User:Vishal Jagdishbhai Bhatt

EARLY LIFE
On 29th June, 1938 in Ankadiya Village (Gadhada Taluka, District: Bhavnagar, State: Gujarat)

Wife of Shri Mahidanbhai Gadhvi, Smt.Jivuba gave birth to a male child, he was named by them as Shaktidan. The lives of Mahidanbhai and Jivuba were of utmost spiritual nature. Often Monks and Saints visited their home. Shaktidan was born along with such sacraments too.Shaktidan's cross uncle was good psalmodist (Bhajanik). Shaktidan’s visit to his uncle's house was frequent. He would be always ready to attain his uncle's house at Bhiladi village of Amreli due to his attraction towards listening the Bhajans sung by his uncle, he too starts singing the bhajans with his uncle too.

The recalling power of Shaktidan was best at his tender age. He alone recited the bhajans as sung by his uncle. The relatives and acquaints of Shaktidan were astonished with his memory.

A Police officer, friend of Shaktidan's Father told that this child will be excellent in his future studies, but the situation was such that he could only pass second standard. Though Shaktidan was not saddened by such event. At that age he started spending time with monks and saints visiting his home and village.

When he entered in adolescence, he was encouraged to sing bhajans in programs by Shri Ramdasji (Famous as Godadiya Bapu) and Swami of Sardhar Shri Hariharanandji they also helped him. Shaktidan then settled in Sardhar, he learned to play Harmonium too; he was started being famous as psalmodist (Bhajanik). Albeit his economic condition was not too good. At the age of 24, he got married due to his elder's advice. After marriage, responsibility of regular income was laden upon him so he had to think about it. But there was no possibility of earning livelihood in Sardhar so he went to Rajkot in the search of job, but almost illiterate Shaktidan was unable to get the job, so he learned driving and started driver's job for an industrialist. He talked about his hobby of singing to the industrialist; the industrialist was a person of good faith so permitted Shaktidan to sing in public and spiritual programs.

For few years in the decade of sixties (1960's) he fulfilled the duty of driver. At daytime he drove the car and in night in spiritual program he sung bhajans in front of huge audience in his excellent god gifted voice. During this year his wife gave birth to two sons and a daughter.

FROM SHAKTIDAN TO NARAYANAND SARASWATIJI MAHARAJ
Living a worldly life Shaktidan was always attracted and attached towards Spirituality. In the year 1969 when his Guru Swami Shri Hariharanandji died, he was feeling uneasy with worldly life. On a day in the year 1969 at his Guru's Cenotaph place he remembered his guru and renounce the world and took the Name of Swami Narayanand. After renouncing his wife, two sons and daughter and worldly life he started living as hermit in different pilgrim places.

From transformation from Shaktidan to Narayanand and wandering in different pilgrims, he established his Ashram at riverfront in the village Bilkha in Saurashtra region of Gujarat; the Ashram became popular in few years beyond the boundaries of Gujarat. And devotees from Mumbai and Kolkata arrived at ashram. From the devotees, a devotee grab the opportunity to launch record of Swamiji’s bhajans (At that time gramophone records were used) the first record was released in his name “Narayan Swami” and his name started becoming popular at that time. He had also recorded bhajans in studio, the reports of a powerful Music Giant H.M.V. shows that in India there were only to artist who would barely take any retakes and they were Narayan Swami himself and Melody Goddess Lata Mangeshkarji. Sometimes swamiji visit 3 or 4 a.m. in early morning to record the bhajans in the studio. After the advent of Tape recorder and Cassettes in India, a famous Audio Company launched cassettes with Swamiji's bhajans, at that time Narayan swami started becoming popular in each and every village of Gujarat. Through his voice Narayan Swami became famous so much that saints and monks from all over Gujarat visited his programs called Santvani. At the time of Bhaagvat Katha Saptaah of Shri Dongreji Mahaaraj and Ramkatha of Shri Moraridasji Hariyanavi, the public at night enjoyed the bhajans sung by Swamji. Shri Dongreji Mahaaraj and Shri Morari Bapu too listen the bhajans of swamiji till late night.

Famous as Bhajanik (psalmodist), Narayan swami also established other ashrams at Mandvi and Bidada in the district of Kachchh and at Junagadh also. On the auspicious day of Mahashivratri, large number of devotees beyond imagination arrived at ashram to listen swamji's bhajans. His best bhajans were 'Kanudo Kalo Kalo', 'Chhodi Mat Ja Vanjaara', 'Kailash ke Niwasi', 'He Jag Janani','Vohi Mera Shyam hain' and many more. The devotees lost their presence by listening such pure voice and words of swamiji. Narayan Swami never took any training to sing but he had great voice and his magical words were effective too. Many a times swamiji sung for the whole night and till the next day morning for the devotees. Swamiji was moody person nobody can greed him to sing. Once upon a time a rich Gujarati businessman asked swamiji to sing before his guest but swamiji does not sing at businessman’s home. In Mid-70s (1970s) the district Kachchh faced with drought so swamiji organized bhajan programs in Mumbai and Kolkata and in other cities too and the sum collected by him was donated by him in panjarapol of Kachchh district who gave shelter to pet animals. Through his voice he could be a millionaire but he passed his life in his own happiness and giving pleasure to the devotees and helping to others.

Much more can be written for this saint but we end here with an event of his life, once upon a time swamiji’s  musician fellow’s mother was ill so he went there to meet her, swamiji  had told no to the businessman to sing but there the fellow’s mother with tears in eyes asked swamiji to sing swamiji asked his fellow to take out the instruments and he sang for two hours.

HEAVEN DEPARTURE
World renowned Narayan swamiji died on September 16, 2000. But he is today living in hearts of his devotees through his bhajans. His Cenotaph had been created at Narayan Ashram, Chapaleshwar mahadev temple, near Talav naka, Mandvi in the district of Kachchh.