Shri Nathji would leave people thirsting for spiritual truths. After he had gone, they would become like fish out of water. Having had a taste of spirituality, they would seek it everywhere, and some amongst them would fall a prey to pseudo sadhus and mahatmas ever ready to increase their score of devotees. A Muslim Maulvi said to Shri Nathji on the eve of his departure from Lucknow in the 1930’s: You are leaving your devotees! But in whose safe-keeping? In search of the divine food you have given them, they will wander here and there. The pure waters shall become impure!
Mrs. Chopra, a staunch devotee of Shri Nathji at Allahabad, once said to Shri Nathji: Give your devotees a Guru-Mantra or some such thing so that they may not wander elsewhere.
And Shri Nathji would reply: Those whom I have made mine, carry my stamp on their hearts, and they can never turn to another.
Shri Nathji used to narrate the parable of the man who had always eaten at home, but who started eating outside at times. One day he went out to eat, but failed to get food, so he returned home. But no food had been kept ready for him that night because it had been assumed that he would be eating outside. Such is the fate of the man who seeks more than one master.
If a woman is married, Shri Nathji would say, she would not look upon another man as her husband. The relationship between a devotee and God is similar.
H. S. Karai of Calcutta, a Parsee, would often say: Others in the world have a Guru who is their God; but I have God, who is my Guru. To me, Shri Nathji is a God-Guru!
The relationship Shri Nathji had with his devotees was like the one Lord Krishna had with Arjuna, or Draupadi or Radheji, or those who believed him to be God.
As Shri Nathji’s name began to become legend, numerous imitators began exploiting the situation. There were many who would attend his darbaar, take notes of his sermons, and later deliver lectures to the public, adorning themselves with fancy titles. Some even began calling themselves Shri Nathji.
There were also some who were to become mahatmas of repute later-who prostrated before Shri Nathji in private, and preached to the public outside. There was one who would visit Shri Nathji at Mussoorie and would prostrate himself along the entire length of the verandah of Shri Nathji’s house. He was to become a very famous mahatma later.