|
Once
on his way from Vadtal, Swami arrived at Sarangpur. There Vagha
Khachar, who dreamt of self indulgence in fights, told the Swami,
"I dream of skirmishes." The Swami asked him to accompany
him to Junagadh. Bapu could not live without an attendant, so
Pragji Bhakta was asked by Swami to attend to Khachar. Pragji
Bhakta, as usual, absorbed himself in the service of Vagha Khachar
also. While serving him he used to explain the greatness of Swami
to him. But Bapu did not like Pragji Bhakta's preaching. So he
removed him from his service. But it was not possible for him
to live without an attendant. Gunatitanand Swami persuaded him
to keep Pragji Bhakta in his company. He gave his consent, but
refused to listen to him speak on religion.
Vagha Khachar found all the devotees cheerful and happy at Junagadh.
He knew that it was because of Swami's love for them. But he was
wondering as to why he alone was deprived of that joy. Once he
talked to Dama Sheth of Mahuva about it. Dama Sheth told him,
"Keep faith in Pragji Bhakta and accept Swami as Mul Akshar,"
Vagha Khachar said, "I can't believe unless Swami tells me
in person." So Pragji Bhakta meditated on Swami.
Swami left the congregation and came to the garden led by a devotee.
Pragji Bhakta said to Swami, "This Vagha Apa wants to put
a question to you."
Swami said, "Pragji is telling you the truth." But Vagha
Khachar was not satisfied with Swami's answer. So he directly
asked him, "Swami, are you yourself Akshar?" Swami smiled
and said, "Yes." Vagha Khachar was thus redeemed and
he experienced divine peace.
Pragji Bhakta had to face many obstructions and insults while
telling the people that Swami was the manifestation of Akshar
Brahman. But how could he resist himself from sharing with others
the joy of realising the manifested Akshar Brahman?
Once Swami asked Balmukunddasji to call Pragji Bhakta who was
fast asleep. Balmukunddasji called him thrice, "Wake up,
Pragji Bhakta. Swami is calling you." He returned to Swami
and said, "I called him by his name but he is fast asleep
and will not even stir. Swami smiled and said, "Go and say,
Gunatit, please wake up."
Balmukunddasji once again went to Pragji Bhakta who was fast asleep.
This time he said, "Gunatit, please wake up." Immediately
Pragji Bhakta responded to the call and got up and came to Swami.
Swami told all those who were present, "Pragji is dead He
has become Gunatit." Thus he explained the greatness of Pragji
Bhakta to the people.
Once Pragji Bhakta explained the divine greatness of Swami to
Kama Sheth of Una. The Sheth lost his temper and slapped him.
That same night Maharaj appeared to him in a dream and ordered,
"Beg the pardon of Pragji Bhakta." The next morning
the Sheth went to the sabha (congregation) and laying prostrate
before him he begged Pragji Bhakta to pardon him. He also bowed
before him and presented a dhoti to him.
Under the divine guidance of Swami, Pragji Bhakta used to explain
the divine greatness to the devotees and earn them redemption
by purifying them. Once Pragji Bhakta said to Swami, "So
long as you are here you can burn the sins of the devotees and
help them earn merit (punya). But what will be our fate when you
are not here any more." Swami replied, "Maharaj is always
at your command. A word from you shall purify all the devotees."
Once Pragji Bhakta talked to Kothari Trikamdas of Junagadh temple
about the divine greatness of the Swami. He could not stand it
and lost his head. He told Pragji not to talk like that to others
otherwise he would be beaten. Swami came to know about this. He
led Trikamdas to the store room and said, "Do you want to
see the divine radiance. So saying he gave him a glimpse of his
original divine form. The entire room was filled with the divine
radiance. Then that light travelled upto Swami and merged into
him. The Kothari (manager) was convinced of Swami's divine origin.
Thus Pragji Bhakta helped innumerable devotees realise the original
form of Swami and convinced them of the fact that Swami himself
was Akshar, the heavenly abode of Shriji Maharaj.
|