Directly opposite Shri Nathji’s house in Dehra Dun, there lived a retired Deputy Collector, Shri Chaube, by name. He and his family would look upon Shri Nathji whenever he went in or came out of his house.
Shri Nathji’s dress combined with the entourage of men that followed him, often made his neighbours think that Shri Nathji was a Maharaja. The Chaube family was so overawed by the majestic personality of Shri Nathji that they could not gather up the courage to speak to him.
One day, when a devotee of Shri Nathji, Mrs. Gangabai Bhutt, the wife of sub-judge Bhutt, who had come all the way from Raipur to Dehra Dun, visited Mrs. Chaube, she asked her whether she had taken Shri Nathji’s darshan and blessings. Mrs. Chaube said that she had thought Shri Nathji was a Maharaja. Mrs. Gangabai Bhutt said to her:
“Mrs. Chaube, how unfortunate you are that you have not been able to recognise Shri Nathji. He is the Lord Narayana Himself!”
Mrs. Chaube was astonished to learn that Shri Nathji was regarded as God Incarnate by many. Since Shri Nathji’s style of living was so unobtrusive and no publicity of any kind followed him, no one could have guessed he was anything other than a Maharaja, judging from his attractive personality and dress.
Upon being told of Shri Nathji’s identity, Mrs. Chaube went with faith and reverence to Shri Nathji’s house to seek his blessings. However, much to her dismay, she was informed by the attendant, Basant Singh, that Shri Nathji was busy writing and would see her only after some time. She continued to wait in the drawing room, until it seemed as if the waiting would never end.
Just when she was thinking of leaving, Shri Nathji entered the room. What Mrs. Chaube saw was a vision that was to remain with her the rest of her life and beyond. It was the vision of God Himself in the fulness of His Glory.
Mrs. Chaube could not contain herself. She let out a piercing cry of joy, and fell unconscious. When she regained consciousness, Shri Nathji spoke to her very lovingly like a son speaking to his mother. Shri Nathji was of the age of the sons of Mrs. Chaube.
Very shortly the entire Chaube family acquired an intense faith and devotion in Shri Nathji. They worshipped the Divine Being in him. Shri Chaube and his wife were very old. Shri Nathji referred to the Deputy Collector’s wife as Mataji. They had five sons, who were no less devoted to Shri Nathji than their parents.
They had been accustomed to performing the pooja-worship of Satya Narayan, God, in their house every year. But that particular year, after they had met Shri Nathji, they performed the pooja in a novel way. Instead of the idols of Lakshmi and Vishnu, they seated Shri Nathji as a living idol in the place of worship.
Do you wish to antagonise the Gods? Shri Nathji said in a light vein.
No,” said the Deputy collector’s wife, We are simply worshipping them in your form.
One winter night there was an urgent knocking at the door of Shri Nathji. The Deputy Collector stood in the cold outside. His face was grim and he said to Shri Nathji:
My wife has just passed away. The doctors have left. We have brought her body to the ground. There is no pulse. Please come and bless her.
Shri Nathji went to the house of the Deputy Collector opposite the road. Inside there was a tragic scene. The five sons stood gathered around the body of their mother, weeping.
Mataji, Shri Nathji called out. There was no reply. Shri Nathji called out twice again, and then he left the house after bestowing his blessings upon her. He had barely reached his residence across the road, when there was the excited sound of knocking at his door.
It was the Deputy Collector.
Nathji, he said, come quickly she is alive! She is calling out to you.
Shri Nathji entered the Deputy Collector’s house again. His wife was sitting up in bed saying: Nathji! Nathji!
Mataji, Shri Nathji said, as a child would address his mother, I am not going to talk to you. I called you three times and you didn’t answer.
Nathji, said the old lady, I had gone very far away. It was your voice that brought me back.
Nathji, the Deputy Collector’s wife continued, I want two things from you. The first is: promise me that you will run to the aid of anyone who needs you, like you came running barefooted to save me.”
Her exact words in Hindustani were:
“Jis tarah aap mere kasht men nange paanv dhaaye, ussi tarah jab jab aapke kissee bhee bhakt par kasht parre aap daurre jaayenge!”
And the second is: “Let the whole world experience the coming of the Golden Age which you predicted.”
“Uss sunaihari vakt ko jaldi duniyaan men laayen jiskaa aapne vaayedaa kiyaa thhaa!”
The old lady lived for three months after this incident and then passed away in a blissful sleep.