Even though Shri Nathji had stopped living with Khanna at Mussoorie after 1933, he still resided with Khanna at Lucknow each time he returned from Mussoorie during the years 1933-1937. And it was in Lucknow that Khanna published most of Shri Nathji’s written works of the time.
If one sought for proofs of Shri Nathji’s divinity, one found them very easily in his written works, which contained a living fountain of divine bliss, that no other written work could match.
One of the first pamphlets that Shri Nathji wrote was Payaame Haq- “A Message of God”, in Urdu, which created a stir in the world of spiritual literature.
The booklet soon went out of print as every copy was eagerly taken by thirsty souls. R.R. Khanna was so fascinated by the book that he sent a copy of it to one of India’s leading philosopher-poets of the time, Sir Iqbal, with a note saying that the “Haqueeqate Muntazar”– the much awaited Reality–he had been waiting for had appeared in the human form of Shri Nathji.
Sir Iqbal’s famous verse had become legend. It was a verse that Khanna had become very fond of after he had met Shri Nathji:
Kabhi ai Haqueeqate Muntazar nazar aa libaase majaaz men
Ke hazaaron sajde tarrap rahe hain meri jabeene niyaaz men
O Thou much awaited Reality, appear before me in human form
For thousands of prostrations await their fulfilment upon my forehead
During the days of R. R. Khanna, Shri Nathji appeared greatly inspired. He was like a gardener, proud of the flowers he had tended to.
Shri Nathji’s written works took the form of print. Shri Nathji had written a number of books. One “Payaame Muhabbat”–“A Message of Love” in Urdu and Persian, was to create a stir in the world of spiritual literature. Shri Nathji had written the entire book when he was 15 years old in 1917. The book was more than two hundred pages long, which Shri Nathji had written in one sitting, lasting twenty four hours.
Khanna had got the book published at Lucknow. Khanna always said the book merited the Nobel Prize for literature. Khanna wrote in the opening pages of the book that the author of the book, Shri Nathji, was Saakshaat Bhagwan–God Incarnate Himself.
After the book came out in print, many a person turned into a mahatma or sage or a spiritual leader upon reading the book. Intellectuals and scholars of Urdu and Persian were baffled at the beauty of the work. It was astonishing that a person so young in age could have written such a thesis on spirituality. It was yet another proof of Shri Nathji’s divinity.
Shri Nathji wrote the biography of Shri Babaji Maharaj, entitled “Zahoore Haqueeqat”–which translated into English meant, “A Manifestation of Reality”–partly at Silverwood Cottage at Mussoorie in 1932 and partly at Khanna’s house at Lucknow.
Khanna had the book published at Lucknow through the Newal Kishore Press, who were then publishing most of Shri Nathji’s works. The book ran into 400 pages and was a divine revelation as the name itself proclaimed. The living personality of Shri Babaji Maharaj adorned the pages of the book, written in beautiful Urdu and Persian. In later years when some Muslim Maulvis read the book they carried it on their heads, declaring that the book had been written by some paighambar–a Great Prophet.
Many years after the passing away of Shri Babaji Maharaj in 1940, a certain Atmaram Godbole in Maharashtra heard his voice. Shri Babaji Maharaj was dictating “Zahoore Haqueeqat” to him. The man did not know Urdu or Persian, and he took the dictation in Hindi script. For years afterwards, Godbole turned out handwritten copies of “Zahoore Haqueeqat” from the original dictation. Immediately after he would finish a book, he would hear the voice of Shri Babaji Maharaj, Give the book to…. And the very same man would arrive at Godbole’s door the next morning.
It became Godbole’s mission in life to write as many copies of the book as he possibly could. When he became too ill to write, his wife took over the task from him.
Shri Nathji’s book, “Rays of Light”, brought out in 1933 in English, had a profound effect on the lives of many. It was a little volume that contained the living personality of Shri Nathji. Rays Of Light was printed in a beautiful orange jacket and contained the miniature of the portrait made by Julian Rust at Mussoorie. The book was acclaimed by great scholars of the time and brought instant peace to those who read it. The Hindi translation of the book was entitled: “Prakash Ki Kirne”. Indeed what the book contained were divine rays of light that penetrated deep down into the depths of the human soul.
The Rays of Light was a little volume that people could carry with them everywhere. It contained spiritual revelations of the highest order, as only Shri Nathji was capable of expressing them. Hindus, Muslims, Christians and Sikhs, all who read the book, found it enlightening, reaching out into the depths of their hearts and souls. Some of the greatest intellectuals of the time were greatly impressed by the philosophy propounded in this little volume.
Coming back to the 1930’s, a few reactions of Shri Nathji’s literature are recorded here from Khanna’s time:
Copy of a letter from:
The Hon’ble Mr. J. P. Srivastava, M. Sc., A. M. S. T., M. L. C.,
Minister of Education,
U. P. Government.
1 Butler Road,
Lucknow,
Ist March 1933.
My Dear Mr. Khanna,
I have read with great interest the book “Rays of Light” by Swami Bhola Nathji Maharaj, and I have been greatly taken up with the philosophy propounded by him. It has had a most profound effect on me. Swamiji’s message serves as a healing balm to the wound which is left by the abhorred shears of unkind circumstances, and it brings home to us that peace and contentment are not to be found by wealth and worldly power but by attuning ourselves to the Infinite. I congratulate you on having brought out the book, which is one of the many publications for which we are indebted to the Swamiji and to you.
Yours sincerely
J. P. Srivastava
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The Hon’ble
Khan Bahadur
Justice Saiyed Muhammad Raza, M.A.,
Judge,
Chief Court of Oudh,
Writes: –
Payaam-i-Mohabbat is undoubtedly a work of great merit. Swamiji’s choice of Persian verses is admirable. The discussion of ‘Prem’, ‘Duniya ki Haqiqat’, ‘Prem ke izhar ka asli sabab’, ‘Yaqin’ and ‘Husn-ki-Taswir,’ in this book is very interesting and instructive. The book is a sure and safe guide to those who have lost their way in the wilderness of worldly cares and anxieties. It, will, if studied closely, quieten troubled hearts and lead weary souls to the Almighty. The spiritual man need not be a recluse. By reading such Books, union with the Divine Life may be achieved and maintained in the midst of worldly affairs. It has been truly said;
Darwesh Sifat bash o Kulahe Tatari dar.
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R. B. Dr. G. N. Chakravarti,
I.S.O., D.Sc., D. Litt., M A.,
Ex-Vice-Chancellor,
Lucknow University
Writes:
I was much pleased to find in Payaam-i-Mohabbat an attractive presentment of those vital truths of life with which seekers of spiritual lore are familiar. That these appear in this book in the garb of Persian phraseology is, in some ways, an advantage, as there are to my knowledge, many devoutly ardent souls, even amongst the Hindus, who are ignorant of Sanskrit and to whom the vast store-house of spiritual thoughts enshrined in that divine language is therefore, barred and sealed. To such it will be a blessing to have some of the most inspiring ideas presented in a language with which they are familiar, and in words which are sure to make an appeal to the highest and holiest that is in them.