The persons who had come to receive Shri Nathji were dismayed that their numbers were small. But miracles had not ceased.
Beneath the tin shed of the platform a large crowd of women were standing with flowers and vermilion tilak in hand, and thaalis, containing little flames for Aarti. They were attracted at once towards Mateshwari.
The ladies had arranged four chairs on the platform. Shri Nathji, Mateshwari, Pran Nath and Priya Nath were seated upon these chairs, flowers were showered upon them, and Aarti was performed.
Dr. Babtiwale was amazed beyond words. What was this strange scene he was witnessing? What an incredible welcome from people who neither knew of Shri Nathji nor had any faith in him! It was an unparalleled scene.
All the devotees who witnessed the scene lost themselves in spiritual bliss and ecstasy. Shri Nathji was showering His grace upon all with unusual generosity. In his words:
Rindon ki talab par saakiye kausar ko bhi josh aayaa
Paimaana bakaf aayaa maikhaana badosh aayaa
The call of the earnest seekers so filled the heart of the Eternal Saaki-
That he appeared, cup in His hand and the drinking tavern on His shoulder!
Dr. Babtiwale found his dreams coming true. Everything that was happening before his eyes went beyond the wildest hopes of his imagination.
He recalled Shri Nathji’s words: I shall make my own arrangements!
Truly Shri Nathji had made his own arrangements–how else would people in such large numbers gather together to welcome one they did not even know! And the welcome given was that given to God. It was as if God had gone out into the hearts of all and had called them together to welcome Him.
A bridge had to be crossed from one platform to another. Suddenly crowds appeared everywhere. The bridge was full of people; the roads were full of people. And all of them were showering flowers upon Shri Nathji and his family. Happiness appeared alive everywhere. It was as if something which belonged to them had returned to them.
Sarees were placed in the path of Shri Nathji and his family as they walked through the crowds to the waiting car, which was to take them to the house of Shri W. A. Sohni.
At Shri Sohni’s house, a large group of ladies were waiting, flowers in their hands, to welcome Shri Nathji. The residence of Shri Nathji was to be on the first floor, where a freshly made bed had been kept for Shri Nathji in a large hall. The crowd of people followed Shri Nathji and Mateshwari and the children upstairs.
Shri Nathji turned to the people and said:
You will become tired from standing! Pray sit down!
The people were greatly impressed by Shri Nathji’s concern for them. He, who had travelled hundreds of miles, was concerned about the fatigue of those who had barely travelled a mile to see him! In Shri Nathji’s words there was a genuine relationship of the soul. Who is he, they said, who loves us more than we love ourselves?
Baat jo mooh se nikalti hai asar rakhti hai
Par naheen taakate parvaaz magar rakhti hai
The words from thy mouth carry a touch,
They have not wings, but they can fly!
Shri Nathji’s Akola Yatra – the journey to this distant town was a clear revelation of the existence of a divine power on earth. It would go down in history as a living example of spiritual manifestation. Here were large numbers of people, some indifferent, some hostile, experiencing a new sensation within their souls, awakening to an awareness of God. The relationship of the human soul to the Universal Soul was being vividly revealed. The Akola Yatra was a pilgrimage undertaken by God Himself.