Amongst the Parsees who came for Shri Nathji’s darshan at Calcutta in 1937 were Mr. H.S. Karai and Justice Nanavati. The Parsees-Zorastrians worshipped God in the form of fire – an Eternal Flame. A strange thing had happened. As they came and sat before Shri Nathji, the Glory of Shri Nathji’s Light was so strong that they saw in his place a Flame of Fire – the Eternal Flame of God, Ahura Mazda.
As already narrated, for the first three days that they came before Shri Nathji they saw Shri Nathji in the form of the Eternal Flame. On subsequent days they saw only Shri Nathji and not the Flame. When they asked Shri Nathji why they were not seeing him in the form of the Flame any longer, Shri Nathji had replied: I have a diamond with me. I show it to you, and later I keep it in my pocket where it is no longer visible to you. But you know all the same that it exists with me and that I can show it to you again whenever I want to!
Shri Nathji was meant for all. He appeared before people of different faiths in the form that they worshipped. He had not come for any one faith or religion, but rather for all of mankind, to show to them that the Eternal Invisible God was the same and that he had appeared before different people in different forms and at different times – and that his real face was that of Love.
At Calcutta, Justice Nanavati developed intense devotion for Shri Nathji. He continued to come for Shri Nathji’s darshan even later, when he was posted at Lucknow as a judge in the Chief Court there.
He would also go especially to Mussoorie to secure Shri Nathji’s darshan there, and wrote long letters to him expressing his devotion and asking for his blessings to withstand the numerous tragedies that surrounded him and his family members.
When Shri Nathji was married in 1939, Justice Nanavati had said: This marriage is spoken of in the ancient books.
Justice Nanavati had met Shri Nathji at Lucknow and also presented a pair of ear-rings for the marriage of Shri Nathji, and said to him: When the holy mother wears these and you look upon them, then kindly remember me and send me your blessings every time!
Justice Nanavati was very saddened when Shri Babaji Maharaj left the planet earth in December 1940 and wrote to Shri Nathji that Shri Babaji would always live on in the world, as such Great Souls never died.
Shri Nathji was in Mussoorie, at Dilaram Estate, in 1943, when he saw an elderly man limping up the slope to his residence. It was Justice Nanavati. After the preliminary greetings were over, Shri Nathji said to him: I noticed you were limping.
And Justice Nanavati showed him his foot, which was in a bandage. It had been recently operated upon.
You should not have taken so much trouble, Shri Nathji said sympathetically.
It was no trouble, Justice Nanavati replied, I had to take your darshan.
Justice Nanavati, Shri Nathji said, this visit of yours is equivalent to a hundred visits. The fruit of this darshan is equivalent to that of several. The fruit of any action done in suffering for the sake of God is very great.
After retirement, Justice Nanavati had gone to live in Bombay, which was his home town. It was 1948. Shri Nathji happened to visit Bombay. Justice Nanavati was so filled with happiness at Shri Nathji’s presence in Bombay that he invited Shri Nathji to come and grace his house and to bless his family members there. He gave Shri Nathji a grand welcome at his home in Parsee style, decorating the room with paper leaves, buntings and little fish figurettes and drawings. The second meeting was in a Hospital.
Justice Nanavati became very ill and was admitted to a hospital. His condition had become very serious. Shri Nathji discovered that Nanavati was very ill and in hospital.
Immediately Shri Nathji went to the hospital to enquire after him and to give him his blessings. There was a plate outside Nanavati’s room in the hospital: No visitors allowed.
Shri Nathji had brought flowers with him for his beloved devotee, and he asked the nurse to take them inside along with a handwritten note of blessings. Shri Nathji said he was content with sending these to Nanavati and he would leave if visitors were not allowed within.
However, the moment Justice Nanavati saw the note and received the flowers, he lit up with great joy. It was as if heaven had come down upon earth for him. Ignoring the orders of the doctor, Nanavati called Shri Nathji inside his room immediately.
He had tears in his eyes as he saw Shri Nathji. He was in acute physical suffering. He made an effort from his bed to touch Shri Nathji’s feet, but Shri Nathji restrained him.
Justice Nanavati, Shri Nathji said, would you want me to pray for your recovery?
No, said the sick man, in this suffering, I have begun to see the suffering of the world. I pray you to pray for the suffering of the world.
Shri Nathji said: Justice Nanavati, the prayers of a single man for the whole world may or may not be heard. But your gesture is magnificent. In your misery, you have seen the misery of the world. Look– Nanavati–the whole world prays for you! Surely such a collective prayer cannot go unheard.
A few days later there was a knock at Shri Nathji’s door at Bombay. Shri Nathji opened the door. It was Justice Nanavati. He had arisen from his sick-bed by a miracle.
When doctors had given up all hope, it was Shri Nathji’s miracle that raised the man from his deathbed.
Justice Nanavati, Shri Nathji said, It appears that God heard the prayers of the world for you.
He, who sees the sufferings of the world as his own and wishes for their removal, is granted salvation from his own sufferings by God, continued Shri Nathji.
Justice Nanavati had come up to Shri Nathji’s flat, which was on the third floor of Mayfair Building at Churchgate Bombay.
Why did you take the trouble? said Shri Nathji, it was a long climb.
It was no trouble, said Justice Nanavati, I came in two lifts – the one you had provided me with, as well as the lift in this building. It was my duty to pay my homage to you, and to thank you for your kindness.
Shri Nathji’s relationship with Justice Nanavati continued over the years. Justice Nanavati, being much older in age than Shri Nathji, had the fondness and affection of an elderly man for a younger person, and corresponded with him over the years, narrating his troubles and asking for Shri Nathji’s blessings, while at the same time being ever concerned for Shri Nathji’s welfare.
Shri Nathji too would write with the same degree of fondness and affection to Justice Nanavati, and even narrated the acute pain in his right arm at the time of the operation, like a young man writing to his elder. The relationship continued for many years up to the last moments of Justice Nanavati’s life.