Himalayas-Haridwar-Brahmavarta

[JR]

On his way to Badrinath, Swami Maharaj halted at Rhishikesh, Deva-prayag, Rudra-prayag, Gupta-Kashi and reached Badri-kedar and took darshan of Badri Narayan. There were some Maha-rashtrian pilgrims, and so he had no difficulty in getting alms. While going to Badri Narayan at one place the path was blocked by a broken precipice. Two persons came down and said to Swamiji, "Do not go further. There is no passage. You will lose your life". Swami Maharaj said, "I have come to see Narayan. I won't mind if I lose life. If there is no passage how could you come here?"

The persons disappeared and Nar-Narayan appeared before him. A Yogi who was in penance in a lake, came up from the water to see Swamiji and he raised his hands to bless him saying "Narayana"! The Yogi then disappeared in the waters of the lake

In the Himalayas, there are halting places—'chattis', at short distances, and needy persons are given food, clothes, blankets, etc. One Sadhu 'Kali-Kambliwala1 had collected funds from the rich and made this arrangement. There is terrible cold here, but Swami Maharaj had only 2 'panchas' and a Kambal.

Darshan of Badri-Narayan is to be taken from a distance. No one can touch the shrine. It is believed that the shrine is made of philosopher's stone (Paras) which turns iron into gold by touch, and fearing that the people would take disadvantage, this rule is enforced. But Swami Maharaj could go near the shrine to which he bowed and worshipped.

Swami Maharaj took bath at Gangotri and began to shiver due to extreme cold. He could not make any movements. Some one brought and placed before him an oven of fire.

On way to Gangotri, there is a village. He slept on a stone with only a mattress on his body. It was heavily raining and water was passing over and by the sides of his body. Still he was enjoying sound sleep. Persons accompanying him, who had gone into the village, returned and wondered to see Swamiji sleeping even in rains.

Swami Maharaj had two Chaturmas in the Himalayas. His halting places and other details are not known. He did not disclose the account of these two years to anyone, except the above episodes.

Chaturmas 6 = Shak 1818 ( 1896 A. D.)

Haridwar

Swami Maharaj completing his Himalaya yatra, came to Hari­dwar by Vaishakh full moon day. This time he was here for six months and observed Chaturmas. He then started for Brahmavarta. Maharashtrian pilgrims with him had already gone much ahead earlier. In this 18 days' travel, he could not get alms from Maha­rashtrian Brahmins. At some places Gujarati Brahmins offered him some fruit. One Gujarati woman gave him ground-nut and

Sattu (flour of fried gram and wheat) which he ate with water, and walked 40-50 miles.

Brahmavarta

Here he stayed at Ram temple on the bank of river, which was the residence of Ganpatibuwa, who lived at the time of 1857 War of Independence. His nephew had embraced Islam. He came to take his wife. This woman asked Maharaj if she shoud go with her convert husband. Maharaj said, "Unless he takes praya-shchitta (purification ceremony) and becomes Hindu again, you should not live with him". She asked her husband to take Praya-shchitta, but he did not agree. She also did not go with him but led an ascetic life of devotion to God at Brahmavarta. She had a son of 5 years, who was affected by a spirit. Swami Maharaj wrote a Mantra on a Bhurjapatra and asked her to tie it on his wrist. One day she was in menses and tje boy insisted to go near her. The mantra was taken out and placed somewhere. The boy's maternal uncle took him out in a fair. On the way near Muslim cemetery, the spirit screwed the neck of the boy. He fell down and died. The spirit entered the body of the boy's mother and said,

"You did not give me my one and a half rupee ;so I killed your son, got your husband converted, effected your elder son and also caused abortions".