Origins of Narnarayan Dev Jayanti

Birth of Nar and Narayan

Narnarayan Dev Jayanti (Fagan vad 1) marks the birth of Lord Nar and Lord Narayan. Their objective in taking birth was to vanquish a demon named "Kunchi." Kunchi meditated and performed a rigorous penance to Lord Brahma. Impressed by his devotion, Brahmaji appeared before him and offered to grant a boon. Without hesitation, Kunchi asked for immortality. Brahmaji, however, replied that even he himself was not immortal and had to face death. Realizing this, Kunchi cleverly devised a way to prolong his life span. He requested a boon for a thousand body armors (protective shields). Each of these body armors would only be lost if someone performed penance (while doing brahmcharya vrat) for a thousand years and then engaged in battle with Kunchi for another thousand years(1000 Years of Penance & 1000 Years of battle to lose 1 armor) and Brahmaji blessed him and he became known as Shahastra Kunchi (a man with thousand shields) Sahastra Kunchi felt invincible and began to harass the world and demigods.

Being harassed by Kunchi, the demigods approached Lord Brahma for help. Brahmaji explained that he had already granted Kunchi the boons, and he himself didn't have a solution. However, he suggested seeking help from Lord Vishnu. Upon approaching Lord Vishnu, he reassured the demigods, saying, "Do not worry about Kunchi. I will incarnate on Earth to address this issue. Return to your abode."

Brahma had a son named "Dharma." Dharma married thirteen daughters of Daksha Prajapati named Sraddha, Maitri, Daya, Santi, Pusti, Tusti, Kriya, Unnati, Buddhi, Medha, Titiksa, Hri, and the last one, Murti. Dharma and Murti then undertook rigorous penance on the shores of Sabarmati in Ahmedabad. As a result of their devotion, the lord himself took birth as their son in four divine forms on Fagan Vad 1: Hari, Krushna, Nar, and Narayan. Krushna chose Golok as his abode, while Hari went to Kshir Sagar. Nar and Narayan were born as sixteen-year-old youths. The demigods arrived with a golden hindola for Narnarayan Dev, but they were refused. Narnarayan Dev stated that they were born as hermits and had come for penance. Consequently, the demigods returned to Swarglok. From a forest called "Nandan" they fashioned a hindolo of flowers. Coming back to a place called "Narayan Ghat," they gathered Kesuda (Palash Flowers) and made colors from them. They played with Lord Narnarayan, performed aarti, and placed them in the hindolo, celebrating with a grand utsav.

After seeking permission from their father Dharma, Narnarayan decided to embark on penance. They journeyed to the Himalayas and began their penance on the banks of the river Alaknanda. One summer day, Lakshmiji observed the Lord enduring the heat of the sun's rays during his penance. Concerned, she transformed into a Bordi Tree to provide shade for him. The Bordi tree is also known as Badri, hence the place where they were performing penance came to be known as Badrikashram.

One day, Indra became concerned that Narnarayan Dev were performing penance to claim his throne in Swarg. To test and disrupt their penance, he decided to intervene. Indra sent an apsara named "Rambha" to dance before them, but despite her efforts, the Lord did not open his eyes. After some time, Lord Narnarayan finally opened his eyes and addressed Rambha, stating that her beauty could not affect him, as he had millions of Apsaras at his service. He then created an apsara named "Urvashi" from his right thigh (as "Ur" means thigh in Sanskrit), presenting her to Indra as a gift. Upon seeing Urvashi, Indra realized her unmatched beauty and acknowledged that there was no other apsara as her in Swarg. He humbly asked for forgiveness from Lord Narnarayan, and they resumed their penance undisturbed.

Fight against Sahastra Kunchi

One day, Sahastra Kunchi came to fight Narnarayan. Nar and Narayan immediately engaged Kunchi in battle, one performing penance for a thousand years while the other fought. They alternated roles: when Nar fought for a thousand years, Narayan would be in penance, and vice versa. This rotation bewildered the demon as he realized the brothers were identical. They continued this cycle of penance and battle for thousand's years until Kunchi realized he had only one shield left. In desperation, he retreated to Suryanarayan and begged for His protection. At that time, it was Nar who was fighting Kunchi. Since Kunchi had sought protection from Suryanarayan, Nar did not kill him. However, the demon realized the divine nature of his opponent and begged for salvation. Nar informed him that in Dwaparyug, they would incarnate as "Krishna and Arjun," and during that time, they would kill him, granting him salvation.

In Dwaparyug, many years later, Kunti married King Pandu. When she was young, she served Rishi Durvasa devotedly, impressing him. As a reward, Durvasa granted her five powerful mantras that could summon demigods, enabling her to ask for sons from them. To test the efficacy of these mantras, Kunti, though unmarried, invoked Surya, the Sun God. Surya granted her a boon, but Kunti, having summoned him only to test the mantra, declined. However, Surya insisted that the mantra's power must manifest, and thus, Kunti was blessed with a son, who was born wearing armor (Sahastra Kunchi - born with the Last Armor). This son was later known as Karna, who reincarnated with the armor as his protection, representing the last shield that needed to be destroyed for Karna's defeat. In response to this, Lord Narayana incarnated as Lord Krishna, and Lord Nar took birth as Arjuna. Recognizing that removing Karna's armor through conventional means would be immensely challenging, (Doing 1000 years of penance and 1000 years of war to break the armor)Krishna devised a plan. He arranged for Indra, disguised as a Brahmin, to approach Karna in the early morning. Aware of Karna's reputation as a generous donor, Indra requested Karna's armor (kavach) and earrings (kundal). Karna, true to his nature, readily agreed, thus making it easier for Arjuna to ultimately defeat him in the Mahabharata war.

How to Celebrate Narnarayan Dev Jayanti

This festival also marks the arrival of spring as well as the Anniversary of Narnarayan Dev. The story continues that from Vasant Panchmi. Lord Krishna and his companions were joyfully playing on Revataachal Mountain (Mount Girnar). The Yadavas made a swing from the trees and flowers and sat Lord Krishna and Arjun on the swing. They performed pooja of Lord Krishna and joyfully took in turns to push the swing. Arjun sat alongside Lord Krishna in this manner depicts the murti of Nar Narayan Dev. On this day, devas arrived at Dharmadev's ashram and performed pooja of Nar Narayan Dev and pushed the swing to please him.

In our temples we celebrate this festival in a similar way to Vasant Panchmi, where coloured water is sprayed on devotees. A swing is made and decorated with flowers on which the Nar Narayan Dev murti is placed and devotees gently sway the swing. Poojan of Nar Narayan Dev is performed followed by an Aarti. Songs associated with the festival are sung accompanied by musical instruments. Similar to Vasant Panchmi prashad of popcorn is served.

Narnarayandev Jayanti is the only birth of the Lord where fasting is not required.

In India Satsangi's go to the temple wearing white clothes in order so that they can return home completely covered by the coloured water sprayed in the temple, thus accepting the showering of blessings from Bhagwan.