A Beautifully Decorated Bullock Cart
Shriji used to say,” Such a scene touches one's heart. It becomes unbearable to see people pained by the anguish of separation. That is the reason I leave without telling anyone, but this time the affair had taken a different turn.”
Dongargaon Railway Station
Shriji
A programme to be held in Tembala village had been decided for 19th July, in advance. A crowd of devotees had gathered at the bus stand. Master Sahab Shri Chhaganlal and his friends accorded a welcome to Shriji. Shouts of jai jaikar resounded as soon as Shriji arrived. An easy-chair had been decorated and placed under a tree. Shriji was made to sit on it and served water and refreshment. He was garlanded with so many flower garlands that his whole body was covered.
The Tipari Dance
A
group of children performing chatta or tipari[8] dance, as well as horde of devotees doing kirtan by sounding cymbals and drums, took Shriji to Balaji Mandir. Paths leading to the mandir were decorated with archways and buntings. Devotees were showering gulal and
walking ahead. So much of gulal was blown up on reaching the Mandir that the whole of its inner portion was covered with gulal.
A Cowherd's House
Shriji bowed to Balalji and rested going to a poor cowherd's house. His cow and other animals were tied in a part of this small thatched hut. A charpoy[9]
for Shriji to rest on was placed next to this part of the thatched dwelling. Shriji rested on that charpoy in such a relaxed manner as if he had been accustomed to living in such a place. Mosquitoes were buzzing there along with the odour of cow dung but Shriji was very pleased.
With the permission of Shriji a twenty-four hour sankirtan was started in Balaji Mandir. Shriji felt pain in his heart due to a sudden rise of blood pressure in the night. Motibhai and Bindu Seth had come here from Barwani. Instantly they went to Khargone and got Dr. Govindlalji from there.
” Maharajji! You come along with me by car to Khargone as you need complete rest,” said the doctor after examining him.
However, sensing the love of the devotees Shriji refused to go.
In fact, Shriji had not been able to come for start of the kirtan due to great weakness setting in. Even on the doctor's stopping him he walked for a furlong and reached the kirtan when it came to an end. He gave a spiritual discourse for forty-five minutes and
walked back to the thatched hut of the cowherd. The stunned doctor also went with Shriji to the kirtan and came back.
“Maharajji, One
can’t even move with such high blood pressure. I am really amazed to see you.” Gazing intently at Shriji's face he exclaimed. So be it!
On 21st July Shriji went by devotee Ramkrishna's taxi to Lonara from Khargone, and got examined by Dr. Govindlal. Taking rest for two hours, he went by car Compounder Ramdas' place in Sanawad. Ramdas was an old devotee of Shriji and had implicit faith in him.
Omkareshwar
An eight-five year old
siddh[10] saint of Omkareshwar was staying at Dr.Joshi's place in Sanawad. Shriji went to meet him. The instant he saw Shriji the saint got up from his seat and met him very lovingly. Shriji used to say that he was a saint of the highest order.
They came across Kalidas, a narrator of mythological tales and an earlier acquaintance of Shriji, in Sanawad. He enacted a one-act play based on the life of Samarth Ramdas Swami for Shriji. Shri Dwarka Babu, the manager of roadways depot, came to his house on a motorcycle to see Shriji. Staying for a while, he sought Shriji's permission to go to Indore.
Shriji said, “Well! You are going at night! Chant the name of 'Narayan, Narayan' when you travel.”
Dwarka Babu repeated the Name of 'Narayan' and set out. There is a long ascending pass on the way to Indore. Climbing up the slope he fell asleep on the motorcycle.
Narayan Narayan
Suddenly Maharajji's voice asking him to chant 'Narayan! Narayan!' rang in his ears and Dwarka Babu woke up. He was astonished to see that he had passed over the ascent in his sleep and was sure that it was the effect of chanting the Name of 'Narayan.' Since that day he would take the Name of 'Narayan' and step out whenever
he would go somewhere.
When he narrated this incident to Shriji, later on, he was sweating profusely.
“Maharajji! Purely due to your grace I could manage to safely cover such a dangerous ascending pass which was ten kilometres long.” He exclaimed
Vrindavan Dham
[1] Maulvi: (in
India) an expert in
Islamic law: used especially
as a term of
respectful address among Muslims.
[8] Tipari Dance
- is a very
popular male dominated folk
dance which is performed
in Northern India
particularly in the Punjab
and Haryana belt. It
is performed on the occasion
of Bavan Dwadshi – a
religious festival.
1 comment:
Very live presentation of that time,it was the great time of devotees with Maharajji! Through this site it is easy to approach any chapter of this book anytime. Thanks !
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