And it was thus in March 1946 that Shri Nathji, Mateshwari and the children along with Shri G.P.Bhutt and Gangabai Bhutt and their son, Jagdish, arrived at Chandrapur by train.
The welcome was unprecedented. It was as if Shri Nathji were arriving into his own. People who had seen his portraits could hardly control themselves upon seeing Him. He was infinitely more beautiful than any portrait could be. Here was the Lord Krishna of the portrait come alive in the form of Shri Nathji. Mateshwari’s presence filled the people of Chandrapur with great comfort, for here was the Lord arriving in their city in the fulness of his Divine Power, His Shakti by his side. There were many who swooned in a fit of divine ecstasy as they beheld the over powering effulgence of Shri Nathji and Mateshwari.
There was Shri Popatlal, a timber-merchant, a leading Gujerati citizen of the town, who came along with all his family members, acquaintances and friends.
His nephew, Girdhar Deo Popat, who was yet a poor young man aspiring to be something in life, saw the vision of Lord Krishna in Shri Nathji, which was to remain with him right up to the last moments of life. It was a faith that lasted for over fifty years.
Shri Popatlal kept the image of Shri Nathji in his heart and soul till the very end. There were Vallabh Bhai Manik and Prabhavati, relatives of Shri Popat Lal, who retained a faith in Shri Nathji all their lives.
There were numerous other prepared souls in Chandrapur who beheld the divine form of Shri Nathji in all its glory.
Lord Krishna had come to Chandrapur. It was God playing the part of a human being all over again. The rich and the poor, the old and the young, men, women and children all beheld the glory of God in Shri Nathji and felt as if they had been living in the world for this moment only.
Shri Nathji’s voice rained down nectar from heaven and his waves of divine love won over everyone. Something was telling the people that the person sitting before them, in so humble a manner, loving everyone, embracing everyone, was in fact their real companion in the journey of life, and who was also to be their destination when life came to an end. He had brought down salvation with himself. The sorrows and sufferings of all appeared to have come suddenly to an end with the darshan of Shri Nathji and Mateshwari. Chandrapur was veritably transformed into a Brindavan, the city where Lord Krishna had lived ages ago.
Multitudes thronged for Shri Nathji’s darshan and blessings till it appeared that the entire city had come forth in its entirety before Shri Nathji.
Bhutt Sahib’s joy knew no bounds. He was always thrilled whenever other people saw and recognised Shri Nathji to be who he really was– God Himself.
Long after Shri Nathji had left Chandrapur many homes in the city continued to have his divinely beautiful portraits.
Bhutt had once said to Shri Nathji:
Prabhuji jab se aapko milaa hoon meri kul ichhaayen samaapt ho gayeen. Bas ek hee ichhaa raih gayi hai, ke aapkaa yash ho aur keerti ho, aur ham bhakta dekh dekh kar naachen!
“Prabhuji, ever since I have met you all my desires in life have been fulfilled. There is only one desire left now, and that is to see Thy Glory spread everywhere, so that Thy devotees can dance with joy!
And it was thus that the triumphant tour of Shri Nathji to Chandrapur came to an end. Shri Nathji had stayed only for three or four days in the city, but he left Himself in the hearts of the people of Chandrapur forever.
Shri Nathji would always fondly refer to Chandrapur by its shorter name: Chanda in the years that followed.
On the day that Shri Nathji left, the entire city appeared to follow him, weeping. It was as if their very soul was going away.
Separation from Shri Nathji was impossible to bear, and this was but natural, for he was their nearest and dearest one.
Shri Nathji had often said:
I KNOW YOU, BUT YOU DO NOT KNOW ME. I AM A VERY OLD COMPANION OF YOURS. I WAS YOUR COMPANION EVEN BEFORE THE UNIVERSE CAME INTO EXISTENCE.”
This was Shri Nathji’s voice in every heart.