Bhagat Namdev Ji is traditionally believed to have been born around Sammat 1328, according to several historical and devotional sources. Bhagat Ji was married to Rajabai Ji, daughter of Gobind Shetty Ji and they had five children. Four sons Narayan, Mahadev, Govind and Vitthal and one daughter Bibi Lamba Bai Ji. Bhai Kahn Singh writes in Nabha Mahan Kosh that Bhagat Ji’s first stage was spent in the worship of Shiva and Vishnu Ji, but he attained self-knowledge by staying in the company of great men like Vishoba Khechar and Gyandev Ji. A major part of his life was spent in Pandharpur or Pundripur (Sholapur district). Many of the poems composed by him, called Abhangs, are found in Marathi language and are very famous. His Bani is recorded in Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji.
The interior of the house traditionally believed to be his birthplace has been preserved in an ancient architectural form. This house of Bhagat Namdev Ji was maintained by a Teli family. Later, his descendants increased and there were six families, who continue to live here till now. In order to get the memory of Bhagat Ji, 6 houses had to be built outside to make this house vacant. These families preserved the old history well, which is a good thing. When we enter the birthplace of Bhagat Namdev Ji through the narrow streets, we see a small bunker-like room prepared inside this house, about 5 feet high and 6 feet wide. To explain in simple terms, it can be said that just as biscuit makers in villages used to prepare a kiln for their bakery, this bunker-like place has been built in Bhagat Namdev Ji’s ancestral house.
Seeing this bunker-like small place built in a large room, our surprise knew no bounds. When we asked the servant present at this place about this bunker-like place, he told us a very interesting thing. The servant told us that when Bhagat Ji was born several hundred years ago, medical facilities were very limited. He told us that according to local oral tradition, it is believed that in earlier times such enclosed spaces were used to protect mothers and newborns for about 40 days. The belief behind this practice was to protect the mother and child from environmental exposure, as understood in that period.
The servant said that Bhagat Namdev Ji and his mother were also kept in this bunker-like place for a month and a half and this is an ancient place, which is a place of worship for the devotees of Bhagat Namdev Ji. Two small doors have been made to enter this place. It is believed that the bed or mattress would have been brought in through one door and food etc. would have been brought to the mother and child through the other door. It is a matter of great joy that this place is still preserved in its ancient state and a picture of Bhagat Ji is also installed inside it. When people come to visit the birthplace of Bhagat Ji, they definitely visit this holy place. The servant said that no new construction has been done in this place, but only a stone floor has been made in the lower part of the interior. All the other belongings have been preserved in the same way.
A river named Kyadu also passes through the village of Narsi Namdev. Ancient temples are built on the banks of this river. It is believed that Bhagat Namdev ji used to worship at this place. It is also said that this was the family temple of Bhagat Namdev ji and other devotees of this area. It is said that Bhagat Namdev ji’s father was also a devotee and used to conduct his affairs with a righteous and honest attitude and used to chant Kirtan daily with great devotion and devotion, and used to eat food and water only after offering Bhog to the village’s Keshi Raj (Lord Vishnu). One day, due to some business, Bhagat Namdev Ji’s father Dam Shetty Ji had to go to a distant village. After him, Bhagat Namdev Ji was entrusted with the duty of performing Bhog (bhog) to the idol of the Lord. Bhagat Namdev Ji was then in his childhood.
When it was time for food, Bhagat Namdev Ji served food in a plate and with great devotion took this plate and reached the temple of Bhagwan Keshi Raj Ji. In the temple, he placed the plate of food in front of the idol of Bhagwan and started worshipping with great devotion and said, “Oh Bhagwan, please enjoy the food.” Bhagat Namdev Ji was very surprised to see that the idol of Bhagwan Keshi Raj neither moved nor tasted the prasad. A doubt arose in the mind of Bal Namdev Ji that this was going to be a big disaster. He thought that when Bhagwan Ji eats prasad from his father’s hands every day, why is he not eating prasad from his hands today? He prayed a lot to Bhagwan and started making sincere requests, but still Bhagwan did not eat the prasad. Finally, Bhagat Namdev Ji poured milk in a bowl and placed a plate of Prasad in front of him and sternly warned the Lord that if he did not drink this milk from my hand and did not taste the Prasad, then he would give up his life right now in this temple.
It is said that seeing Bhagat Namdev Ji’s devotion, Lord Vishnu Ji’s throne shook and immediately appeared in a physical form and tasted the Prasad brought by Bhagat Namdev Ji and also drank the milk. Then Bhagat Ji also blessed Bhagat Ji. By that time, some other people had also reached the temple of Bhagan Keshi Raj Ji. This miracle became famous not only in the entire village of Narsi, but in the entire area like a forest fire. Seeing this miracle, all the people started considering Bhagat Ji as a special person. Devotees believe that traces of this event are still visible on the hands of this idol.
Bhagat Namdev Ji used to worship in the temple built on the outskirts of the village. This temple is built on the banks of the Kiyadu river. Now there is also a place of meditation of Bhagat Namdev Ji here. One thing is quite famous about the Kiyadu river that the people of the area float the ashes of their deceased relatives in this river. It is believed that the water of the river has this special feature that the ashes floated in it dissolve in 24 hours and get mixed in the water itself. The people present here also told that when there is no water in the river, people dig the sand of the river and press the ashes in it and after 24 hours only sand remains at that place and the ashes get mixed in the sand. The people of at least 84 nearby villages have a great faith in this place and people consider it good to float the flowers or ashes of their relatives in this river.
Since the time of Bhagat Ji, the iktar has always been playing outside this temple. The people who play the Iktara make a regular noise. The duty of the Iktara players changes from time to time. The roof is left hanging with a rope. When the Iktara player gets tired, he grabs the rope tied to the roof and starts playing the Iktara again, immersed in the devotion of the Lord. The people of the area consider it a good deed to put sandhur on the Iktara. Mothers of children come here with them and put sandhur on the Iktara and pay homage to it.
A magnificent Gurdwara Sahib is being built in the memory of Bhagat Namdev Ji outside the village Narsi Namdev, a little away from the village. About 7 acres of land outside the village was purchased by the Shiromani Bhagat Namdev Memorial Association, on which this Gurughar has been built. Kar Sewa has been going on at this place since 1997. The President of the Association, Tehsildar Jagjit Singh and General Secretary Prof. This place is being developed under the supervision of Puran Singh. The association claims that this is the place where Bhagat Namdev Ji met a lion. It is said that Bhagat Namdev Ji used to play with his younger friends and often used to come and go here while walking. At that time, there was a forest all around, in which wild animals also used to come. Bhagat Namdev Ji used to see the form of God in everything. One day, when he came to the forest with his friends, suddenly a fierce lion came out here. All the children ran back to their homes after seeing the lion. Bhagat Namdev Ji also saw God in the lion and said that God, you also appear in this form.
He said that when the children saw that the lion had come and Bhagat Namdev had run and hugged the lion, they went and told Bhagat Ji’s mother Gona Bai and father Dam Shetty Ji that the lion had eaten Nama. All the villagers and Bhagat Ji’s mother and father came running here. When they saw Bhagat Namdev Ji hugging the lion. The lion was standing calmly before them with its head bowed. Bhagat Namdev Ji called his parents and his friends to him and said, “Come and have darshan of God.” Everyone was surprised to see this miracle. Similarly, once when Bhagat Ji was very small, he entered the hearth while playing and started catching fire, thinking it was a beautiful object. People were scared to see this, the little boy would get burnt in the fire, but as soon as Bhagat Ji stepped into the hearth, the fire went cold. That is why people knew from childhood that Bhagat Namdev Ji was a complete saint. A Gurdwara Sahib has been built at this place. A langar hall is being built and a sarovar is also to be built. The house frames that came out of Bhagat Namdev Ji’s house are preserved here as a sign.
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