It was also in September 1981 that Shri Nathji sent out a message to his devotees giving them his special blessings and telling them of his illness, and of the divine plan that lay concealed behind the events, and also telling them that they must all follow Pran Nath and Priya Nath in spreading his mission upon earth. Many devotees mistook this for a farewell message. Numerous letters expressing shock and distress poured in.