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Eternal
Servant:
Once,
under instructions from Maharaj, Swami stayed at Vadtal for the
treatment of some
ailing
saints. He used to cook according to their individual tastes,
would render service to them and even used to wash their quilts.
Seeing this, some of the healthy sadhus gave their quilts to Swami
for washing. In this way the total went up to about eighteen quilts.
Swami washed them in Gomti and was on his way to the
temple carrying them on his shoulders. Water from the quilts and
perspiration due to exertion, were running down his body. Precisely
at that moment, Maharaj arrived at Hanuman Gate of the temple
after taking lunch at Vasan Suthar's house. Swami stopped and
was lost in the darshan by looking straight into Maharaj's eyes.
Maharaj, too, tied with the string of affection, stood there.
Eyes met eyes and it continued. "Sadhuram, shall we move
now ?" Maharaj sought Swami's permission. So Swami withdrew
his sight. Then Maharaj arrived in the assembly but appeared restless.
Seeing this discomfort, some of the attendants began to fan him,
somebody brought a glass of water. But Maharaj said, "I don't
want anything, but that sadhu has put a lot of burden on My shoulders.
So please take it off." In this way Maharaj showed His union
with Swami. On hearing this Bhaguji ran and took off the quilts
from the shoulders of Swami and placed them near Maharaj. Maharaj
called the owners of the quilts. The ailing saints came forward
and took away their quilts, but the healthy ones felt ashamed
and could not come.
Thereafter, Maharaj held an assembly and called Muktanand Swami,
Brahmanand Swami and others and asked them, What is your opinion
about Gunatitanand Swami as a sadhu?" "He is a very
good sadhu, he knows many kirtans by heart and delivers interesting
discourses. He renders very good service and undergoes severe
penance himself," replied the sadgurus. ''These virtues,
described by you are only external virtues. But in fact he is
a very able sadhu. Just as a snake is caught in pincers he has
caught My form in all the three states," said Maharaj.
One hearing this, Hindustani Mahanubhavanand Swami rebuked, "Father
of a daughter, why have you caught Maharaj? Leave Him." Then
Maharaj explained to him, ''He has caught Me constantly. But that
does not make Me unhappy. But it is not possible for others to
catch My form like him. This sadhu has been serving Me since eternity.
It will be only through this sadhu that My supreme worship will
spread in the entire satsang. Nobody knows My wonderful glory
as much as he knows. So is it proper that healthy sadhus should
extract work from him?"
In this way, Maharaj made all the sadgurus realise the glory of
Swami. Before this incident took place, Muktanand Swami used to
give prasadi to Swami from his patter, but after this incident
he stopped this practice despite Swami's insistence.
Swami had arrived at Samadhiyala along with Kripanand Swami. Here
Swami had permitted Vira Sheladia's son Laxman to ask one question
everyday and Swami used to reply to that question. On one such
occasion, while replying to a question by Laxman, Swami referred
to the infinite glory of Maharaj. Swami became overwhelmed and
so much light emanated from his body that Laxman was dazzled.
In the midst of a halo he saw Maharaj instead of Swami. So he
began to touch the lotus feet of Maharaj to his chest. So Swami
asked him, "Laxman, what are you doing?" Laxman replied,
"I am touching the lotus feet Of Maharaj to my chest. This
is Maharaj. Where are you, Swami?"
All those who were present were surprised. When they shook Laxman
and asked, he narrated his experience in reply. In this way, everyone
was convinced about the fact that Maharaj was constantly in union
with Swami.
Swami used to move extensively in the Sorath region to make everyone
realise the true identity of Maharaj.
Swami used to say many a time, "We, Kripanand Swami and I,
have moved from field to field and inspired satsang in everybody.
Exorcism or superstitions have never been able to enter at the
places where we have moved and spread satsang."
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