Sometime in the year V. S. 2007, Shastriji Maharaj fell ill. One day he said : "I have performed the arti of the images to be installed in the Gadhada temple. They will now be ritually installed by Yogiji Maharaj, as I cannot do the installation ceremony in my present condition. There is a spiritual identity between myself and Yogi. I am Yogi, and Yogi is Myself." These were his last words. On the fourth day of the bright half of Vaishakh, he reverted to Akshardham. His body was cremated next day. The devotees were in deep shock. They all thought, "Shastriji Maharaj has gone. Now what will happen to us ?" No one knew what to do.
At that time Yogiji Maharaj gave strength to everyone. He said, "Shastriji Maharaj has not gone. We should never believe that Shastriji Maharaj has gone from our midst. Shastriji Maharaj is forever present in the fellowhip." Listening to these words of Yogiji Maharaj everyone came to understand that, "Shriji Maharaj was ever present in Shastriji Maharaj, and that same Shriji Maharaj is now present in Yogiji Maharaj. Shastriji Maharaj will now make us happy through Yogiji Maharaj." All saw Shastriji Maharaj in Yogiji Maharaj. The spiritual eyes of all, opened.
Six days after the passing away of Shastriji Maharaj to Akshardham, with great fanfare in the holy presence of Yogiji Maharaj, the images were installed in Gadhada temple. The date was V. S. 2007 Vaishak Sud 10. Fifty thousand devotees had assembled to witness the ceremony. Conviction ran strongly that Shastriji Maharaj was always present in the satsang.
All opponents and vilifiers were disappointed. They had thought that as Shastriji Maharaj had reverted to Akshardham, no one would attend the ceremony. There would be no unity and the whole Aksharpurushottam fellowship would collapse, since there was no one fit enough to step into the place of Shastriji. But they were amazed by the personality of Yogiji Maharaj. The glory of Akshar- purushottam spread in all directions. It was the beginning of a new era and an enormous amount of work was still waiting to be done by Yogiji Maharaj. He captured the hearts of all the devotees, and won their respect and admiration.