In the days to come, Shri Nathji used his cars to travel back and forth from Delhi. He would never drive himself because of the infirmity in his right arm. The cars were driven by chauffeurs who seldom took much care of them. And, as a consequence, there was always something going wrong with them. Shri Nathji and his family would be seen frequently stranded in the middle of the road. The car would have to be pushed by passers-by.
Perhaps this was Shri Nathji’s method of interacting with the poor people who roamed the roads and streets. He would reward them materially as well as spiritually for the pushing jobs they did. Little did they know they had pushed the car of God! And if it were not for these little events, the poor of the street would never have secured a darshan of God–nor the numerous workmen, mechanics and petrol pump owners.
It was not an uncommon sight to see Shri Nathji sitting in the sweltering heat of the afternoon sun, sipping a bottle of Coco Cola with a straw in his mouth, as the mechanic adjusted the fuel pump of the car. God–sipping Coca Cola! The very enormity of the thought was staggering.
It was most interesting to see Shri Nathji take a very live interest in the working of the car. He would examine spark-plugs and radiator caps, would listen to the long and wearied explanations of the chauffeur on the adjustment of the distributor or the cleaning of the carburettor. He would visit the shops of Spare Part Dealers and help the chauffeur make his purchases.
Is the dynamo charging? Dynamo charge kar rahaa hai? Would be Shri Nathji’s favourite query each time the car would begin to give ominous jerks.
Of all the inventions of science, of which Shri Nathji was proud, it can be truly said that the car was the one which Shri Nathji used most frequently, and which gave him the greatest amount of trouble!
There was also the time when the chauffeur drove for hours at a stretch with the hand-brake on, and nearly caused the radiator to burst with the heat.
Then, again, the cars ran out of petrol on the notorious Mohand jungle road near Dehra Dun. Something always caused Shri Nathji’s car to stop in that particular are–perhaps it was the lions, who wanted a glimpse of their Creator! These were the areas known as the Shivaliks, where rishis and maharishis mentioned in the Ramayana were said to have done their penances. Perhaps the region thrilled with the fruits of their austerities, tapasyaa, and had brought Lord Rama again as Shri Nathji.
The chauffeur took an empty petrol can and hitch-hiked to Dehra Dun. And while Shri Nathji waited for hours in the jungle, the chauffeur did not return. Shri Nathji’s elder son, who was hardly twelve at the time, got behind the wheel and started the car. It was as if the petrol had suddenly appeared in the tank. I will do the driving, Pitaji. Get in! and saying this, the young man drove the car over the treacherous curves of the winding road and brought it to Dehra Dun, where the chauffeur stood, waiting for a bus.
Mateshwari had driven the car but once – also on the notorious Mohand jungle road. She drove with such confidence and with such incredible speed that it caused all inside the car to sit up and marvel, and panic –including Shri Nathji!
Whenever Shri Nathji would cross the Jamna Bridge coming into Delhi, he would raise his hands in a gesture of blessings and close his eyes. He was blessing the Jamna. He would ask his sons to throw a few paise into the river as an offering.
The cars were kept at odd places in Mussoorie for long periods of time – sometimes in a garage, sometimes out in the open.
Maharaja Sarila would frequently say to Shri Nathji: Swamiji, every day I would see your car standing in the open, in the garden of Shri Ranjit Singh’s house, Pleasance, at Charleville. Rain, hall, sleet would beat down upon it for nine months in a year. And at the end of that period your men would but give it a push–-and it would start like magic! It was as if it were under a divine umbrella.
Yes, the car would start easily because it was time for Shri Nathji to go out into the streets and roads of India–and it would stop just as easily, when it was time for Shri Nathji to shower his blessings on those who walked on the streets and the roads.
Smt. Veeran Devi, who was the widowed elder sister of Mateshwari, and who frequently lived with her, had this interesting episode to narrate. She had gone to look at the old V 8 Ford lying in the garden of Pleasance.
As she touched the car, she felt a push, and she distinctly heard a voice: Don’t touch me! Your heart is not clean today. I am Shri Nathji’s chariot. Main Shri Nathji kaa rath hoon!
Smt. Veeran Devi was filled with fear. She realised that the voice spoke correctly. Her heart had been in turmoil that day. She began to have great reverence for the car from that day onwards. It was almost as if it were alive.
Smt.Veeran Devi was amongst the few who were given these divine experiences that revealed to her more and more Shri Nathji’s divinity. Shri lived with Mateshwari and Shri Nathji and had become a part of the household, experiencing its sorrows and joys, as well as the divine power of Shri Nathji.