Farman of Akbar and Goverdhan Temple : Janmashtmi Special

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Abhay

@history_geek

Rocker

+ 5

Posted: 10 years ago

Hi everyone,

Before i begin with this post, let me convey my best wishes on the festival of Shri Krishna Janmashtami to all of you.

A farman has been posted , which was issued by Mughal Emperor Akbar to a well known saint - Shri Vithal Rai. By this farman, he granted in perpetuity, a village near Mathura, tax free, to this a well-known Brahmin saint, for the upkeep of the temple of Shri Goverdhan Nath.

Rani Durgavati of Gondwana also gave over hundred villages as grant to this saint. Details are present in the post.

Link:
Farman-Akbar-Goverdhan-Temple

I have personally visited this temple many times, but, like many others, i too did not know that this temple was held in HIGH regard by Mughal Emperor Akbar.

I came to know about this only a few months back when i discovered this farman. Then, I decided to write about this RARE farman and its association with Shri Vithal Rai and Shri Nath Ji and especially chose the day of Janmashtmi to publish this post.

The farman presented here is of exceptional historic value.

I request the readers to share this post with as many people as possible. And, the next time you visit Goverdhan, do remember Akbar also. He was the one who granted a farman that enabled the maintenance of the Goverdhan Nath temple for years to come.

Link:
Farman-Akbar-Goverdhan-Temple

Highlights of this Post::

1.
Shri Krishna Janmashtami:

2.
Why i chose this day to post the Farman & what's so special ?

3.
Contents of the Farman issued to this saint. Note the strict, yet restrained, language of this Farman, wherein clear orders are given to the imperial officials not to harass this saint.

4.
Mughal Emperor Akbar Promoted Translation of Many Hindu Sacred Texts to Persian.

5.
The disciples of this saint.

6.
Rani Durgavati's Grant of hundreds of villages to this saint.

7.
Rana Raj Singh I grant of villages to Shri Nath Ji.

List of Picture in this Post:

1.
Birth of Lord Krishna : Painting from the Royal House of Mewar, 1710

2.
Krishna Holds Up Mount Govardhan to Shelter the Villagers of Braj, Mughal painting

3.
Photocopy of the Original Persian Farman

4.
Picture of this Saint

5.
Lord Krishna in the form of Shri Nath Ji, Painting : Udaipur

6.
Pictures of the Ruins of the Old Akbar Era Goverdhan Nath Temple on Goverdhan Hill

Link:
Farman-Akbar-Goverdhan-Temple

Do share your views..

Edited by history_geek - 10 years ago

DO NOT COPY THIS POST AS THIS IS EXCLUSIVE TO INDIA FORUMS

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Frequent Posters

RadhikaS0

@RadhikaS0

Dazzler

+ 2

Posted: 10 years ago

Abhay

Thank you for posting such a beautiful farman of Akbar on this special day. :) Many Indians have a special relationship with Krishna, who is looked upon as not just a God, but as a friend, a companion, a playful child, a mischievous youth, a person who showed how to follow Dharma even in today's world.To think that Akbar held Krishna bhakti in high regard and protected its patron saint, Shri Vithal Rai, with a SERIES of farmans is amazing!

This Akbar was a highly evolved one from the Akbar we saw recently in the Chittor series. This Akbar had delved deep into the various faiths of his times and picked out pearls of eternal wisdom. He understood that each community in his kingdom held its own faith dear to itself and as their father-figure, he had to protect their right to pray as they wished. The example of Shri Vithal Rai is just one among many from this phase of Akbar.

There is also a subtle hint of a personal association with Krishna bahkti in Akbar's actions , influenced as he must have been by the faith of his wife and other close confidantes such as Man Singh, Birbal and Todar Mal.

What a leap of faith for a man who wrote the fathnama-i-Chittor to issue these farmans to protect a brahmin saint and his right to worship Krishna and allow him revenue for the maintenance of his temple. This IS what made Akbar the Great. It is hard to even imagine the internal journey Akbar must have undertaken between the 1560s and the 1590s. What an example and standard of rule Akbar left behind for us to follow, almost 500 years later!

Thanks again for bringing this rare farman to light! :)

PS; MP lovers will be happy to note the connection between Ajab De Baisa with Shri Vithal Rai - he was her guru and she was a devout Krishna bhakt. In a happy concurrence, her palace was later used to house the temple of Shri Nath Ji, the Lord she followed so ardently.

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RadhikaS0

@RadhikaS0

Dazzler

+ 2

Posted: 10 years ago

Happy Krishna Janmashtami to Everyone :)

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@Smsm18

Dazzler

Posted: 10 years ago

Happy janmasthami to you abhya 😊

Thank's for sharing this information 😊

Such a beautiful post😛

Edited by sushma_marawi - 10 years ago

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Ramya

@Ramya_98

Sparkler

+ 7

Posted: 10 years ago

Awesome post abay!👏

Happy janmashtami to you too.😊

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Abhay

@history_geek

Rocker

+ 5

Posted: 10 years ago

Originally posted by: sushma_marawi
Happy janmasthami to you abhay 😊
Thank's for sharing this information 😊
Such a beautiful post😛

Thanks Sushma. Best wishes to you also.
This festival gave all of us something to cherish about those historical personalities. :)

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Ravendor

@Ravendor1981

Dazzler

Posted: 10 years ago

Happy Janmashtami Abhay! And everyone else!
Awesome and informative as usual!! Thanks for the amazing post! 😊

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Abhay

@history_geek

Rocker

+ 5

Posted: 10 years ago

Originally posted by: crazy-for-praja
Awesome post abay!👏
Happy janmashtami to you too.😊

Thanks for the wishes, Ramya. :)
Hope you too had a nice festival.

BTW, Has the NL been stopped ? I could not find the last one. :)

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Abhay

@history_geek

Rocker

+ 5

Posted: 10 years ago

Originally posted by: Natasha_1234
Happy Janmashtami Abhay! And everyone else!
Awesome and informative as usual!! Thanks for the amazing post! 😊

Hope you celebrated the festival well, Natasha.!
You're welcome. :)

Quote

Abhay

@history_geek

Rocker

+ 5

Posted: 10 years ago

#10

Originally posted by: RadhikaS0
Abhay
Thank you for posting such a beautiful farman of Akbar on this special day. :) Many Indians have a special relationship with Krishna, who is looked upon as not just a God, but as a friend, a companion, a playful child, a mischievous youth, a person who showed how to follow Dharma even in today's world.To think that Akbar held Krishna bhakti in high regard and protected its patron saint, Shri Vithal Rai, with a SERIES of farmans is amazing!

This Akbar was a highly evolved one from the Akbar we saw recently in the Chittor series. This Akbar had delved deep into the various faiths of his times and picked out pearls of eternal wisdom. He understood that each community in his kingdom held its own faith dear to itself and as their father-figure, he had to protect their right to pray as they wished. The example of Shri Vithal Rai is just one among many from this phase of Akbar.

There is also a subtle hint of a personal association with Krishna bahkti in Akbar's actions , influenced as he must have been by the faith of his wife and other close confidantes such as Man Singh, Birbal and Todar Mal.

What a leap of faith for a man who wrote the fathnama-i-Chittor to issue these farmans to protect a brahmin saint and his right to worship Krishna and allow him revenue for the maintenance of his temple. This IS what made Akbar the Great. It is hard to even imagine the internal journey Akbar must have undertaken between the 1560s and the 1590s. What an example and standard of rule Akbar left behind for us to follow, almost 500 years later!

Thanks again for bringing this rare farman to light! :)

PS; MP lovers will be happy to note the connection between Ajab De Baisa with Shri Vithal Rai - he was her guru and she was a devout Krishna bhakt. In a happy concurrence, her palace was later used to house the temple of Shri Nath Ji, the Lord she followed so ardently.

Radhika,

You have said almost everything here. The time when this farman was given was the one when Akbar had completely evolved as you say. Perfect.!

I have some thoughts about this , will pen them in a separate post. :)

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Farman of Akbar and Goverdhan Temple : Janmashtmi Special

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