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First
Encounter with Shri Hari:
Mulji
was by now fifteen years old. At that time, the Supreme Godhead,
who was born in the Sarvar Desh, was known as Nilkanth Varni, and
moving around in the forest he arrived at the village Loj. He met
Muktanand Swami there. After some time he met Ramanand Swami at
Piplana. On the eleventh day of Kartik Sud in the Samvat Year 1857
Ramanand Swami decided to give Bhagvati diksha to Nilkanth Varni.
He invited all his devotees on the occasion of this diksha ceremony
(initiation ceremony). Along with other devotees Lalji Bhakta from
Shekhpat and Mulji Bhakta from Bhadra also arrived. It was here
that the choicest worshipper and the worshipped, two eternal divine
forms of Brahman and Para-Brahman met for the first time in this
world.
Mulji Bhakta was overwhelmed when he saw Nilkanth Varni face to
face for the first time. Varni also became soft with sentiments
and embraced his dear devotee. Thereafter, he addressed all his
devotees and said. "This Bhakta Mulji is in constant union
with Me and, in future, he will spread My glory." On hearing
this, Ramanand Swami said with delight, " Varni! You are right.
Mulji is very great!" Nilkanth Varni then again said, "He
is My very abode the Akshardham." In this way the glory of
Bhakta Mulji as the incarnation of Akshar-Brahman was, for the first
time, described in public by Purushottam Narayan Himself in the
form of Varni.
Everyone in the village had begun to realise the greatness of Mulji
Bhakta. Once, when Mulji was sitting at the shop of Vashram Suthar
in the village square, a bawa came and demanded alms, "I am
hungry please give me something to eat, otherwise I'll reach Vaikunth
Dham." On hearing this Mulji said, "Bawaji, if you wish
to go to Vaikunth Dham, just stretch your leg and I'll throw you
and send you there." "Dear Brother, is Dham so near?"
Bawaji asked. Mulji became passionate and said, "Bawaji, Dham
is standing before you right now and the Lord of the Dham is moving
all over the earth at present, but how can people like you recognise
Him?"
Vashram Suthar then intervened and said, "Bawaji, what Mulji
says is true. So don't stretch your leg otherwise, if he throws
you, you will go straight to the Dham." Indeed! How can a small
soul move to Akshar Dham which is beyond the eight layers? But Mulji
was Brahman incarnated and therefore he could say so. When the bawaji
saw this power and strength in Mulji he was frightened and took
to his heels.
Similarly, once upon a time in Bhadra, barber Nathu was busy shaving
Bhakta Mulji. Nathu was a devotee of Lord Rama, and he asked, "How
strong was Lord Ramachandra that He carried the entire Ayodhya to
the Vaikunth Dham?" On hearing this Bhakta Mulji said, "Nathu,
if you wish, I'll take the entire Bhadra village to Akshar Dham!"
On hearing this barber Nathu beamed an ironical smile. But meanwhile
a cool and serene light began to emanate from Mulji's body and spread
everywhere. Everyone present was dazzled. Nathu could not do anything
but stand up. He saw that Bhakta Mulji was smiling in the midst
of that halo. Soon the light was absorbed in Mulji's body. Nathu
was astonished and stared at Bhakta Mulji. At this juncture Kanji
who was present said, "Nathu, everyone says that this Mulji
is the incarnation of Akshar." Poor Nathu! What would he understand
by Akshar? But he could see that Mulji was a great bhakta.
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