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.

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 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..

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

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Frequent Posters

Coolpree

@Coolpree

Explorer

Posted: 10 years ago

Happy Janmashtami to you as well Abhay.

Very interesting post indeed. This is the same Saint Govardhan about whom Maryam Makkani later issued a farman protecting the right of his cows to graze on the land correct? I will read the entire post carefully on your blog and then make more comments 😊

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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! :)

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RadhikaS0

@RadhikaS0

Dazzler

+ 2

Posted: 10 years ago

Happy Krishna Janmashtami to Everyone :)

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harshal

@harshu27

Stunner

+ 2

Posted: 10 years ago

hii abhay wish u 2 a HAPP JANMASHTAMI and 2 all...thnx fr sharing d post...last time I rember u hd shared similar info abt dis saint...it ws really v interesting...I wuld luv 2 read dis post related 2 dis saint and dis temple whch is quiet famous... 😃

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Rasika29

@Rasika29

Voyager

+ 3

Posted: 10 years ago

Happy Janmashtami Abhay and everyone...

Interesting post indeed...will comment on blog after reading in detail...😳

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Coolpree

@Coolpree

Explorer

Posted: 10 years ago

Abhay the list of the devotees of the Saint was very very interesting indeed. Five giants from Akbar's court: MUZ, Tansen, Birbal, Mansingh and Todarmal...WOW!

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Abhay

@history_geek

Rocker

+ 5

Posted: 10 years ago

Originally posted by: Coolpree
Happy Janmashtami to you as well Abhay.
Very interesting post indeed. This is the same Saint Govardhan about whom Maryam Makkani later issued a farman protecting the right of his cows to graze on the land correct? I will read the entire post carefully on your blog and then make more comments 😊

Yes Preeti,
This is the same saint, who had been granted a farman by Mariam Makani, earlier, which was discussed in great depths few months back. He was held in high regard by the royal family. :)

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Abhay

@history_geek

Rocker

+ 5

Posted: 10 years ago

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! :)

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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Shah67

@Shah67

Navigator

Posted: 10 years ago

#10

Now this is the Akbar we know and love.

What a fascinating journey!

It doesn't matter where you are only where you are headed.

One thing I would like to say is that we cannot ignore the influence of the people surrounding Akbar in his evolution into a more tolerant ruler.

Nature and nurture both are important. Most of us are the product of our environment.

I found it a little surprising that the imperial servants would blatantly disobey Akbar's orders and harass Shri Vithal Rai. I am sure they were aware that this was someone who was revered by Akbar's chief queen. That too in Mathura and not some far flung territory.

Did you personally take the pictures of the old temple Abhay? They are beautiful.

Thanks once again for a great post.

Devki

Edited by devkidmd - 10 years ago