Naraharisonar, an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva, lived in Pandaripuram. Though living in Pandaripuram he had never once visited Pandarinathan's temple.

Stories - Naraharisonar

Naraharisonar, an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva, lived in Pandaripuram. Though living in Pandaripuram he had never once visited Pandarinathan's temple. He held the principle of not to look at any god but Lord Shiva. However, the chant of Lord Hari's names always echoed throughout Pandaripuram. Naraharisonar had tied two bells to his ears to avoid the chant falling in his ears. The moment he learnt of anyone chanting "Hari" he would ring the two bells tied to his ears and thus ensured that the name of Lord Hari did not fall in his ears.
In this Pandaripuram there was a dilapidated Shiva temple. Daily he would go there and conduct abishekha, pooja and offer naivedya. He felt saddened that none in this Pandaripuram bothered about his Lord Shiva. Seeing the dilapidated state of the temple he used to weep out of grief.
Naraharisonar was a very smart goldsmith. Once a very rich man who was childless vowed to offer a gold kavacha to Lord Panduranga if he were to be blessed with a child. As his prayer was answered, to fulfil the vow he had taken, he looked out for a goldsmith who could make the best kavacha. As everyone recommended Naraharisonar he approached him for this purpose.

But, Naraharisonar bluntly refused to make the jewel for Lord Panduranga who was none other than Lord Vishnu. The rich man, however, pleaded with Naraharisonar,"You need not enter the temple. I shall bring the measurement for the jewel. You can make it accordingly. If you would make this jewel I shall renovate the Shiva temple and conduct its kumbabishekha." Just on this condition Naraharisonar agreed to make the jewel. He made the jewel to the exact measurement provided, but when it was offered to Lord Panduranga it turned out to be very small. The measurement was taken once again and the jewel remade and offered. And this time it turned out to be too big. The temple priests then declared that the goldsmith himself should come and take the measurement for the jewel.

Naraharisonar stubbornly refused to enter the temple premises. But then he was somehow pacified by the others. He said,"whatever happens my feet should not touch the temple ground. Never will I look at Panduranga with these eyes". Blindfolding him,two persons carried him upto Panduranga in a dholi (palanquin). It was then decided that he should take the measurement for the jewel by feeling Panduranga with his hands. When at first he touched Panduranga's head he felt the matted hair, the flow of the Ganga and the crescent moon. "Aha", he said,"isn't this Lord Shiva whom I worship?" He quickly untied the cloth. But the great Magician Panduranga stood there with his two hands held at the waist and and an enchanting smile playing on his lips. Naraharisonar quickly tied up the cloth to his eyes and touched the chest only to feel the rudraksha and the garland of skeletons. He once again untied the cloth only to see Panduranga.

As this occurred over and over again the knowledge dawned on Naraharisonar that it was only Lord Hari Himself who was present in everything.

The blindfolded Narahari took a thread to measure Vitthal’s waist and began his work. But while touching Vitthal’s body he felt Vitthal wearing tigerskin as his garment. This made him curious. Then he held his hands and felt the deer, axe, trishul, agni, drum and all of Shiva’s paraphernalia and this made him very suspicious. He even felt rudraksha mala around  his neck, cresent and Ganges on his head ,his third eye on his forehead  and snakes over his body. Having felt all this his suspicion made him so anxious and he wanted to have darshan of Vitthal as he was almost sure of seeing lord Shiva. The very next moment he removed his blindfold with great expectancy but he was utterly disappointed to see lord Vishnu instead of lord Shiva. At first he felt as if he had made a grave mistake. Immediately he closed his eyes with his hands, but he felt lord Shiva’s presence in front of him. He then understood this leela of god and he prostrated in front of lord Vitthal.

Narahari immediately bursted out crying , Oh Vitthala, ”please forgive me, I have done a great mistake all my life due to my ignorance. I didn’t realize Hari and Shiva are the same. I will have to forsake moksha for my fanatic attitude and the sin I have committed. ”Then a voice was heard from the sanctum sanctorum” this leela was performed to show to all through you that there is absolutely no difference between Vishnu and Shiva who are both aspects of the same Parabhramam”. Narahari was excited with what he heard and the realization that he had and with great love offered the waistband to the lord and it fitted perfectly. From then on, Narahari became devoted to Vitthal whom he realized was Hari &  Shiva  in one form. In one of his abangs on Vitthal he says “it is immaterial to me whether this deity is Shiva or Vishnu, all I seek is your unconditional love and grace oh Vitthal”.

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