3. Birth and Childhood

Muktaraj Shri Narayanbhai was born on Maha Vad Pancham of the Samvat year 1978 i.e. February 16 [Thursday] 1922 A.D. at 10.46 a.m. His parents, Gigabhai and Shakuben were devout followers of Shri Swaminarayan Bhagvan. Even while he was in the womb of his mother, the baby was in communion with Shreeji Maharaj. After his birth, he constantly saw and felt the presence of Maharaj in all his activities. In sports and studies, in sleep and wakefulness, while taking food or doing daily chores, he saw Maharaj guiding him. Maharaj too always responded to his smiles and gestures and talked to him and laughed with him performing his 'leela'- display of divinity.

In his early childhood, at the age of five, Narayanbhai lost his father. With Gigabhai's departure for Akshardham, the family was hurled into untold economic crisis, forcing Shakuba to leave Dhrangadhra. The family went to Maliyapa area in Vadhvan and hired a house next to the one in which Bhagirathiba was living. The family hoped to find some work here. As the house was believed to be ' haunted house', they got it at a very nominal rent. The house was not only a haunted one, but it was almost in ruin. As the occupants were thrown out by ghosts and spirits, the house had remained vacant for a long time. Shakuba had nothing to fear. She cast all her cares to Maharaj and began to live there with her children. No harm can come to the devotees of Shreeji Maharaj.

Muktaraj advised his mother to occupy the upper storey of that house. As Shakuba had heard Bapashri pronouncing her son to be a divine soul, she always looked upon her son with love and reverence. Accordingly, the Thakkers occupied the upper storey, while the spirits remained downstairs making disturbing noise. Whenever the mother asked his as to from where the din was coming, Muktaraj would quietly reply, ''The children are playing and making so much din.'' Shakuba was so innocent that she always accepted the explanations given by her son. But soon, Muktaraj exorcised the ghosts by prayers and released them all from their painful state. He granted them 'moksha' - salvation. Muktaraj had displayed his spiritual powers when he was only eight. The haunted house was turned into a house of God, a place of pilgrimage. The landlord stopped collecting his rent and felt happy to know that his house was occupied by a God-realized soul. The entire town was not only amazed to see a family living happily in a haunted house, but soon the people realized that little 'Narayan' possessed extraordinary powers and began to treat him with respect, accorded to saints, Muktaraj and 'Siddhapurush' or a God-realized Soul.

This Mukta-child had his schooling at Vadhvan itself. He was a genius. Right from the beginning he displayed sophistry, scholarship and proficiency in his studies. Though intelligent, he was never arrogant. His humility, discipline and obedience had won the hearts of his teachers. He was always eager to carry out the commands of his teachers. He would cast his spell by reciting the morning prayers with devotion and in most melodious voice. He had a photographic memory. Whatever he read was remembered effortlessly. He was not required to read anything twice. He would prepare his notes so meticulously that his fellow students would borrow them from him. He would give them not only his notes, but often teach the weaker students. Sometimes the students found his explantions and interpretations easier and clearer than those given by their teachers. He was a born teacher too.

How obedient was Muktaraj as a child can be seen from his eagerness to carry out every word and command that his mother gave. For instance, the mother had asked him to avoid contact with women while going to school and returning home. He was advised to chant 'Swaminarayan mantra' all his way and if by chance he came into the contact of a woman he should return home, bathe himself and offer prayers. In fact a mukta does not need such instructions, however to set an example of an obedient child on other children he always obeyed his mother.

As usual, when the school was over, his friends would ask him to play with them. There is a temple of Jadeshwar Mahadev at Vadhvan. Young Narayan would take his friends to this secluded temple and narrate with fervour the tales revealing the divinity and prowess of Maharaj. He was such an accomplished story-teller that his friends would forget everything and ask him to continue. The more they heard him, the more they demanded. As he was in constant communion with Maharaj, he could intuitively lead his friends towards God and help them advance on the path of enlightenment through meditation and prayer. His friends too had so much faith in Muktaraj that they were always eager to learn whatever their little master taught. Thus, right from his early childhood days Muktaraj had launched his activities of bringing bliss and offering salvation through his 'Divine Mission'. Being a Muktaraj, mukti of souls was his mission.

Once, Muktaraj and his friends were going to school to appear in an examination. A cat crossed their path. The friend stopped. Muktaraj asked him, ''Why did you stop?'' The friend replied, ''Bad omen. The cat crossed our path. We will not do well in the examination.'' Muktaraj laughed at his superstitious friend and said: ''How can a cat determine our future, our fate? The poor cat is an ordinary creature; it cannot be inauspicious. It can do no harm to us. We are protected by Maharaj. We are going to perform excellently in today's examination. Come on, let's go. Shed all your fears and doubts and pray to Maharaj. If we conduct all our activities keeping Maharaj at the centre, everything turns out to be auspicious. With Maharaj as our guide, nothing can be inauspicious.'' The friend was not only encouraged by listening to the words of firm determination coming from the holy mouth of Muktaraj but his faith in him was further strengthened. He began to walk. Muktaraj always excelled in all the examinations. Today, his friend also fared well. As usual, Muktaraj stood first and his friend stood second among the successful students. He was so excited by the result, that from that day he deposed total faith in the advice of Muktaraj and began all his work with a prayer. He always kept Maharaj in all his activities and acted as his agent.

Muktaraj always rid his friends of their superstitions and bad faith and encouraged them to have faith in Maharaj and thus made them fearless.

Muktaraj, a unique recepient of the infinite love of Ghanshyam Maharaj.

Ordained by Shreeji Maharaj to bestow His divine grace upon the souls, when the Muktas dwell upon this earth, they no doubt, manifest His divine pleasure. When such God-realized Muktas offer their prayers, Bhagvan reveals His divinity, the latent Ultimate Reality enshrined in the Murti. For the Muktas, such an expression of divine grace is not uncommon. This may surprise and excite the common people who cannot recognise the manifestation of God in Murti.

As a child, Muktaraj always accompanied his mother to the temple. He continued this practice while the family was at Vadhvan. Every evening, he invariably visited the temple. He would stand before the idol of Ghanshyam Maharaj and continue to gaze steadily with total absorption. He would express his divine joy by singing devotional songs. If his personality attracted people towards him, his melodious voice held his listeners spellbound. Even at such a tender age of eight, Muktaraj had memorised more than a hundred devotional songs. The devotees always sat round him when he sang 'kirtan'. Param Pujya Dharma Dhurandhar Acharya Maharajshri and his wife [from behind the screen] heard him sing kirtans with great delight. Even God Himself would leave the idol and embrace Muktaraj with joy and talk to him. He would make gestures with His hands and sway and swing in rhythm. The congregation could hear only the voice of Muktaraj. They did not have the benefit of either listening to Maharaj or seeing His divine Murti. Sadhu Bhaktijivandasji of Vadhvan temple would put aside all his work ahd listen to the divine dialogue. As he was a true saint, free from attachment, free from pride and free from worldly comforts, he could hear the voice of Bhagvan and His Bhakta. He could watch Maharaj embracing Muktaraj. Although he had been an ardent devotee of Maharaj and a strict follower of all the rules prescribed by Maharaj, he never had such a darshan [glimpse] before. He felt richly rewarded by the divine darshan, made possible by Muktaraj. He recognized the divine qualities of this young boy and loved him as Mukta-incarnate. Muktaraj responded to Swami's love by singing 'kirtans' to him.

Sadhu Bhaktijivandasji was the one who had offered 'kanthi' and 'puja' to Muktaraj when Muktaraj arrived at Vadhvan, Maharaj had appeared to him in 'darshan' and had told him that he would be initiated by this Swami by offering 'kanthi' and 'puja' to him. In fact Muktaraj was Anadimukta and needed no initiation. But, being younger than Swami, he accepted him as his 'kanthi guru' - formal teacher. The Swami performed the rites with complete awareness that a Muktaraj was being initiated by him. Muktaraj in turn, served him as his 'kanthi guru' and won his favour.

The stories of Balamukta's communion with Maharaj, of his divine visions in which Maharaj appeared in person and of other miraculous experiences began to reach the people. Dr. Manilalbhai Adeshra, a staunch disciple of Param Pujya Shri Abjibapashri was practising in Vadhvan. When he heard about Pujya Shri Narayanbhai's spiritual powers, he realized that he must be a Mukta. For, he knew that only Shri Hariji's beloved Muktas alone possess such divine conciousness and rare spiritual prowess. He immediately went to see Narayanbhai and told him, ''Muktaraj, you can converse with Maharaj. Please pray to Maharaj to bless me with His divine glimpse, won't you?'' Pujya Shri Narayanbhai agreed to pray for him. He shut his eyes and meditated for a while. Then he opend his eyes and said to the doctor, ''Maharaj refuses to grant you darshan.'' Manilalbhai almost broke down to hear this. He requested Pujya Shri Narayanbhai to request Maharaj again. This time, Pujya Shri Narayanbhai pleaded the doctor's case with all his spiritual power and prayed to Maharaj to fulfill the doctor's wish. Maharaj granted his prayer and said to Muktaraj, ''After the evening prayer and 'arti' when all the devotees return home, ask Manilalbhai to sit in front of my idol.'' Pujya Shri Narayanbhai reported this to Manilalbhai. Manilalbhai could not trust his ears. He was greatly pleased. As advised by Maharaj, Manilalbhai sat in front of 'Murti'. At that time there were only three men in the temple: Pujya Shri Narayanbhai, Manilalbhai and Bhaktijivandas Swami seated at the far end. Ghanshyam Maharaj waved His left hand for a while and fulfilled His devotees desire to have His glimpse. Manilalbhai got so much excited by the 'darshan' that he physically lifted Shri Narayanbhai and began to dance with joy. Manilalbhai was convinced beyond doubt. Pujya Shri Narayanbhai was a manifest- Muktaraj. Manilalbhai had served in Muktaraj's mother Shakuba's eye-ailment.

Not only Manilalbhai but a host of saints and Muktas who were Bapashri's contemporaries and recepients of his grace had acknowledged Pujya Shri Narayanbhai's status as Mukta. Sadgurus Sarvashri Bhagvatswarupdasji, Shwetvaikunthdasji, Keshavpriyadasji, Devjivandasji, Dharmakishordasji and other saints of Mulidham always treated him with deference. Bapashri's devotee 'in waiting', Ashabapa, Mansukhbapa, a man who had accomplished everness of mind, and other muktas like Devrajbhai, Bhurabapa, Chaturbapa, Somchandbapa loved and respected Shri Narayanbhai. Sadguru Shri Bhagvatswarupdasji and Mansukhbapa had profound love for him.

He studied up to Std. X at Vadhvan. Then he returned to Dhrangadhra. Muktaraj's age must be between fifteen and sixteen at that time.