Narasimha Saraswati


Shree Narasimha Saraswati Swami or Shree Nrusimha Saraswati Swami was an Indian guru of Dattatreya tradition. According to the Shri GuruCharitra, he is the second avatar of Dattatreya in Kali Yuga after Sripada Sri Vallabha.

Life

Shri Narasimha Saraswati lived from 1378 to 1459. 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 and his mother initially named him Narahari or Shaligramadeva, with the surname Kale.
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/ Narhari was a quiet child, only speaks Aum since their birth. This led his parents to worry about his speech ability; however, Narahari showed through hand gestures that after his upanayana or munji, he would be able to speak. He started reciting the Vedas after his munja, which so impressed the Brahmins in the village that it was talked about, with senior learned Brahmins coming to him for learning.
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.
After becoming a Sanyasi, Narasimha Saraswati visited several holy places before returning to Karanja at the age 30 to meet his parents. He visited various places and stayed before settling in Ganagapura for the last 20 years of his life.
Towards the end of his life, Shri Narasimha Saraswati met with the Muslim king 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. Saraswati took Nijanandagamana 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.

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.