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| June 26, 2000 | ||
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RAJKOT,
GUJARAT A temple dedicated to a Dalit saint helps bridge the caste divide By Uday Mahurkar
But travel to Gujarat's Saurashtra region and visit the Pushtimargi Vaishnav temples there. It's quite likely that you will come across groups singing soulful hymns written by Jivansaheb. Even music companies have cashed in on Jivansaheb's popularity and roped in renowned singers like Hemant Chauhan, Karsan Saghathis and Ramdas Gondalia to sing the bhajans. Jivansaheb-also known as Daasi Jivan, the
prefix Daasi being attached to his name apparently because he appeared
before some of his devotees as Radha. Lord Krishna's beloved-was a devotee
of Lord Krishna and spent a lifetime penning 360-odd Today, Jivansaheb's samadhi at his village of Choghavadar near Gondal in Rajkot district draws devotees by the dozen. Says Bapu "People from all the 18 varnas (caste) visit the temple, giving credence to the popular Hindu belief that saints don't belong to any caste. "Even the Brahmins credit the Dalit saint with the power to grant their wishes. "If you are sincere, Jivansaheb invariably fulfils your wishes," affirms Shantaben Parmar, a housewife from Dhandhni village near Rajkot. She reportedly suffered from a mysterious ailment which led to a four month ordeal of swollen feet. She claims it was a mannat at Jivansaheb's temple that cured her of her ills. People, thankful for the changes in their lives, express their gratitude in various forms. Some offer the humble supari at the temple, other sheets and coconuts. Jivansaheb's popularity has given rise to several stories about him. Many believe the Dalit saint was blessed with Lord Krishna's presence every time he sang mellifluous bhajans to the accompaniment of his sitar. Once, so the story goes, Devidasji, a sadhu from Parabvavdi village near Junagadh, summoned Jivansaheb to prove his spiritual powers. He was forced down a dry stepwell and asked to fill it with water by invoking his extraordinary powers. In face of Devidasji's obduracy, Jivansaheb sang, "O Lord! I didn't know this was the price I would have to pay for worshipping you. "Soon after, water gushed into the well. Another narrates the story of Jivansaheb's release after the then ruler of Gondal, Bha Kumbha Jadeja, imprisoned his for failure to cough up contract money. A distressed Jivansaheb sang a bhajan that went: "Oh Lord! You are my sailor. Please save this boat from capsizing." A merchant soon arrived at the prison and gave the guards 150 rani sikkas (local currency). The money was an offering to the saint, explained the merchant, as it was thanks to him that he had been blessed with a son. The amount was more than what Jivansaheb owed to Bha Kumbha. The Merchant disappeared as mysteriously as he had arrived. Believing that it was none other than Lord Krishna who had come to Jivansaheb's rescue. Bha Kumbha sought the saint's forgiveness before setting him free. The money continues to be preserved at the Gondal palace. Small wonder then that Niranjan Rajyaguru-a Brahmin from Ghoghavadar who has completed a doctorate on Jivansaheb from Saurashtra University-considers him one of the greatest saint of his time. Which indeed he is considering the happiness he seems to be able to bring into so many lives cutting across caste barriers. |
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For
a man who's been dead 200 years, Jivansaheb is a lifeforce to reckon with.
Who would think that a temple dedicated to a Dalit would draw people from
all casts, particularly at a time when the country's religious circles are
in tizzy over suggestions that Hindu reconverts should worship in separate
temples?
bhajans that have become so popular today. He came from a well-to-do
family, his father being a rich contractor responsible for disposing of
dead cattle in various princely states. According to Jayadev Bapu, a monk
and descendant of Jivansaheb, the saint's father had a claim to a seat in
the darbar in Gondal state despite being an untouchable. Jivansaheb was
married and helped his father in his business even as he adopted the
religious course.