will arrange for them". As Metha raised the voice, the lady got scared. She gave a list and Metha left saying he would arrange for all things within four days. He left the daughter in her husband’s place and returned back.
On the way back, Metha was thinking "What happened to me? Why did I shout like that? Where will I find money to buy the things". Anyway he left everything to Vittal
Couple of days later, a group of Vittal devotees were passing by Metha's house. They were looking for Narsi Metha. He was very happy to serve the Vittal devotees and offered them what little he had for eating and drinking. The devotees were very happy to meet and talk to Mehta. The leader of the devotees said "we are all going to Pandaripuram. We have lot of jewels and cash. We were told that it was not safe to travel with these items. We were told that you are a very pious and honest man and a great Vittal Baktha. So we decided to leave all our valuables with you for safe keeping.
“Are you all regularly visiting Pandaripuram?” asked Mehta
“No this group is visiting for the first time. In fact we have no one there to guide us and were told that you are a frequent visitor and you know many there and have a special contact person there . So we need your help in Pandaripuram through your trust worthy contact person. Can you please request that person to arrange for money so that we can collect from him for our expenses at Pandaripuram. On the way back, we will collect the jewels".
Again Mehta acted quite against his nature. Without hesitation Narsi Metha immediately said "Yes. I know someone in Pandaripuram.
“Who is he?’
“ His name is Shyamala Sa. I will write a letter to him and the moment you show this letter, he will take care of your requirements".
Narsi Mehta was handed the money and jewels by the devotees and proceeded to Pandaripuram with a letter addressed by Mehta to one Syamala Sa..
Now Metha opened the jewels and cash bag and can you guess how much cash and jewels were there? Yes. The bag contained exactly the same amount of cash and jewels as per the list given by his daughter’s mother-in-law. Metha was rendered speechless and tears of gratitutde filled his eyes. He muttered “Vittala” . It was the third day. He had promised to return with the required money and jewellery within 4 days to the greedy woman. So he thanked immensely Vittal for having arranged his need and proceeded to the village where his daughter was living.
On seeing him the greedy woman became angry but when he handed her the bag to her she was very happy and from then on she treated the young girl without any hate or dislike. All she wanted was money and jewellery and she had it now.
In the meantime, the devotees group went to Pandaripuram and enquired for Shyamala Sa but none of them knew who Shyamala Sa was. Without money, they did not know what to do and where to go. They were searching everywhere and became tired and hungry without any money also with them. They finally decided to go to Vittal 's Temple and prayed. They did not think that Metha cheated them. Instead they felt something has gone wrong and were wondering what to do.
As the group of devotees were seated with worries eating them, another group of merchants entered the temple. The devotees approached them and asked if they knew anyone by name Shyamala Sa. They said "of course we know. Can you see the person standing in the middle. He is Shyamala Sa and he is our leader". Upon hearing this, the devotees' leader was very happy and he spoke to Shyamala Sa.
"Sir! Are you Mr. Shyamala Sa?" he asked.
"Yes. I am." The leader of the devotees felt completely relieved and happy.
“Sir, you know Narsi Metha in Junagadh town? He has given a letter to you",
"Yes, yes. I know Metha very well. He is my superior. Is he here. I want to meet him? “
Shyamala Sa looked here and there in the group and asked “ Why has he not come?” Shyamala Sa read the letter addressed to him and his face beamed with delight and happiness. He smiled completely pleased with the contents of the letter addressed by Narsi Mehta.
“”Mehta has asked me to help you. I will help you as per his request".
Shyamala Sa called a local merchant and told him to help the devotees and fulfill all their requirements. Whenever possible Shyamala Sa also met them. The devotees were all very happy and felt they met Pandurangan himself in Shyamala Sa who took so much interest and care in their welfare and arranged for them to stay comfortably .
After their pilgrimage, the devotees returned to Junagadh town. They very happily visited Narsi Mehta’s house.. On hearing the news that the group of devotees have returned from Pandaripuram and are expected to see him for taking back their jewellery, Metha had a nightmare. He felt guilty for misguiding and cheating them compelled by his poverty and dire circumstances. He cursed himself saying "how am I going to return the jewels and money? Don't know how they suffered in Pandaripurm without money? How am I going to face them?". He was confused and prayed to Vittal to save him from embarrassment.
As soon as the devotees came, they prostrated in front of Metha . He stood helpless and was prepared to take any punishment they would give him for his misdeed.
The group of devotees fell at his feet and embraced him.
"Sir! You are a blessed soul and greatly respected for your Vittal Bakthi. Your contact person Shyamala Sa is really very rich but the moment we told him your name, he was extremely glad and immediately looked for you in our group and disappointed that you did not join us. He arranged for our stay and made our pilgrimage quite memorable and a successful one. Because of his respect for you Every now and then he was enquiring about you. Yes. above all, he gave us back our money and jewels.". They thanked him and left.
Metha was stunned and could not speak. He was so touched by Vittal's kindness that he immediately left for Pandaripuram and throughout the journey, he was singing in praise of Vittal.
Dear children, if you happen to hear the famous and popular meaningful song "Vaishnava Janato" you may recall that the father of the nation India, Mahatma Gandhiji was very fond of this meaningful song and daily sang it in his prayers in which many joined him. It was Narsi Mehta who wrote this song and Gandhi was also born in the same Gujarat state like Mehta.