And it was thus that the 23rd of June 1979 came upon Shri Nathji at Nagpur – the auspicious 77th birthday of Shri Nathji. Priya Nath promptly arranged for the Dhanwate Rang Mandir at Nagpur, the most prestigious hall of the city.
The light of Shri Nathji, that had for months been confined within his satsang hall, had now to go out to the people of the city. An announcement was made of the function in the newspapers, though not without apprehension that the powers of evil might seek to disrupt it.
Shri Nathji had always reserved 6:30 p.m. as the time for any auspicious function.
On the 23rd of June that day there were thundershowers the likes of which the people of the city had not seen in years. There had always been rain on every 23rd of June, which gave relief to the humanity suffering from the scorching heat of the summer. But on this 23rd of June, the rain carried a special message, it was the Divine Grace of Shri Nathji deluging the city and washing away the effects of the powers of evil, and also keeping them away from the venue where Shri Nathji was to speak.
The rain kept many a person away, but those who were brave enough to face the weather arrived punctually. Shri Nathji too arrived in the downpour along with Priya Nath by his side. Dhanwate Rang Mandir very soon filled up with a large gathering, which was, however not as large as was expected, because of the rain. But all this was with a divine purpose. The selected gentry of Nagpur was in the hall.
Shri Nathji was wearing a white achkan and a golden yellow turban. His face was aglow with a light divine that was almost too powerful to behold. Although his body appeared perceptibly weak, as did that of Priya Nath, but the majesty and divinity of his personality were as grand as always.
Smt. Tara Buty, one of the leading citizens of Nagpur introduced Shri Nathji to the gathering and said to them:
God Himself – Saakshaat Bhagwan – is sitting before us. It is our good fortune that he is here with us today when the entire world awaits him. I first had his darshan in 1949, and later when he came to Nagpur in 1973 when his divine form was revealed to me and numerous others. This is a moment which will live with us all our lives.
The devotees of Akola sang the bhajans they had composed on Shri Nathji, reminding the world again and again:
Bhari sabhaa men aake baithe
Nath Bhole Mussoorie Vaale
Bhagwaan Saakshaat yehi hain baithe
Nath Bhole Mussoorie vaale
In the midst of this gathering
Sits Bhole Nath of Mussoorie
He is God Incarnate himself–
Bhole Nath of Mussoorie
And then there was Shri Nathji speaking, his voice like heavenly thunder, pouring out Divine Grace upon all present and echoing out to all corners of the world.
Shri Nathji spoke for over an hour and no one was conscious of the passage of time. Everyone’s soul was bathed in his divine flow of words. It was a rain more powerful than the one falling outside. It was another flood of divine edicts and commandments.