Post by J.K. SIVAN on Aug 9, 2013 13:35:25 GMT 5.5
VITOBA, THE NECTAR 12
12 MARRIAGE ARRANGEMENTS
Dear Children
You already know our old guruji Narsi Metha, who has come in some stories before, a person responsible for bringing to our knowledge some miracles of Vittal. Metha was an ardent devotee of Vittal is n't it? His parents wanted him to get married though he was not interested in anything except Vittal Bhajans. Anyway, the parents found a suitable bride for him and got him married. As the days passed by, Narsi Metha became a proud father of two children - a son and daughter. Even though the children were growing, Narsi Metha was remaining the same man, always singing Vittal Bhajans. The children grew up and were ready for marriage.
No doubt, you were happy to read about how Vittal helped Narsi Metha's daughter.
In this story, you are going to be told how Metha performed his son's marriage.
Narsi Metha lived in a small town called Junagadh. In the neighbouring town called Shambur, there lived a rich merchant by the name Tripuranthak. He had a beautiful daughter and he wanted her to be married to a boy from a rich family.
In the same town, there lived another Panduranga devotee by the name Krishna Bhat. He was an admirer of Narsi Metha, and had great respect for him and enjoyed Narsi Metha's bhajans.
One day Vittal came in Krishna Bhat's dream and said "Krishna! I want you do something. Arrange for the marriage of Narsi Metha's son with Tripuranthak's daughter".
Bhat was thrilled and woke up, and the first thing in the morning, he walked to Tripuranthak's house and told him about his dream. Tripuranthak enjoyed Bhat's message as a big joke and had a hearty laughed but it was only his immediate reaction. As he thought about it leisurely, he could not take it as a joke because he knew Krishna Bhat very well. He felt that if it is Pandurangan's order, how can he go against it?
So he called Bhat and told him
"Ok Mr. Bhat, I respect your word and believe it is Vittal's wish and instruction that my daughter be married to Narsi Methaa's son, but you must understand that it should be with the understanding that Narsi Metha should arrange for the marriage befitting my status and reputation in society, and so he should arrange for gifts of a lot of gold and silver. in the wedding for my daughter."
Krishna Bhat was baffled but he already decided that he would do anything to get this marriage done because it was Vittal's instruction to him.
Next day, Krishna Bhat went to Junagadh to meet Narsi Metha. Metha lived in a very old dilapidated house. However, the beautiful Vittal bhajan which came from that house was like a magnet. He went into the house and immersed himself in the bhajans.
After the prasad distribution, Metha asked Bhat about his whereabouts. Bhat told him about himself, Tripuranthak and his dream. Metha was stunned and thought that Vittal was making fun of him knowing well that Metha was a pauper and penniless and cannot afford matrimonial alliance with the rich Tripuranthak family.
Bhat said " No Guruji, it is Vittal's order and I must act on the instruction given. If He wished it shall be done"
With the help of an astrologer, Bhat fixed the wedding date also. He made all the arrangements and went to Tripuranthak's house to inform about the arrival of groom's party in a few days since marriage was fixed to be conducted on a particular day. Tripuranthakan had a doubt. He had heard that Narsi Metha was very poor and he definitely could not match Tripuranthak's status. So he was wondering how Metha would conduct the wedding. He could not say anything or do anything to stop the wedding as Bhat said that it was Vittalan's order.
On the day of the wedding, Metha went with his family to Shambur. Guess how he looked? He wore a very dull colour dhothi, angavasthram. He had Tambura in one hand and Chipla (a pair of wooden sticks to beat while singing) in the other hand. None of his family members were dressed well either. Anyway, they were all very happy walking and singing Vittal's bhajans.
The passerby who looked at them perhaps thought that this group was going on some pilgrimage rather than a bridegroom party.
What was the reaction of Vittal?
He was also getting ready for the wedding function.! "Rukmani, Satyabama! both of you please come with me. We only arranged for this wedding. Isn't it our duty to help Metha?".
After this, suddenly a group of people joined Metha's procession. The new group of people appeared very rich as they were wearing gold and diamond jewellery. They also brought lot of things like fruits, snacks, jewels, clothes etc as presents for the wedding. Seeing this, other rich people of the town also joined the procession.
As the large number of bridegroom party was approaching Shambur, the leader of the rich group which joined them on the way, with all the jewellery and presents approached Metha and said
" Methaji! our family know you and we wanted to be part of you to participate and celebrate your son's wedding". Metha replied "Sir! you are so kind me though I have not met you before I am sure Pandurangan has sent you all to help me. I am very poor. I agreed for this wedding which is beyond my family's financial status, because of Vittal's instruction. But everything looks like a dream unbelievable to me. I pray to Pandurangam to shower his blessings on all of you". Hearing this, the merchant laughed. Metha thought the merchant was teasing him and said "Sir! please don't laugh. Whatever I say is from the bottom of my heart with Pandurangan as witness". The merchant said "Methaji! I am not laughing at you. I was wondering as to how to bless myself. That thought brought laughter to me" , Saying thus, the Merchant showed his real self as Vittal to Metha for a minute and changed back to the merchant form. Metha was dumbstruck. All he could utter was "Jai Vittal" "Hare Vittal" Seeing Metha's exalted state, Vittal said "Methaji! I will go with all family members to the bride's house first. I will give you some clothes and jewels. All of you change to these new clothes and come to the bride's house" So saying the merchant and his family left.
There was a well decorated white horse. The groom hopped on the horse. There were many coaches as well. Metha's family and other guests travelled in them to the bride's house.
Now let us enter the bride's house and see the happenings there. At the bride's place, Krishna Bhat was waiting anxiously. The moment he saw the Merchant and his group, he realised Vittal has started the game. Happily, Bhat approached Tripuranthak and said "Sir! Look at the gifts brought by Metha's family. It seems they are richer and wealthier more than you are."
Tripuranthak rushed out to welcome them. Vittal (Merchant) looked at Tripuranthak and said
"Are you the bride's father? My name is Sawalasa. I am Narsi Metha's servant. He has sent lot of things in the form of dowry. I think we would need at least a three storey building to keep them. Have you arranged for a special place for the groom's family? Looks like you have not made any arrangements. Act fast. Soon the groom's family will be coming here". Hearing this Tripuranthak was stunned and he was nervous.
As soon as Narsi Metha came, Tripuranthak rushed to him and prostrated before him with his whole family and begged "Methaji! please forgive me. Without realising your true devotion to Vittal, I said things which were not right. Please forgive me.". Metha himself was shaken. He said "Maharaj! Don't say such things. I do not know anything. I am a very poor man. Everything here is done by Vittal because of his kindness to his devotee. That’s all".
All is well that ends well isn't it?. The wedding went off very well as planned by Vittal. What did Metha give to Vittal in return? A beautiful song. Have you all heard the song "Vaishnava Janatho" sung by Smt. M.S.Subbalakshmi.
Yes. Narsi Metha wrote this song and sung it for Vittal. See how Vittal is enjoying the song. Come. Let us also listen to the song in the beautiful voice of Smt.M.S.Subbulakshmi. All that you need to do is to close your eyes, while enjoying the song just thinking of Vittal's benevolence and kindness for us.