Mahatma Isardas

Mahatma Isardas (Sanskrit: भक्त-कवी-श्री महात्मा ईसरदास ) was a 16th-century Indian Hindu saint-poet, who is revered as a devotee of Lord Krishna in Gujarat and Rajasthan states of India. He is associated with having done miraculous works, and due to his high devotion to Krishna, he was called Īsara-so-parameśvara (Īsardāsa is a manifestation of the Almighty himself).

Popular creations like Deviyan and Hariras (bhakti kavya) and Hala-Jhala ra Kundaliya (veer-ras kavya) are credited to Isardas. Also known as 'Sant Mahatma Isardas' by his devotees. The language of Isardas' compositions is Dingal.

Early life Isardas Barhath was born in a Vaishnava Charan family in the 16th century c. AD 1539 (VS 1595) in Bhadresh village of Barmer district in Rajasthan, India. His father Suraji Barhath was a devotee of Krishna. His mother was Amar Bai. His parents died when he was a child, and thereafter he was brought up and educated by his paternal uncle Ashanand Barhath, a learned vedic-scholar himself.

While living in Bhadresh, Isardas had two sons—Jagoji and Chundoji from his wife Deval Bai (first marriage). He got depressed after the death of Deval Bai. To distract his mind, in 1559, Ashanand took him on a pilgrimage to Dwarka.

Isardas and Jam Rawal In 1560, while returning, both of them were invited to attend the court of Jam Rawal in Jamnagar. There Isardas introduced himself and displayed his poetic talent by reciting some Dingal verses he composed. Jam Rawal was very impressed with his talent and offered Isardas the position of Raj Kavi (poet-laureate). His uncle Ashanand returned to Marwar after some time.

In Jamnagar, Isardas studied the classics, especially the Bhagavata under Pitambar Bhatta, who was an erudite scholar of the Jam Rawal's court. Gradually the devotional aspects of his life developed to a sufficiently advanced stage. In his maturity, his fame soon spread all over Saurashtra and Gujarat which brought him plenty of wealth and land grants.

Isardas and Jam Rawal had a very close relationship. After learning about the demise of Isardas's first wife, king Jam Rawal arranged for the second marriage of Isar Das in a respected Charan family of Gujarat. He was about 22 years old at the time of his second marriage. He had three sons–Gopaldasji, Jesaji, and Kahanadasji and one daughter from his second wife, Rajbai. Rajbai was the daughter of a Charan of the Avsura branch, Panthabhai Gadhavi.

Jagat Temple was built by Jam Rawal in Dwarka on the insistence of Isardas, a devotee of Krishna.

Jam Rawal presented Isardas with 'Kod Pasav' and also awarded the villages of Sanchana, Rangpar, Virvadarka, Goondho, etc. as jagir (fief).

Isardas and Ahirs of Gujarat Similarly, this Sultan also taxed the Ahirs of Kathiawar and threatened to convert them to Islam and make them Muslims in the event of non-payment. Isardas upon hearing the plight of Ahirs, again promised to pay the bail of one lakh rupees. Isardas requested Rana Rai Singh of Halvad again and he did this by selling gold from his treasury. This way Rai Singh repaid and rescued them. Isradas's compositions in Rai Singh's praise:

Saving Karan Singh Once, Karan, who was the son of Thakur Bija Saravaya of Amreli in the state of Junagarh, died of a snake bite. He was bitten on the day of his wedding to which Isardas was invited to attend. When he arrived and found out about the incident he was very saddened. Isardas started praying to the Lord and resurrected him.

Deviyan Deviyan is a religious text of Shaktism meant for daily prayer routine. It is sung in praise of divinity in female form, Shakti. Deviyan is compared to the sacred text Devi Mahatmya .

This verse of Keshavdas Gadan, a contemporary saint-poet, is very popular on the subject of Hariras: Jag prājalato jāṇa, agha dāvānala ūparān । Rachiyo rohaḍ rāṇa, mamad harī ras sūravat ॥

In his Bhaktamal, poet Nabhadas had also mentioned the name of Mahatma Isardas among fourteen Charan saints.

Harirasa Chota Harirasa Guna Bhagwat Hansa Garud-Purana Vala-Leela Ninda Stuti Deviyan Guna Aagama Guna Vairaat Sama Parva Rasa Kailasa Hala-Jhala Ra Kundaliya Daan Leela ''