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In
V S. 1914 Bhagatji was going to Junagadh to pay respects to Swami.
He was accompanied by the haribhaktas of Mahuva. Owing to heavy
rains the Shetrunji was flooded. The current was so powerful that
the boatman and the travellers were all held up. Bhagatji encouraged
the devotees by saying, "We shall remember Maharaj and Swami
and so shall be able to pass across safely." So saying he
led the devotees. The boatman tried to dissuade him from going
across the river. But he fears nothing who has before his eyes
the murti (image) of Maharaj and Swami. The water was only chest
deep when they reached halfway. Even the current was not so strong.
The devotees followed Bhagatji. The boatman and others who were
watching the scene from the bank were amazed, and marvelled at
the faith and courage of the devotees.
On their way a devotee was bitten by a dog. Bhagatji soothed him
with a touch and the pain vanished. Proceeding further Bhagatji's
elder brother Narsinhbhai was bitten by a deadly cobra. All got
frightened but Bhagatji consoled them saying, "Pray to Maharaj,
every thing will be alright." Soon he felt relief because
of the divine power of the Swaminarayan mantra and the blessings
of a Satpurush. Then they encountered robbers. They were offered
food by the devotees. When the thieves were busy eating, the devotees
managed to escape. In spite of such innumerable hardships, the
haribhaktas from Mahuva never missed a chance to accompany Bhagatji
for Swami's darshan.
In VS. 1913, Bhagatji was leading a sangha of haribhaktas to Gadhada.
It was raining heavily and it was very dark, visibility was poor
and the road was full of thorns and stones. The haribhaktas were
greatly troubled. Then Bhagatji made them sit in a circle and
asked then to hold one another's toes and pray with their eyes
shut. After some time he woke them up. To their surprise they
found themselves sitting on the banks of the river Ghela at Gadhada.
Thus in no time Bhagatji placed them at Gadhada.
Once Kanji Darji of Mahuva went to Gadhpur with Bhagatji. Both
of them were preparing costumes for Thakorji. Acharya Maharaj
arrived at Gadhada from Vadtal. They all went to receive him.
Bhagatji and Kanjibhai also joined the devotees. Maharaj was pleased
to see Bhagatji there. He took off the rose garland from his neck
and offered it to Bhagatji, who in turn passed it over to Kanjibhai.
From then onwards Kanjibhai started beholding the images of Maharaj
and the Swami incessantly. After three years, when he married,
the vision disappeared.
X X X
Cholera broke out in Mahuva. Vitthalbhai's daughter-in-law
was attacked by it. Whenever anybody else prayed to Bhagatji to
cure a victim of cholera, he would ask him to offer oil to Hanumanji.
Vitthalbhai tried this, but his daughter-in-law was not cured.
So be went to Bhagatji and said, "I offered oil to Hanumanji
but it was of no avail."
Bhagatji told him, "Who had asked you to offer oil to Hanumanji?"
Vithalbhai replied, "I did it because you had asked so many
others to do so."
Bhagatji smiled and said, "You can't succeed if you follow
your own will, without our command. Now I command you to go again
and offer oil to the idol of Hanumanji that has been installed
by Shriji Maharaj." He carried out the orders and soon his
daughter-in-law was cured.
X X X
In V .S. 1951 Bhagatji was at Mahuva. A Brahmin came to his house
and stared into his eyes without a wink. Bhagatji spoke to him.
"Maharaj, what are you gazing at in my eyes? You will find
Shriji Maharaj in every inch of my body."
The Brahmin replied, "You are perfectly right, Bhagatji.
I see Shriji Maharaj in both of your eyes. That's why I have been
staring at you."
X X X
Bhagatji's condition was very critical. He was confined to bed.
It was the annakut Samaiya and had been financed by Bhagatji at
the Mahuva temple. Bhagatji decided to go to the temple. All his
devotees were surprised at this decision. On this day of annakut
, Bhagatji got up and donned new clothes, turban and khes (silken
scarf). He used his Yogic power and started walking awards the
temple helped by two sevaks (assistants) before the haribhaktas
could arrange for any vehicle.
Bhagatji reached the temple, had darshan and then, sat himself
down against the second pillar on the right hand side under the
canopy. The thousands of devotees who had thronged the temple
for the annakut darshan, were lucky to have darshan of the luminous
personality of Bhagatji. They all praised the rare glimpse of
Bhagatji. Fulchandbhai's father Khimjibhai had come there with
a cab to carry Bhagatji home. On his way home Bhagatji told Jetha
Bhagat, "Blessed are they who had my darshan today."
How gracious he was!
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