One of his sons, Sri Krishen Khanna, was beset upon by a spiritual thirst that had taken him to a pilgrimage to the Sacred Cave of Lord Shankar at Amar Nath in Jammu and Kashmir. There, as he stood before the large ice image of Lord Shiva, many questions began to rise in his mind: why is a man born into this world? Why does he die? Is it only to earn money for a while, rise high in status, have a family and children and then go away? Or is there some higher purpose in life? How can one reach God?
Even as these questions were framing themselves in his mind, a voice rang out in the Holy Cave:
I have come down upon earth in human form and you shall get the answer to all your questions from me!
A spiritual vibration took possession of his heart and soul and he left Amar Nath Cave wondering where the Lord would reveal himself to him. When he went to Mussoorie later that year, he met his elder brother, Bal Krishen, who told him of an unusual encounter with a very holy personality staying at Mussoorie–who was called Shri Nathji!
The year was 1932. Sri Krishen Khanna went to the address given to him – Silverwood Cottage at Mussoorie. And there he found Shri Nathji standing at the door of the house, waiting for his arrival! Sri Krishen Khanna’s soul found fulfilment! It found what it had been searching for since ages. He fell at the feet of Shri Nathji and wept for a long time. S.K. Khanna was struck by the abject humility of Shri Nathji, who in turn bent down and touched his feet!
For S.K. Khanna, Shri Nathji was none other than Lord Shankar in human form. And this was a realisation that came to him from the innermost depths of his soul. It was a realisation that was to see him through some of the greatest tragedies in his life, and to remain with him till his last moments. Whenever he would go to Shri Nathji’s residence he would set his forehead down at the entrance to his door and keep it bowed there for long periods of time.
Imagine Sri Krishen’s surprise, in later years, when he discovered that Shri Nathji had begun to live at Lahore along with his father, Shri Babaji Maharaj. Sri Krishen immediately told his family members about Shri Nathji.
A wave of devotion began to take possession of them all, and they all came for Shri Nathji’s darshan.
At the time, Shri Nathji used to sit by the side of Shri Babaji Maharaj and Jagatmataji at their residence at 3, Kutchery Road.
In the city of Lahore itself, Shri Nathji’s name had become legend, and he was regarded as God Incarnate by a large number of people, which included several learned men and intellectuals of the time. Even those who did not understand the concept of the avatar regarded Shri Nathji as the holiest of the holy.