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{{short description|13th-century Hindu poet-saint of the Varkari sect}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2025}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2025}}
{{Infobox Hindu leader
| name = Narahari Sonar
| title =
| image =
| caption =
| religion = Hinduism
| birth_place = [[Pandharpur]], Solapur, Maharashtra, India)
| philosophy = [[Advaita]], [[Varkari]]
}}
'''Narahari Sonar''' (also spelt '''Narhari Sonar''', literally '''Narahari the Goldsmith''', a name often used in English sources) or '''Narharidas''' was a 13th-century [[Hindu]] poet-saint of the [[Varkari]] sect and goldsmith (''[[Sunar|sonar]]'') from [[Maharashtra]], India.

==Life==

{{multiple image
| footer = While Narahari Sonar touched the image of Vithoba (left), he felt as though he was touching the image of the five-headed Shiva (right).
| width1 = 170
| image1 = Syayambhuvithoba.jpg
| width2 = 200
| image2 = Panchanana.jpg
}}

Narahari Sonar's chief hagiographical account is found in the ''[[Bhaktavijaya]]'' by [[Mahipati]] (1715 - 1790). Narahari Sonar was a staunch [[Shaiva]] (sect which considers the god [[Shiva]] as the Supreme Being), who lived in [[Pandharpur]], where the chief temple of [[Vithoba]] stands. Vithoba is a form of the god [[Vishnu]] and the patron god of the [[Varkari]] sect, part of the Vishnu-worshipping [[Vaishnava]] sect and a rival sect of the Shaivas. Narahari Sonar worshipped at the Mallikarjuna temple, the Shiva temple located in the southwest part of the town. He is described as "bigoted" and "fanatic". He worshipped only one god, Shiva. He never visited the famous shrine of Vithoba even once and even refused to look at the ''[[Sikhara|shikhara]]'' (pinnacle) of the temple.<ref name="Mahīpati1933">{{cite book|author1=Abbott, Justin Edwards |author2=Godbole, Narhar R. |title=Stories of Indian Saints: An English Translation of Mahipati's Marathi Bhaktavijaya|year=1933|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass|isbn=978-81-208-0469-2|pages=326–31|volume=1}}</ref><ref name="PB">{{cite journal|url = https://www.advaitaashrama.org/Content/pb/2003/052003.pdf|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141208154939/https://www.advaitaashrama.org/Content/pb/2003/052003.pdf|url-status = dead|archive-date = 2014-12-08|title = Glimpses of Holy Lives: Measuring the Immeasurable|journal = Prabuddha Bharata|volume = 108|issue = 5|date = May 2003|publisher = Advaita Ashrama: the Ramakrishna Order started by Swami [[Vivekananda]]|page = 280|issn = 0032-6178}}</ref>

A merchant (in some versions, a rich landlord) had vowed if Vithoba blessed him with a son, he will offer a waistband to the deity. After fulfilment of the vow, the merchant enquired about the best goldsmith in Pandharpur and was led to Narahari Sonar. Narahari agreed to make the waistband on the condition that he will not enter the temple and the merchant bring him the measurements of the stone image of Vithoba. He crafted an ornate waistband with the gold and jewels brought by the merchant and the provided measurements. The merchant offered the waistband to Vithoba, but it was too tight. The merchant returned after Narahari lengthened the waistband, but it was too loose then. The merchant implored Narahari to come to the temple and fit the waistband himself, however Narahari was adamant. He said that he observed the vow of looking only at one deity, Shiva. The merchant suggested that he would blindfold Narahari to maintain the vow. Narahari conceded.<ref name="Mahīpati1933"/><ref name = "PB"/>

The merchant brought Narahari to the sanctum of Vithoba's temple, while people on the streets mocked Narahari's blindhold and his beliefs. Narahari touched Vithoba's image and felt as though the image had five heads and ten arms. The image wore serpent ornaments around his neck and matted hair on its head. He wore tiger and elephant skin garments and his body was covered in ash. Narahari recognised the iconography of his patron deity Shiva and removed the blindfold to see him. However, he saw the traditional form of Vithoba: a two-armed, arms-akimbo god standing on a brick in silken garments and gold finery. In disbelief, he blindfolded himself again and touched the image. Again, he felt as though he was touching an image of Shiva, not Vithoba. He realised that Shiva and Vithoba (Vishnu) were one and the same. He removes the blindfold and embraces Vithoba's feet. He sings a panegyric in honour of Vithoba, equating him with Vishnu and Shiva alike. Narahari becomes a devotee of Vithoba and joins the Varkaris, preaching the oneness of God.<ref name="Mahīpati1933"/><ref name = "PB"/>

R. D. Ranade records that Narahari lived in [[Devagiri]] (currently known as Daulatabad), before moving to Pandharpur. A staunch Shaiva, he was influenced by the Varkari saint [[Dnyaneshwar]] (1275–1296) and others to become the devotee of Vithoba. He died in 1313 ([[Shaka]] 1235).<ref>Ranade p. 189</ref>

==Teachings in {{Transliteration|mr|abhangas}}==
Narahari Sonar composed [[Marathi language|Marathi]] devotional poetry called {{Transliteration|mr|[[abhanga]]}}. He speaks the ephemeral and unreal world, which like a picture on the wall. Just as children build stone houses and then abandon them, people engage in world affairs and then die. In another {{Transliteration|mr|abhanga}}, he speaks about the importance of a [[guru]]. Just like an elephant is controlled by an {{Transliteration|mr|[[ankusha]]}} (goad) and a tiger by a cage, Narahari is brought under control by the grace of his guru Gaibinatha. He talks about an "unstruck sound" has mesmerized his mind. By this sound, he thinks of God and mediates upon Him. Narahari says by his own experience that this sound will fill one with true love of God and lead to Him. Narahari also refers to his profession as a goldsmith in an {{Transliteration|mr|abhanga}}. He calls himself a goldsmith who deals in the name of God. Narahari's body is the melting vessel for his soul of gold. "In the matrix of three [[Guṇa|guna]]s, he pours the juice of God". He hammers out anger and passion from the soul. With scissors of discernment, he cuts the gold leaf of the name of God. He weighs the name of God with a balance of spiritual enlightenment. Narahari Sonar, the devotee of God, mediates upon Him eternally.<ref>Ranade pp. 204–5</ref>

In another abhanga, Narahari Sonar alludes to his profession. He calls God his customer. He says that he "uses his intellect as the scissors to steal the gold of [[bhakti]] (devotion) while cutting a deal with his customer - God".<ref name="Paranjpe1998">{{cite book|author=A. C. Paranjpe|title=Self and Identity in Modern Psychology and Indian Thought|date=30 September 1998|publisher=Springer Science & Business Media|isbn=978-0-306-45844-6|page=287|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7Eqa6eoerDAC&pg=PA287}}</ref>

==Remembrance==
Apart from being formally included in the list of [[Sant (religion)|Sants]] (saints) in the ''Bhaktavijaya'', the ''[[abhanga]]''s of [[Eknath]] accord him sainthood and mention him with other saints. Eknath's abhanga praises Vithoba who melted gold with Narahari.<ref name="Harrisson1976">{{cite book|author=Tom Harrisson|title=Living Through the Blitz|year=1976|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-0-00-216009-4|page=[https://archive.org/details/livingthroughbli0000harr_f9s9/page/42 42]|url=https://archive.org/details/livingthroughbli0000harr_f9s9/page/42}}</ref>

The Sonar community, to which Narahari belonged, worship him at a shrine they have built in Pandharpur.<ref>{{cite book|title=People of India: Maharashtra|year=2004|publisher=Popular Prakashan|isbn=978-81-7991-100-6|page=1891}}</ref>

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

==References==
* {{cite book|author=R. D. Ranade|title=Mysticism in India: The Poet-Saints of Maharashtra|year=1983|publisher=SUNY Press|isbn=978-1-4384-1686-1}}
*[https://santnarhari.com Sant Narhari Sonar Website]{{Dead link|date=December 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Warkari]]
[[Category:Medieval Hindu religious leaders]]
[[Category:Hindu poets]]
[[Category:Marathi people]]
[[Category:13th-century Indian poets]]
[[Category:Indian male poets]]

Narahari Sonar - Revision history

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