While Shri Nathji was still at the Gateway of India, a woman suddenly came close and fell at Shri Nathji’s feet. She had tears in her eyes as she said:
“O Nathji! Do you remember me? I am Brij! I was a young college girl when I had your darshan at Lahore many years ago! My heart had been yearning for your darshan all these years.
“Today, the longing for your darshan had become unbearable. I had to see you or else I felt as if I would die. I was thinking of you just now and earnestly praying that I get to see you again! And here you are! You have appeared before me today by a miracle! Aap pragat ho gaye!”
The real reason for Shri Nathji’s visit to the Gateway of India soon became clear. He had come there in answer to the invisible prayers of Brij.
This had been true of everyone in the world. Whenever a person thought intensely of Shri Nathji, Shri Nathji always appeared before him, either in the flesh or in a vision.
Even as Shri Nathji recognised her and blessed her, she continued with her story:
“My father, Sant Ram Grover, was a professor there at the time, at Lahore. He is greatly devoted to you. You had given me such great faith in you then, that my life had become filled with peace and happiness. You had given me a glimpse of your inner light, which gave me untold bliss.
“At the time I had said to you: ‘Nathji, never take back this wonderful feeling you have given me!’ And you had said: ‘Brij Bahen, this light has merely been shown to you, it has not been given to you yet!’
“Your figure remained constantly in my heart all these years, giving me everything that I wanted in life. It has been so many years since I set eyes upon you. I was married and have been living in Bombay. I have all the riches of life that a woman would desire, but I have lost that great gem of prema-bhakti, faith and love, which you gave me. I have been ground in the mill of worldly affairs and have no peace within me. That one little glimpse of spiritual light which you had given me at Lahore, never returned!
“I had come to the Gateway of India and was thinking of you, and praying to you – and there you were, before my eyes after so many years. It was as if you had heard my prayers and miraculously appeared before me!”
Shri Nathji had often said: “Intense desire and its fulfilment are one and the same!”
Nowhere could a clearer example have been found than in the yearning of Brij for Shri Nathji. Perhaps Shri Nathji had come all the way to Bombay to give her salvation. The life of Brif illustrated that happiness was not to be found in the material wealth of the world. Even though she had been married into a rich household and had no material wants, yet something was missing in her life – and that was the precious gem of peace which Shri Nathji had given her. It was a wealth more precious than life itself. Shri Nathji would often say:
“What shall it profit a man if he gains the whole world but loses his own soul?”
Brij came to Shri Nathji’s flat at Mayfair Building the next day and prayed to Shri Nathji and Mateshwari to grace her home and to have lunch there. Shri Nathji agreed and went. She gathered together all her family members and asked them to take the blessings of Shri Nathji. It was a rare moment and would not come again. Shri Nathji spoke to the small gathering and filled them with bliss.
While Shri Nathji was speaking to the persons there, Pran Nath and Priya Nath had found two kiddie cars in the house and were busy driving them around. As Shri Nathji was about to take leave and return to his flat, the children came up to Brij and said to her: “Can we take these cars to our home to play with them? We will return them to you later.”
Brij said: “ O No! I can’t let you take these used cars. I will bring new ones for you!”
And, true to her word, she appeared at the flat of Shri Nathji the next day with two brand new kiddie cars that thrilled Pran Nath and Priya Nath. Even as Shri Nathji spoke to Brij and gave her his blessings, the children drove around in the drawing room merrily on the kiddie cars.
And Shri Nathji said: Brij Bahen, you have given Pran Nath and Priya Nath two wonderful presents. What may I give you in return?
Before Brij could say anything, Pran Nath, the elder son, said to Shri Nathji: Give her love and devotion! Prem aur bhakti!
This was exactly what Brij had desired. It was the spiritual light which she had been given years ago, and which had been taken from her.
Not wanting to be outdone, the younger son, Priya Nath, said to Shri Nathji: Give her two cars as well! Isse do motoren bhee do!”
Shri Nathji met Brij again in Bombay, in 1951. She appeared happier and more content than before. There was a glow on her face as she said to Shri Nathji: The benedictions for material prosperity you showered upon me brought two new cars to the family! But of love and devotion I cannot be sure!
Brij Bahen, Shri Nathji said, that must have come to you first! Your face speaks as much!
Shri Nathji would frequently switch off the light of faith and devotion in his devotees. This was done for their spiritual advancement. Bereft of this spiritual quality, they began to desire it the more. The feeling of separation within them grew until the lost faith and devotion was restored to them. Bereft of the spiritual light, material advancement became of no use to them. But when the light was returned to them, the world around them assumed a beautiful face.