DIVINE REALITY: Shri Neeb Karori Ji Maharaj by Ravi Prakash Pande Preface Sri Baba Neeb Karori Maharaj appeared to be an ordinary human, but he was actually divinity incarnate. He inspired people in unseen, intangible ways. No one could predict his behaviour. His actions revealed an all-knowing, all-pervading, and all-powerful being who had nature itself under his command. Our rational minds made it difficult to accept such power in a human being, but Baba's divine love melted away our natural scepticism and submerged us in grace. The accounts of Baba's lila, or his divine play, described in the main body of this book are devotees' personal experiences of Baba. Since he was averse to public acclaim, the accounts remained verbal during his lifetime and for some time after he left his physical body. Devotees rarely shared their experiences with people they did not know, and no one could gather the courage to keep a record of Baba's lila while they were with him. The renowned thinker and writer K.M. Munshi was impressed after meeting Baba and published an article on him, but he faced Baba's disapproval for his actions. The late Raja Bhadri, former lieutenant governor of Himachal Pradesh, made a great effort to collect many of Baba's lila, but when he sought Baba's consent to get them published, Baba not only refused but had the entire collection destroyed in his presence.

In 1971 Baba's American devotee Ram Dass (Dr. Richard Alpert), former professor of psychology at Harvard University, was successful in narrating the powerful effect of Baba's influence on him in his book Be Here Now. In 1979, six years after Baba left his body, Ram Dass published another book entitled Miracle of Love. It was through this book that more of the western world came to know about Maharaj. Others have also written about Baba in English, but there is a lack of literature about him in the Hindi language. Prabhu Dayal Sharma composed two beautiful poems in Hindi, Vinaya Chalisa and Pushpanjali, and after 1973 Vrindavan Ashram started publishing Smriti Sudha, an annual magazine in which devotees write about their experiences of Baba. In preparation for writing this book, personal interviews were conducted with people from man nations, and all the literature available on Baba was researched. Every effort was made to give information about the people related to the events included except where individuals wished to remain anonymous. Enquiries were made to verify the authenticity of the accounts, and care was taken to reproduce them without exaggeration. In addition to incidents that took place before 1973, peoples' experiences of Baba after his Mahasamadhi are also described. The accounts have been arranged according to their context and reflection of divine attributes rather than chronologically, for some people related their experiences based on the lasting impression they made rather than the exact date the event occurred. Since the attributes are interdependent, some experiences may reflect more than one. The word "" (pronounced Raam) closes every chapter because the name of Lord Ram was most dear to Maharaj. Baba's mystical lila inspires us to discover the essence of truth and often brings about a spontaneous change in our perception of this world. His divine ways are so exceedingly impressive and attractive that contemplation of them encourages us to seek improvement of the inner self. As a consequence of this inner cleansing, people start experiencing Baba's grace and sometimes see him in dreams as well as in waking reality. Thus, by thoroughly contemplating and reflecting on his character and divine lila, it is natural that there will be changes in the thoughts and tendencies of aspirants. To facilitate this transformation is the purpose of this book. I had the opportunity to meet Baba for the first time in 1944 in Lucknow. After 1953 my association with him increased, and I was blessed to be with Baba in Kainchi Ashram for some time every year from 1966 to 1973. In this way I became more and more in touch with his devotees and their wonderful experiences of Baba. I bow to the revered feet of Sri Siddhi Ma, who inspired me to write this book, and with whose blessings this great task has been completed. I also express my sincere gratitude to everyone who shared their experiences and encouraged me, especially Shri Kehar Singh ji, who contributed so much from his many years of close association with Baba. I am also grateful to the Hanuman Foundation, U.S.A., for making several photographs of Baba available for publication in this book. I acknowledge that I have neither the intelligence nor the capability to describe the greatness of Baba and so beg pardon of the reader for my inadequacies. Baba concealed his true nature, but by his grace, I present to the reader the little I knew and saw. I publish this book with a selfless prayer for the welfare of all humankind. If in the accomplishment of this task I have

inadvertently hurt the feelings of anyone, I humbly seek their pardon. In the end I submit the book to Sri Kainchi Hanuman Mandir and Trust. Ravi Prakash Pande "Rajida" Sri Kainchi Hanuman Mandir & Ashram Kainchi, District Nainital Guru Purnima, 11 July 1987 An Entreaty For Grace O Haven of the shelterless, you are the compassionate one, the embodiment of grace, the forgiver. Some know you by the name of Lakshman Das, some as Neeb Karori (Neem Karoli), and a few others as Talaiyya Baba (baba of the lake). Some address you as Maharaj (great king), some as Sarkar (lord), and some as Baba (beloved elder). Baba is dearest to my heart. Maharaj, for me, you are Ram, you are Krishna, you are Shiva, you are Goddess Durga, you are Hanuman. Your devotees were close to you, but you used your grace and humility as a curtain to hide your divinity. In childlike innocence, we did not realise that God had come to us as our guru. You said, "I make devotees, not disciples." This was enough to alert us, but we did not wake up. O God incarnate! Protect the bond between us. Baba! It is your nature to elevate the lowly and make them worthy. You fulfil even the simplest wishes of your devotees. This servant of yours has nurtured a yearning. Knowing the innermost thoughts of all, it is not hidden from you. O Lord! I have a keen desire to spread the story of your divine play, but I feel quite incompetent for the great task. Efforts to describe God all end by saying neti, neti (not this, not this), yet one cannot help praising his glory. Similarly, words have not the power to express your divinity, for there is no end to you or your divine play. Any effort to express who you are is like trying to drain an ocean with cupped hands. No matter how much is said or how much is written, one cannot be satisfied with it. I am aware of my own lack of capability on one hand and a lack of adequate knowledge of language, literature, and style on the other. Under these circumstances it does not seem possible to safely carry the nectar of your divine life to others. In the evening of my life, as unskilled a sailor as I am, it is my audacity to get into the tumultuous ocean in a worn-out boat with timeworn oars. Yet leaning upon your supernatural powers, may I persist in this stupendous task. O Krishna! You made it seem as if your play in this human body was over. Your "disappearance" was a divine act in itself. Your compassion is still alive and giving support to those seeking your grace. O Lord! May I know if your divine nature need still be concealed? If not, kindly be seated in the heart of this servant of yours, enlighten his wisdom, and gratify him by making his pen write. You alone can make an impossible task possible. By your grace all hurdles will be

removed, and this work will be completed. O Ocean of kindness! I await the shower of your loving grace. These flowers are offered with love and placed at your feet with care. Please accept them, O Beloved Gurudev. Humbly I bow at your feet, Ravi Prakash Pande "Rajida" Sri Kainchi Hanuman Mandir & Ashram, Nainital Bhadra-Shukla, Anant Chaturdashi 21 September 1983 Introduction Sri Baba Neeb Karori Maharaj was born in a well-to-do Brahmin family from the village of Akbarpur in District Agra and was known by the name Laxmi Narian. He exhibited spiritual powers from birth, and though he did not show an inclination for study as a child, he seemed to know everything. One night he told his family that there would be burglars in the house. Taking it to be a child's imagination, no one heeded his warning, but his words turned out to be true. Burglars broke into the house the same night. At the tender age of eleven, Baba left his home and went to Gujarat, where he lived for seven years. He stayed in the ashram of a Vaishnav (a worshipper of Lord Vishnu) saint who gave him the name Lakshman Das and made him wear the clothes of an ascetic. His hair grew long and matted, and he wore a loincloth tied around his waist with a rope made of reed. His sole possession was a kamandal (a pot made out of a gourd). He also stayed for some time at an ashram in Babania, a village outside the town of Morvi. There he practiced spiritual austerities, which included immersing himself in a lake for long periods. From Babania, Baba set off on a journey around the country. While traveling, he arrived at the village of Neeb Karori, in the district of Farrukhabad, and stopped to take some rest. Baba's speech was divine, and although he had little contact with the villagers, whatever he told them came true. They became attached to him and beseeched him to stay. They built an underground cave for him in which he immersed himself in spiritual practice all day. No one saw him coming out even to attend the call of nature. He came out only in the darkness of night. Later the cave gave in, and a new cave (which still exists) was dug out about two hundred meters from the old one, on a neglected piece of land owned by a Brahmin named Goverdhan. Baba had a Hanuman temple built on the roof of this cave, and on the day of consecration he shaved his long, matted hair and started wearing a long, cotton dhoti (length of cotton fabric) instead of the loincloth. After moving into the new cave, Baba started interacting more with the villagers. He developed a friendly association with the younger people of his age group and often participated in their sports. He mingled with them so freely that it was not possible for them to be over-awed by the peculiarities of his astonishing deeds. While playing hide-and-seek, he was able to locate any one of them instantly, wherever they might be hidden in the forest, but when his turn came, he became invisible and was not to be found anywhere. While climbing

trees in the forest, his pursuers would follow him up one tree only to reach the top and see him sitting on another. No one saw him leaping from tree to tree. While swimming in the village pond, Baba would disappear under the water and come out after a long time. It was all a matter of amazement and fun for them. During this period a poor bird catcher named Gopal became Baba's ardent devotee and came to attend to him every day. One day, forgetting Baba's instructions not to enter his cave, Gopal made the mistake of going in with a pot of milk that he had brought for him. He found Baba in deep meditation with serpents wrapped around his body. He was so horrified to see Baba in his Shiva-like form that his legs gave way and the pot of milk slipped from his hands. He ran outside and fainted. Baba came out and lifted him up saying, "You should not have entered the cave without permission." It was by Baba's touch alone that Gopal regained consciousness. One time Baba did not get food for several days. This was more of his lila. The villagers said that he appeared agitated. He shouted at the holy image of Hanuman [an incarnation of Shiva and beloved devotee of Lord Ram, he is the reliever of suffering, the embodiment of blessings, and a bridge between people and God], "Will you starve me to death?" No sooner did he say these words than several people came to the temple with plates full of fruits and sweets. Showing disrespect to the deity was an incomprehensible act, but the villagers believed that Maharaj could do such a thing because he was not a devotee of Hanuman but Hanuman himself. One day Baba was on his way to the Ganges, where he used to bathe on the auspicious days of Ekadashi and Purnima. He was walking with his devotee Gopal and a Muslim companion when he saw a train traveling towards Farrukhabad on which he wished to travel. The moving train, which was about two hundred meters away, suddenly stopped and did not move further until Baba and his attendants boarded. As soon as Baba sat down, the train continued its journey. Later on, at the request of villagers who wished to keep the memory of the event alive, the government of India set up a railway station at the place where Baba boarded and named it Baba Lakshman Das Puri station after Baba. (Baba was called Baba Lakshman Das by the villagers of Neeb Karori.)

On another occasion Baba went to Farrukhabad from Neeb Karori in the first-class compartment of a train. Seeing his sadhu-like appearance, an Anglo-Indian conductor told him to get off the train at the next station. Baba got down and took a seat on the platform. Despite all efforts of the station staff, the train did not move; its departure was delayed for two hours. The conductor could not explain the problem since no mechanical defect was found. In fact, the engine was running, but the wheels would not turn. All the compartments of the train were checked thoroughly and no fault was found anywhere. While the authorities were deliberating over the problem, some railway employees asked Baba in jest to make the train move. Baba said, "I am turned out of the train and you are asking me to let it go!" An employee replied, "Perhaps you had no ticket." At this, Baba showed them several genuine first-class tickets. Amazed, they begged him to re-board the train and let it move. Baba willed it to be so, and the train moved instantly. From then on Baba Lakshman Das became famous as Baba Neeb Karori, the baba from Neeb Karori village. In 1935 a rich man came to Neeb Karori and offered Baba a silver plate full of gold coins in the presence of Goverdhan and some other Brahmins. Baba did not accept the offering. His rejection of it antagonized the Brahmins, for they had wanted Baba to give them the money. Later another rich man came to Neeb Karori bringing thirty cans of ghee (clarified butter) for the forthcoming yagna (fire ceremony) on the full-moon day. Baba was in Farrukhabad at the time, taking a bath in the Ganges. In his absence the Brahmins spoke to the rich man in a derogatory way about Baba and persuaded him to go away with his cans of ghee. Baba could see all that was happening at Neeb Karori from Farrukhabad, and on his return he reprimanded the Brahmins and gave up the idea of performing the annual yagna. One day shortly thereafter, he left the village. He had lived there for eighteen years. After leaving Neeb Karori, Baba lived for some time on the bank of the Ganges at Kilaghat in Fatehgarh. There he associated with the local people and even reared some cows. To the

amusement of his devotees, the cows obeyed Baba's commands. During his stay he gave his blessings and darshan to many soldiers. He also changed the heart of Colonel J.C. McKenna, his first western devotee, who had been averse to Indian saints and monks. After leaving Kilaghat, Baba wandered from place to place. Nothing can be said for certain about where he went and what he did during this time. There was, however, a steady growth of reverence for him among people in the towns of Bareilly, Haldwani, Almora, Nainital, Kanpur, Lucknow, Vrindavan, and Allahabad, and also in Delhi, Shimla, and even Madras (Chennai), a far-off city in the South. Without any publicity, urban and rural Indians of all ages, castes, and classes, as well as people from the West became Baba's devotees. Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, and even atheists were drawn to him. V.V. Giri, former president of India; Gopal Swarup Pathak, former vice president; Justice Vasudev Mukherjee; Jugal Kishore Birla, the famous industrialist; Sumitra Nandan Pant, the poet; former prime minister Jawahar Lal Nehru, and many other well-known and distinguished persons had Baba's darshan and showed great respect for him. During the 1940s Baba began spending more time in Nainital. A great many of the town's inhabitants became devoted to him. If they saw Baba going anywhere, they would leave their business or chores and like carefree beings, follow him wherever he went. There was an inexplicable bliss in the households that Baba visited. No effort was needed to find out where he was in the town at any particular moment because his presence could be felt by the spirit of joy and festivity pervading that place. He would occasionally stay in the houses of his devotees, but he spent much of his time on the secluded Manora hillside, about two kilometers outside of the town. Sometimes he would pass the nights on the roadside parapets, and householder devotees accustomed to domestic comforts would remain awake with him all night, night after night, and still attend to their usual routine during the day. Instead of feeling fatigued, they felt a new spirit of energy.

In the early 1950s Baba had his first temple, which he named Hanumangarh, constructed on the Manora hillside. Over the next two decades he also had temples, and in some places ashrams, constructed in Bhumiadhar, Kainchi, Kakrighat, Kanpur, Lucknow, Vrindavan, Shimla, Delhi, and other places. Baba valued the temples and ashrams, but he had no desire or attachment for them. As soon as each temple was completed, he would turn its management over to a trust. Because of the social limitations faced by women in India, Baba made special facilities available to them in the ashrams. Consequently the women devotees adored Baba as their guru, father, brother, or son, according to their feelings. They participated in all the activities of the ashrams and contributed greatly to the spirit of service that Maharaj encouraged. Many visitors were fed every day in Baba's ashrams and given packets of prasad (blessed food) to carry home for their families. The visiting ascetics were offered money and blankets as well as food. Baba would say, "If you do not empty the stock, how can it be replenished?" Just as the sun never sees darkness, Baba never faced a shortage of anything. From the 1950s until his Mahasamadhi, Baba visited the temples and ashrams but never stayed in one place for long. Wherever he stayed, he lived simply and was always concerned with the welfare of others. Like a benevolent father, he shed his grace on all. He nurtured the concept of Vasudhaiv kutumbakam (the world as one family) and would say that love binds all together. His blood relations, along with countless others, merged within this worldwide family. Devotees only learned about Baba's relatives when his last rites were performed. Baba said, "The whole universe is our home and all residing in it belong to our family. Every woman is a mother or sister and every man a father or brother. This is all God's family. You can do service of the highest order only if your thoughts are centered on God. Instead of trying to see God in a particular appearance, it is better to see him in everything." On 11 September 1973 Maharaj ji left his physical body. Much remains a mystery about him and his lila before and after this date. K.M. Munshi, former governor of Uttar Pradesh, wrote, "Nobody knows where he came from or where he went away to, nor is his original name known to anyone." What we know about him is only by his grace. He is a perfect example of how the eternal power assumes human form and dwells for a time amidst the masses.

Baba's Divine Nature Sri Baba Neeb Karori Maharaj was the very embodiment of grace and compassion. He showered affection, fed people, and made them laugh. He loved everyone without discrimination and could not bear to see anyone in distress. He was so affable that each of his devotees felt that Baba had special affection for them and believed him to be their very own. Even simple words spoken by him always brought good, just as seeds, in whatever way they are sown, always sprout upright. He was like a kapataru (a celestial wish-fulfilling tree) in satisfying the beneficial wishes of people. Baba would often call strangers by name and relieve them of their suffering by advising them suitably. He would cure the diseases of people without their knowledge. He alleviated afflictions—whether physical, spiritual, or mundane—with a mere glance or touch. Some people call Baba the greatest ascetic, some the supreme saint. One devotee said that Baba appeared according to one's thoughts or as a reflection of one's own feelings—often as a beloved family member or as a revered teacher. Baba came to one man in the form of Sri Ram, to another in the form of Goddess Durga. Many believed him to be an incarnation of the all-powerful Hanuman. Swami Karpatri Maharaj said, "In Kali-yuga, many learned saints have come into the world, but none is so enlightened as Baba Neeb Karori." Swami Chidananda, the president of the Divine Life Society and Sri Shivananda ashram, called him "a wonder mystic of Northern India." Baba himself said, "If people got to know the truth about me, they would even pinch off the hair on my body and make talismans." Baba, however, kept his divinity concealed. The villages of Akbarpur and Neeb Karori in Uttar Pradesh were the fields of his lila for more than half a century. Nevertheless, the inhabitants of his native Akbarpur were not aware that their own Laxmi Narain Sharma was known elsewhere as Baba Neeb Karori or Baba Lakshman Das. Nor did the residents of Neeb Karori know that the baba who became famous all over the world by the name of their village was none other than their own Baba Lakshman Das.

Baba's unassuming appearance caused common people as well as spiritual aspirants of a high order to mistake him for a prosperous Indian householder. He made no pretensions about being a saint in order to gain respect. He did not mark his forehead or wear a string of beads around his neck, nor did he wear the saffron clothing of a sadhu. Instead, he wore a white dhoti and a blanket. In his own ashrams, if a stranger asked him where they could find Baba, he usually replied, "There is no baba here. Go and have darshan before the murti of Hanuman." Baba often created a misleading impression of himself and bewildered people in order to divert their attention. Many say he exhibited human weaknesses to this end. Baba credited other people with his own extraordinary deeds, and if any of his devotees tried to speak highly of him in public or look for more details about him, he did not allow them to stay in his company for long. Baba disdained the fawning ways used to show esteem for him, though sometimes he would accept ritual adoration (puja) when it was offered with true love and simplicity. Outwardly, however, he would still be busy talking or lost in thought. The opinions of others, whether favorable or unfavorable, did not affect Baba. He would unhesitatingly act contrary to expectation and at times even in ways that seemed humiliating in the eyes of the world. His reasons were generally incomprehensible, yet he appealed to people so much that he always remained the object of their reverence and affection. His paradoxical actions could often be explained by the fact that Baba, like other saints, made use of the subtle, unseen forces of the universe. In this way rational logic could not be applied to them.

Swami Ramanand said that Baba's state of consciousness determined his behavior. When Baba appeared to be asleep, it would be just as likely for him to be in a state of bliss or on another plane. More often Baba appeared restless. Even while sitting or lying down, he was rarely still. Baba's apparent mobility was often attributed to the numerous benevolent works he was doing elsewhere unnoticed. Even Baba's physical form would sometimes reflect his inner state. The photographs in which Baba's hand looks like a monkey's paw suggest his absorption in the contemplation of Hanuman. Baba never got tired of moving about day or night. He would often joyfully pass the nights in solitary places, on parapet walls by the roadside, or in jungles. Sometimes he roamed about without food. Sometimes, even after eating meals in the many homes he was invited to, he would say he was hungry and ask for more food. [It is believed that Baba was taking on negative karma by eating at people's homes, thus saving them from adverse effects.] At other times a piece of dry bread from a pious soul satisfied him. Swami Rama ['Living With the Himalayan Masters'] said that Baba was beyond the physical awareness of his own self and so his behavior appeared childlike. He would occasionally forget to eat or to take his bath. His attendants would remind Baba, and then he would perform the daily chores. Sometimes Baba would be smiling at jokes and those around him would be laughing. In an instant he would change the mood and people would start weeping. At times a few lines from the Ramayana (the epic depicting Lord Ram's incarnation on earth), a recollection of Christ, or even an ordinary conversation would touch his heart, and his own tears would flow profusely. Even his picture was seen to shed tears when someone wept before it. Baba led such a simple life that there was nothing one could give him. He did not accept money from foreigners and discouraged others from doing so, but he would honor and accept humble offerings from the poor. He had a natural affinity for the destitute and disadvantaged and would walk into their homes uninvited and ask for food. He often said, "Everyone is poor before God." At the same time Baba encouraged charity, generosity, and sacrifice and exhorted the rich to spend money on the construction of temples and ashrams, on bhandaras (public feedings), and for the welfare of others. On occasion he would put a devotee to the test by asking them for something that they were very attached to or felt unable to part with. This again was his lila. He told people that generosity was a result of good deeds performed in a previous birth and said, "To give or sacrifice for another at the cost of hardship to yourself is very difficult. Such acts can only be performed because of sanskaras [predispositions or positive tendencies] of previous births." Baba's nature to forgive was unparalleled. He did not look down on anyone for their evil deeds or for exhibiting human weaknesses such as desire, anger, pride, ignorance, or avarice. It is said in the Ramayana that if God took heed of all of man's deeds, his redemption would become unthinkable. Even though Baba knew everything, he accepted everyone as they were. Indeed, he would become unhappy if someone mistreated a person who had committed an offense. Once, Baba ignored the traffic rules at a crossing and was verbally abused and manhandled by the police officer on duty. Baba did not mind, but someone else reported the incident to a higher authority. When the police officer was called to task, Baba himself went

to plead for the man and saved him from punishment. There were times when Baba made a show of anger—scolding and shouting. His Shiva-like wrath was not easy to cope with. He did not hesitate to use a stream of course swear words, and sometimes he would even strike out with his hand or foot. The person who was the object of his fury, as well as anyone witnessing it, was shaken at these moments. Strangely enough, immediately after such incidents, Baba would appear very calm and kind-hearted, as if nothing had happened. Eventually it was seen that his anger averted the misfortunes of people and acted as a blessing in disguise. Even knowing that his anger was never real, none dared to take it lightly. No one knew how or on whom Baba's grace would fall. Even though people generally go to the hermitages of saints and sages to have their darshan like a thirsty man goes to a well, Baba would visit the houses of his devotees and often bless them by eating food prepared by them. He would extend this type of blessing to anyone and eat vegetarian food without the slightest hesitation at the houses of Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, or Christians. He often brought other devotees along with him and expected them to be fed as well. Even when he arrived unexpectedly, there would always be plenty. By his grace the quantity of food would increase to the appropriate amount and save the hosts from embarrassment. Prosperity, peace, and contentment filled the house wherever he took a meal. While staying at the homes of his devotees, Baba would sit among them like the head of the family, take interest in and listen to their day-to-day problems, give his opinion, and help them. Many families asked Baba for advice on matrimonial alliances, and at times he would name a suitable bride or groom. Whenever Baba suggested an alliance, it was bound to take place whether it was agreed to at the time or not. Having expressed his view in respect to marriage, Baba would indirectly get it performed in a satisfactory manner and thus relieve the family members of their anxiety. Certain people did not think it proper for a saint to be interested in the worldly activities of householders, but these thinkers betrayed their ignorance of Baba's divine nature. It is said in the Ramayana that the illustrious saints are moved by the

sufferings of others. Baba was benevolence itself, and so it was natural for him to shower his grace in so many forms. In addition to visiting his householder devotees, Baba would also go to the hermitages and caves of spiritual aspirants (sadhaks) and grace them by his presence. Real sadhaks could not remain hidden from Baba. He always helped them, directly or indirectly, in their spiritual practice. Unlike some sadhus who do not tolerate children or consider them worthy company, Baba, having a childlike temperament himself, loved their company and always fed them his nectar- like prasad. He ignored their pranks and sometimes playfully encouraged them by giving preference to their wishes. Baba's only expectation from children and young people was that they respect their parents and teachers, which he insisted they demonstrate by bowing and putting their heads at the elders' feet. He used to quote examples of how one man carried his mother on his shoulders for a bath in the Ganges, or of one who ate only after he had offered food to his parents. Those who showed such devotion to their parents were dear to Maharaj. In one context he said, "It is not necessary to seek God so long as the parents are alive. The worship of living parents is difficult, but it is the best sadhana [spiritual practice]." Baba would bring people to a higher state of awareness just through normal conversation. Sometimes he kept people so absorbed all through the night that they were surprised to see the approach of dawn. During discussions on spirituality, whatever he uttered touched the heart and had the effect of a great mantra, or devotional incantation. He said, "All religions are basically the same and they all lead to God. All human beings are equal. The blood that circulates in the body through the heart is the same in all." He went to Mecca at the request of Indian Ambassador Shri Kidwai, to church at the request of the American devotees, and accompanied Sikhs and others to temples. Baba, who was initiated as a Vaishnav, appreciated whoever followed their religion conscientiously and respected all religions alike, but he himself was not constrained by any. In making the rituals less cumbersome, he would disregard the precepts of the scriptures when appropriate.

Baba encouraged the devotees to recite the Hanuman Chalisa (a forty-verse prayer in praise of Hanuman) and the Sundarkand (the chapter in the Ramayana that describes Hanuman's exploits). He also guided them in the prayers and annual religious functions at the ashram. Yet he himself would not participate in them and kept aloof from formal ceremonies such as the consecration of temples. He would tell people, "God resides within every heart." Sometimes he said that food is God. About God's darshan, he said, "God exists in all aspects of nature, his creation. He is everywhere so is never out of our sight. The fault is ours if we are not able to see him or do not earnestly try to see him. We must not limit our vision. The narrow tendencies of the mind keep us so entangled in mundane activities that we are not aware of him. Our impure thoughts prevent us from achieving peace of mind and divine love." He often said that love is the best means for God-realization and would repeat again and again, "There is nothing dearer to Ram than love." Baba was continuously uttering "Ram, Ram" or sometimes "Radha, Radha" (names of God). Even while talking, he could be seen moving his thumb continuously around his finger, as if repeating a mantra. At times he became so engrossed that he appeared to be lost in himself. His devotion was sublime. He often said, "Ram's form left this world, Krishna's form left this world, but the name stays. By reciting his name everything is achieved," and shaking his head, he reiterated, "Everything is achieved." Someone asked, "Isn't it hypocritical to worship God when you are not sincere in your devotion?" Baba answered, "If you can't do it with true feeling and you don't want to otherwise, what will you do then? Something is better than nothing. To begin with, one may

not be entirely sincere, but in due course of time, the thoughts get purified and the honesty of intention comes by itself. Can anyone have the vision of God with naked eyes? One must have divine sight to visualize him and a person only gets it after the purification of thoughts. For this, a pious life, bhajan, and spiritual practice are essential. Go on reciting Ram and one day the true call for Ram will come out and you will be redeemed." According to Baba, one true recitation of the name of Ram from the heart was equal to countless recitations otherwise. He would also say, "Go on worshipping God in thought, word, and action. Then you will be able to perform nishkama karma [deeds performed without any attachment or desire]. The ability of nishkama karma can be achieved only by his grace and cannot be acquired by any other means. None can claim a right to his grace. It is up to him to give it, to refuse it, or to take it away." Baba would say that attachment and ego are the greatest hindrances to the realization of God and that "a learned man and a fool are alike as long as there is attachment and ego in the physical body." He would advise people to surrender to God's will above everything else so that they might develop love and faith in him and thereby be free of unnecessary worries in life. To strengthen people's faith, he would repeat the lines, "O Lord of the Helpless! The strings of my destiny are in they hand." And, "Like a fish in deep water, everyone is secure and happy under the protection of God." He would tell people that prayers made in front of his photographs were answered by him. He also said, "Have trust in God and the most difficult tasks become easy. For success, hard work alone is not enough, God's grace is essential." Baba was surrounded by people all the time and mingled with them freely, but like the wind he touched everyone and remained unaffected. He listened to and inspired people, sometimes giving guidance in dreams. He existed on many different planes. He would quote Kabir saying, "Of this world I am, desirous of the world I am not, passing through the bazaar I am, the buyer I am not." In some ways Baba remained like an open book that everyone could read, but few had the capability of understanding. In truth, Baba cannot be fathomed. He was transcendent, all pervading, and beyond duality. His physical form performed many miraculous deeds, but the real miracle was the love and concern for human welfare implicit within them. To the seeker, Baba showed possibilities in human life that were beyond imagination. To the man of action, he showed the path of righteousness. To his devotees, Baba gave a glimpse of God in human form.

Baba's Durbar Lovingly addressed as Maharaj, Baba was a master of the spiritual world. Some compared the gathering of devotees around him to the court of a king surrounded by his courtiers. Unlike a king's court, however, no one held a position in Baba's durbar nor did it have a set venue, time, or duration. Everyone could sit wherever they liked, and there was no obligation for visitors to bow to Maharaj. The durbar would assemble anywhere—in the ashram, by the side of the road, under a tree in the forest, or in the house of a devotee. It was always open to everyone. One of the remarkable features of Baba's durbar was that although it assembled and dispersed, its continuity was maintained. One durbar would end, but another would assemble in no time, wherever Baba went. His great love for people and their love for him assured an unbroken sequence of visitors. The subject of conversation in Baba's durbar arose spontaneously and was never prearranged. Baba usually asked the new visitor three questions: What is your name? Where have you come from? What do you do? It was often from these three questions that a conversation would ensue. Once, Baba put the third question as follows, "You, lawyer, what do you do?" Everybody burst into laughter, for Baba had revealed his omniscience. Maharaj just smiled. Many of Baba's lila took place in his durbar. Sometimes he answered the questions of foreigners before the interpreter had finished translating them, and he would ask about members of their family by name. While Baba did not preach or give religious discourses, he would often turn the conversation towards spiritual matters. Even when the topic of conversation was common and worldly, which it often was, the implication of Baba's words always had a deeper meaning. Sometimes

Baba constantly repeated an ordinary word like a child. Two words, "nan" and "thul," from the Kumaon dialect are synonyms for "small" and "big"; Baba used these words like a chant and would utter "nan, nan" and "thul, thul" continuously. Occasionally he would repeat these words in his durbar for days on end. The mystery lay in the repetition; hearing them again and again, the devotees lost the distinction between big and small or high and low. Consequently the vast community of Baba's devotees greeted and embraced each other without discrimination of caste and creed. The purpose of Baba's advice or orders was always very deep. Even common words like "come" and "go" had special implications when spoken by him. Those who were experienced with his way of speaking always thought it better to follow his commands verbatim. The result of non-compliance with his orders or of making any change in them according to the dictates of one's own mental ability was always disappointing and sometimes damaging. Baba would often say something simple to one person while another person would receive a powerful message from the same words. Sometimes he would speak in a gathering and only the individual to whom he directed his words would hear them. Others would not hear anything. On occasion Baba would accuse an innocent person of a misdeed when the guilty person was present. The innocent person, although surprised at the accusation, would consider this as part of Baba's lila, whereas the guilty person would understand that Baba knew the truth and feel remorse for his deeds. Baba enjoyed solving people's problems and happily gave answers to their questions all day and night. People came to him with spiritual questions as well as all types of worldly desires and problems. Some came to him to enquire about their job prospects, some regarding their health or family problems. Businessmen came seeking advice, and others sought boons for prosperity. Students and politicians crowded around him hoping for a glimpse into their future, and childless couples sought his blessings for children. Baba would provide practical solutions to all kinds of matters. He would even speak on subjects such as child-care and suggest remedies for various ailments. Questions were asked on politics, philosophy, yoga, devotion, ethics, diverse personal subjects, conduct, and many other topics. Baba answered even complex questions in a few clear and simple words, sometimes before the person with the questions asked them. Baba openly admired virtues in his durbar so that people might be inspired to take on good qualities. Likewise, he condemned wrongdoing, immorality, and deception so that people might renounce them. Baba showered affection on a woman who was devoted to her husband in thought, word, and deed, and addressing her as "Sati [the virtuous]," praised her profusely. On the other hand, he was displeased with men and women who argued a lot and disturbed the peace at home. Behind this apparent disapproval, his grace would still flow towards them indirectly. Baba would openly discuss and solve family problems, and in this way, he encouraged others to improve upon their own behavior. Baba said, "A wife dedicated to her husband is greater than a yogi." And, "Mother is the image of God." Baba's devotees came from all walks of life, and although some of them led lives of dissipation, he did not always insist on making them give up their bad habits. On the contrary, he gave them opportunities to carry on and spent time in their company. In due course they gave up their bad habits on their own. He often told people, "All are born into this world with natural wisdom and God is the great giver of this wisdom." Whenever Baba addressed an atheist or a wicked person as a devotee or saint, he sowed a seed of goodness that often

brought about a change. With the passage of time, the seed would sprout, grow, bloom, and finally bear fruit. It was common for such people to pass through a transformation. Baba treated everyone equally. Although saints generally maintain distance from women, Baba mingled with them freely. He could playfully hold the hand of any woman and without any hesitation, catch hold of her nose and tweak it for fun. Nothing was seen as inappropriate in his behavior. Both male and female devotees pressed and massaged his feet. His presence and touch communicated such good thoughts and feelings that everyone felt uplifted. Baba regarded all human beings as his own children and treated them accordingly. He often said, "You feel pestered with a few children, but I have so many." Like parents with children, Baba was familiar with everyone. He addressed even eminent persons using the words "tu" and "tum" [In the Hindi language, both "tu" and "tum" mean "you," but they are used to address people of inferior status or as a term of endearment.] and he used "hum" (we) to refer to himself. His use of informal language was soaked with love and affection. His utterances, like "Tum samajhte nahin, hamari kahi suno" [You do not understand, listen to what I say.], and "Hamein bawla mat banao, hum sab jante hein" [Don't drive me mad, I know everything.], delighted everyone. A devotee said that Maharaj once asked a group of people who had gathered to see him, "Why do you come to me?" Baba answered himself saying, "You come to me because of my love for you." Sometimes Baba showed his familiarity by asking someone to shake hands with him on some matter. When the person hesitated, he would quickly take their hand in his own. People generally had no reluctance to talk to him, however, even when a visitor was at ease in Baba's presence, sometimes their thoughts and speech would inexplicably change. Perhaps they would only say what Baba wanted them to say or others to hear. If Baba did not want a person to say anything, the person concerned either forgot or with every effort, could not say anything, even though they were perfectly free to do so. Whatever Baba willed to happen would happen, and what he did not want would never take place. Sometimes a photographer would come to take Baba's photo. Baba would smile and allow it. Yet when the film was developed, Baba's image would not have been captured. The same thing happened if someone tried to record Baba's voice without his consent. If a devotee convinced someone of Baba's greatness and took him to have darshan, Baba would present himself in such a way that all the eulogies about him appeared exaggerated or embellished and the devotee felt embarrassed. Incredible as it may sound, Baba's darshan could only be had by his grace. No one could come to him of their own accord. Similarly, some people would become devoted to him after one visit. Others could not understand his elevated spirituality even after a long association with him. In any case, all were blessed by his sight. The attraction of Baba's presence cannot be expressed in words. His countenance fascinated visitors. Hours spent with him felt like fleeting moments. Those who came to him never wanted to go away. Nevertheless, Baba knew of people's responsibilities and sent them off saying, "Come again." If Baba told someone to go, they generally did not encounter difficulties on their way, and their work at hand was often accomplished without delay. On the other hand, a person with pressing work would be waiting to get Baba's permission to leave the durbar, and Baba would turn to a person who wished to stay and send them away instead. Eventually it was seen that whenever a person was asked to go, it was the appropriate

time for him or her to leave. Either way, Baba's durbar could be summarized as "Aao, khao, jao [Come, eat, go]," and the flow of grace as well as the coming and going never ceased.

Omniscience Maharaj ji's appearance had a childlike innocence. He welcomed people openly, and they in turn talked freely with him. If someone requested Baba to speak, he would feign ignorance and say he didn't know anything; he directed his words to individuals rather than groups. Likewise, displays of knowledge or oratory did not impress Baba, who said that even the children in India were proficient at this. He called lectures or sermons the gymnastics of words and said, "Whatever we experience through the mind and the senses is not the truth." Baba's knowledge, like the great prophets, Christ, Kabir, Ramakrishna, Mohammed, and St. Peter, encompassed universal truths far deeper than academic knowledge. Living in a simple manner among ordinary people, Baba taught by his own conduct and caused an awakening in them. The past, present, and future were all within Baba's vision, but it was only through his lila that one could catch a glimpse of his vastness. As described in the accounts that follow, Maharaj would see into the minds and hearts of people, and reading their innermost thoughts, use his power to relieve suffering, inspire faith, and fulfil desires.

The Removal of Doubt In May 1944 I had Maharaj's darshan for the first time at a house in Blunt Square, Lucknow. Upon returning from my office, I found that members of my family were getting ready to go and see Baba. He had just arrived in the neighborhood, and they asked me to accompany them. I did not know Baba then, and while I always secretly gave reverence to those wearing sadhu's clothing, I generally kept myself apart from them because I could not tell the difference between a real holy man and a fake. I did not agree to go with them because I would not be able to offer salutation openly to Maharaj, and since this meeting was in a neighbor's home, I felt this would be disrespectful to all. Somehow I also felt bad that I did not go or even make an effort to find out who the baba was. When everybody had gone, I sat and meditated on Baba. I told him about my inner conflict and asked him to either send for me or come to my house and give me darshan. I told him I knew that he could do this if he was a saint. At that very moment, in my neighbor's house, Baba asked my sister, "Where is your brother? Why has he not come here?" She tactfully replied that I had just returned from my office and was at home. Baba commanded her, "Go and fetch him. Bring him here." I was surprised when my sister arrived and told me all that had happened. It removed my doubt, and I went at once and bowed at Baba's feet in reverence. He turned his eyes away from me immediately. He did not say anything to me. He got up and went away with another neighbor, Gargi Datt Mishra, to his house. All the others followed him, and I came back home alone and upset. I again meditated on Baba and prayed to him to come to my house and give me darshan. After a short while I saw Maharaj coming to our house with some other devotees. We welcomed

him, and he lay on a takhat (wooden bed), talking to everyone as I massaged his feet. Though I was quite eager to talk to him, he did not look towards me. He then got into a car and left. Baba had fulfilled all my preconditions, but I still could not get peace of mind. How could I? My uneasiness was the ugly consequence of testing a sidhatma (spiritually elevated soul). Eight years later I again had Baba's darshan, this time in Tagore Town, Allahabad. I felt that the long wait was my penance. Holding me by the hand this time, he took me outside, and in a secluded place he started humming, "Ramahi keval prem piyara." [The only thing that is dear to Ram is love.] Indeed, the only access to Baba is through love. Baba's holding the hand of someone had its own significance. It meant that he had accepted that person. I have been closely associated with my beloved and revered Baba ever since then, and sometimes he gratified us by coming to our home. -Rajida Feeding the Children Fewer visitors were coming to Kainchi ashram, for it was October and getting cold in the hills. One day at about 2 p.m. Kundanlal Sah, an engineer, was going from Ranikhet to his home in Bareilly. On his way he stopped his car at the ashram and went in to have Maharaj ji's darshan. There were only four people with Baba. After some time many elderly lady devotees arrived from Nainital, and Baba asked all of them to prepare puris in the kitchen. Sah said that he could not understand why so many ladies would be preparing so much food when there were only four people with Baba and all the inmates of the ashram had already taken prasad. It came to his mind that there must be some other reason for preparing large quantities of puris and vegetables. At about 7 p.m. two buses full of scouts from Rajasthan arrived unexpectedly at the gates of the temple. They were touring the hills and arrived at the

ashram via Dwarahat and Ranikhet. Baba was very happy to see the children and made them eat to their hearts' content. On the Path to God Late one evening Sri Ma and Sri Jivanti Ma and some other women devotees arrived in Kainchi for Baba's darshan. Baba was not there; he had gone to Bhumiadhar. There were no buses at that time to return to Nainital or to travel to Bhumiadhar. However, Sri Ma and Sri Jivanti Ma decided to go and see Baba. They did not take prasad at Kainchi ashram because both Mothers ate only after having Maharaj ji's darshan. They decided to walk the twelve kilometers to Bhumiadhar in the darkness of night on that lonely deserted road. As they started on their way, a black dog appeared out of the darkness and accompanied them as if he was there for their protection. When they arrived at Bhumiadhar at midnight, Sri Ma thought of giving the dog some food. Almost in an instant the dog disappeared and could not be found anywhere. Before Sri Ma and Sri Jivanti Ma arrived, Maharaj ji had asked Brahmachari ji to prepare food for them. Brahmachari ji waited outside the temple to greet them, and as soon as they arrived, they had Maharaj ji's darshan. He praised them for their devout fervor and said, "When you have started on the path to God, proceed, do not stop. He will take care of you." He then asked them to go and have prasad.

A Devotee's Sentiments Bhuvan Chandra Tewari always took an offering when he went for Baba's darshan. One day Tewari saw some small pears in a shop in Bhowali and selected a kilogram of good ones with the thought that whichever pear Baba chose to eat, it should be tasty. After washing them carefully and with love, he put them in a bag and went to the temple in Bhumiadhar. Maharaj was sitting on a roadside parapet a short distance from the temple. He was surrounded by devotees who were offering him good quality sweets and expensive dried fruit. Tewari put his simple bag of pears before Baba. While talking to people, Baba ate all the pears one by one and smilingly handed the empty bag back to Tewari. He distributed the offerings of the other devotees among the people present. Tewari was touched by how Baba valued the sentiment behind the offering.

A Lie One day Karanvir Singh returned home late from school. Baba was at his house and asked him, "Why did you take so long? I have been waiting for you a long time." Karanvir Singh replied, "I have come straight from college." Baba at once said, "It's a lie. You are deceiving Baba. You were free at one o'clock and it is four o'clock now. Why don't you say that you were roaming around with your friends?" Baba then gave the names of the friends that he had been with. Karanvir was dumbfounded. Baba laughed loudly and said, "You can lie to your father, he is a simple man. But you can't deceive Baba."

Unexpected Darshan Mahavir Singh loved the company of ascetics and saints, and he regularly attended to their needs. One day in the early 1940s, while he was on his rounds at the Agra Cantonment railway station, he came across a bulky man of about forty-five years of age. The man was wearing half of his dhoti around his waist and the remaining half covering the upper part of his body. The man spoke to Mahavir amiably, saying, "Mahavir Singh, how are you keeping now?" Mahavir replied, "I am much better." The man then asked, "How is your liver pain?" Mahavir replied, "It is a little less." The man said, "It will be alright." Both of them began walking together. Then Mahavir Singh said, "I do not remember you." Putting his hand gently on Mahavir's shoulder, the man said, "I am Baba Neeb Karori." Mahavir had heard about Baba, but at that moment he felt bewildered by his closeness. In the unexpected presence of Baba, he could not think of what to say to him. Baba said, "Let us go to your house." They went, and since that time Mahavir Singh has always had his grace. Baba gave him darshan every month for about six years, and Mahavir kept a takhat and blanket ready for him. What Name? A truck driver around the age of twenty-eight from Pithoragarh came to see Baba at Kainchi for the first time in 1966. He offered pranaam (a respectful greeting made by joining the palms or bowing at the feet) and Baba asked him, "What name?" He immediately replied, "Lalit Mohan." Baba said, "That's a lie, Laxman Singh." The man was surprised to hear his

real name from Baba, and by way of explanation he said, "Baba, you are right. My name is Laxman Singh, and the members of my family call me by this name. In my childhood, when I was first registered in school, my family wanted a better name to be written in the school register, and they chose Lalit Mohan." This incident impressed the man so much that he became Baba's devotee, and later, the driver of Baba's jeep. A Rupee From a Poor Man One day Baba arrived with some devotees at the house of Prem Lal, the manager of Titagarh Paper Mills in Lucknow. Prem Lal had engaged a new servant to clean in the kitchen who was keen to have Baba's darshan. After finishing his work, he sat on the doorstep of the room in which Baba was sitting. His upper body was bare, and he sat with his head bowed in reverence. Baba asked him, "Whenever you visited your guru, you gave him one rupee?" The servant confirmed this by nodding his head. Baba then said, "You have brought a rupee tucked in your waistband for me?" He nodded again. Baba then said, "Come, why don't you give it." The servant took out the rupee and gave it to him. Maharaj, who would refuse the offering of lakhs (hundreds of thousands) of rupees, accepted a rupee from a poor man with great affection that day. Sending him away, he told his devotees, "A rupee from this poor man is more valuable than your twenty thousand rupees."

Baba's Blessings The government of Uttar Pradesh under Chandra Bhan Gupta wanted to take over the Barabanki Sugar Mills because of mismanagement. However, the cane growers got their way, and the government gave up its intent. The government appointed Devkamta Dixit ji, one of the mill's directors, as the mill's receiver. Dixit ji had to collect a large sum of money to run the mill. The Central Bank of Barabanki turned down his application for a loan but advised him to approach the chairman of the bank in Bombay. Dixit ji came to know that the chairman was going abroad in two days time but decided to hurry to Delhi and then take a flight to Bombay to meet him. On his way he thought of receiving Baba's blessings in Vrindavan for success in his efforts. When he arrived in Vrindavan, the watchman at the ashram told him that Baba had left two hours earlier. Dixit ji was perturbed at not being able to see him and thought that his efforts with the bank would be in vain. Seeing Dixit ji disappointed, the watchman asked if he had come from Kanpur. The astonished Dixit ji said yes. The watchman informed him that before leaving, Baba said to him, "A devotee of mine will come from Kanpur. Tell him that his efforts will be successful. He should take prasad from Bihari ji." Bihari ji's temple remains closed during the afternoon, and Dixit ji had to leave for Delhi immediately. There was no possibility of getting prasad at that hour, but he decided to bow at the door of Bihari ji's temple and buy prasad from the market. While he was bowing at the gate of the temple, a man opened the door a little and came out. Dixit ji at once gave some money as an offering to Bihari ji and asked for some prasad. The man went inside. He came out bringing a basketful of prasad and gave it to him. Dixit ji received it happily and left for Bombay. When he arrived, Dixit ji called on the chairman at his house in the Malabar Hills, but he was not home. On an impulse he sent the basket of prasad into the house with a message that it

was from Bihari ji. On receiving the prasad, the chairman's wife herself came out to meet him. They were a Gujarati family. The lady had been planning for some time to go to Vrindavan to have Bihari ji's darshan but had not been able to. By getting the prasad at her home, she felt blessed by Bihari ji's grace. She asked Dixit ji to return the following morning. The next day Dixit ji met the chairman, who immediately issued orders to the bank in Barabanki to make funds available to Dixit ji as required. Dixit ji took a loan of two million rupees and saved the mill from total collapse. Replies to Unasked Questions I met Baba at the home of my colleague Dixit ji on 14 November 1944, while I was posted to the head office of the State Bank of India in Kanpur. Baba said to me, "I shall come to your house," and then got up and left. I could not understand what he meant at that moment, but my brief meeting with him had such an effect on me that I followed him in my car. Maharaj's car traveled too fast for me to keep up, but after that I had a great desire to meet him again. After some time I found out that Baba had come to Lucknow and was at Suraj Narayan Mehrotra's house. The next day I went there with my wife and sister-in-law and found Baba sitting in a room with many devotees. We stayed outside the room, and after Baba sent all the devotees away one by one, he called us inside. First Baba said to me, "Ask what you want." I asked for his blessings, and ever since he has always bestowed his grace on me. To my sister- in-law he said, "You worry about your husband unnecessarily. Leave the worries aside and all will be well." Lastly he spoke to my wife, "You have come with something in your mind. Say what you want to ask." Baba asked her twice to speak, but she kept quiet. Baba asked her once again, and when she did not speak that time, he said, "Alright, I shall come to your house and see you. Tell me then." My wife remained silent because she had made up her mind not to express her questions in words and wanted to hear Baba's answers in private. Later Baba visited Dixit ji's house in Kanpur, and from there I brought him to my home. We had arranged for his reception in the outer room of the house, but instead of going there he said, "I shall sit in your small prayer room." He went into the house as if he were already

familiar with it, and I simply followed him. He sat in the prayer room and asked me to send for my wife. Maharaj said to her, "What do you want to ask?" Still she did not say anything. Baba then spoke for about ten minutes, answering all her questions in detail. In the end he said, "Tell me if anything has been left out." As was her nature, she did not speak, but there was a look of joy and contentment on her face. Maharaj said, "Never trouble a saint in this way in the future." Baba left, and she told me that he gave replies to all her questions. After this incident our whole family became his devotees. -G.C. Ganda It Is All a Show Kishan Lal Sah, a teacher from Ramgarh, Nainital, often visited Kainchi to have Baba's darshan. His devotion was such that Baba was both his guru and God. In spite of his deep faith, Kishan Lal was feeling depressed. He was disturbed by the evil seen in the world and by his own lack of spiritual progress. One day he went to Kainchi with the thought of discussing the matter with Baba. When he arrived, Kishan Lal saw Baba sitting on one end of the wooden bridge over the river. He went to him and bowed reverently. Before he could ask anything, Baba said, "You see others trapped by maya [illusion]. Narada and Bharata were entrapped by maya. These great sages were trapped by it, so what is there to say about others?" Kishan Lal felt that there was no need to question Baba further. On a different occasion Sah went to Baba with innumerable questions on spirituality. He

greeted Baba, who was lying in his kuti (room), but he could not think of which question to ask first. Baba selected one important question from the unexpressed ones and answered it without being asked. Baba said, "This temple and whatever is seen by the human eye are illusion. What can you do about it?" This led to other doubts and questions in Kishan Lal's mind. Baba again answered them without being asked. Baba said, "Delusion makes everything look real." Kishan Lal thought that there should be a way out. Baba answered, "Attachment is only dispelled by his grace." How can one obtain grace came to Sah's mind. Baba said, "Constant repetition of God's name, even without feelings of devotion, in anger or lethargy, brings out his grace. Once this is realized, there is no room for any misgivings." In this way Baba satisfied the seeker by giving him simple answers to his important, unexpressed questions. As it says in the Ramayana, "Ram, the embodiment of truth, consciousness, and bliss dispels attachment as the sun dissipates darkness." A Future In the Hills Dr. A.J. Ventrov, a famous physician from France, was interested in the spiritual life and came to India via Sri Lanka in 1950. He was initiated by a guru at Varanasi and renouncing the world, he became known by the name Viyajananda. In his book In the Steps of the Yogis, he wrote about his own experiences of Maharaj ji and narrated this lila: "While I was watering plants one day, I saw Baba coming into the ashram with someone. He was telling him about me, saying that I was English. By "English" he meant a foreigner, the word used for foreigners in common parlance in the Hindi language. I had heard of Baba, as his name was often mentioned in the ashram, but I had never had his darshan. Hence, I could

not recognize him. "Baba was well received, and all the swamis in the ashram were called to have his darshan in Annapurna's temple. Looking at me, Baba said, "He is a saint. He feels at home here now, but he will go to the hills." Baba repeated, "He will go to the hills." At that time I had no intention of going to the hills. I wanted to complete my sadhana in that ashram. Two years after this event, in 1959, I had a desire to visit the hill town of Almora. After roaming about in the hills for many months, I returned to Kashi ashram, but the unpolluted mountain environment attracted me. In the beginning of the next year I went back to those hills and stayed there. I was greatly impressed at the truth of Baba's words about me at our first meeting." M.D. Not D.M. Dr. Anup Kumar Saxena of Bareilly, the son of Kailash Chandra Saxena of Kiccha farm, was a student of Standard VII when Maharaj visited his family's house and asked him, "What do you want to be?" He replied, "D.M. [district magistrate]," for his grandfather was an I.C.S. (Indian Civil Service) officer. Baba said, "You might become D.M. of Bombay or Calcutta, but what is the use of it? You will get a telegram from home and will not be able to reach there by the time of your parent's death. You will become a doctor. You are born to be a doctor. You will serve your parents at home and the people in general outside. You will be educated at Meerut." The family was not at all interested in the medical profession. However, Anup Kumar succeeded in his exams and applied to go to Meerut Medical College. He did not become a D.M., but contrary to his own childhood aspirations and those of the family, he became an M.D., doctor of medicine. He opened his own clinic as prophesied by Baba and looked after his parents.

On Meditation Baba often talked about the importance of meditation, but strangely enough, he would disturb some people when they tried to meditate in front of him. On several occasions, while Baba was busy talking to people, I took his feet in my hands and tried to meditate. Sometimes he moved his feet away, sometimes he started moving his toe in my palm, and at times, knowing I was unable to reply, he would ask me questions on the topic being discussed. Baba understood all states of meditation and was aware of every individual's limited capacity for concentration. In this context he once said, "The mind, bound by the physical body, has its own limitations. A meditative state of mind must be acquired gradually or else there is a risk of becoming insane. It is true that concentration imparts an insight that can lead to self- realization, but for those who remember God and serve living beings, meditation and other kinds of ritual worship are not necessary. Remembering God and cultivating the seva bhav [spirit of service] are easy methods to progress on the spiritual path."

A Son's Transformation One day Thakur Mahavir Singh of Agra told Maharaj, "You love Karanvir so much, yet he calls you a mad baba." It made Baba laugh heartily, and he said, "This is the reason that I like him most. People come to me with some motive. He only comes to me with love." Thereupon Thakur said, "Why don't you reform Karanvir when you like him so much? See, his elder brother neither chews betel nor smokes. He always occupies himself by doing well for others. But Karanvir is fond of all sorts of nonsense and his health is always impaired. Why don't you make him realize it?" Baba unexpectedly became serious and said, "Mahavir, you should not count on your elder son. Karanvir will improve with time and fulfil all your expectations." Mahavir Singh did not take Maharaj's words seriously at that time. Two years later his elder son died. Karanvir was so touched by the pitiable condition of his grief-stricken father that he decided not to do anything that would hurt his feelings. Baba's words proved true. As far as he could, Karanvir Singh fulfilled all his father's expectations.

All Will Be Set Right The D.I.G. (Deputy Inspector General) of police came to Aligarh for an inspection. He was unhappy with the local police because a gang of wire thieves had not been caught. He told them to make an arrest soon. Baba arrived in Aligarh the same day. The D.I.G., who was a devotee of Baba's, sent Durga Prasad Tewari in a jeep to get Baba. While escorting him, Tewari was thinking of how to arrest the wire thieves, for it was weighing heavily on his mind. Baba unexpectedly spoke out, "The order to make an arrest has caused you anxiety." Tewari did not understand what Baba was talking about. When Baba repeated his words, he understood that it concerned him. He replied, "Maharaj, being in service, I have got to worry about my job." Baba said, "Don't worry. Everything will be set right within three days," and repeated, "Everything will be set right within three days." The next day a head constable and two constables woke Tewari up. They had the three thieves who had cut the wire with them. The police got information about the other wire thieves from them and recovered about fifty kilograms of wire. On the third day the man who had bought the stolen wire was also arrested. Everything was set right in three days.

Repayment of a Loan In 1973 Ravi Kumar, an army contractor in Allahabad, came to Kainchi for Baba's darshan. He wanted to offer some items that could be used in the ashram, but he did not have enough money. He contracted Nandlal ji, a ghee merchant in Haldwani, and told him of his problem. He asked Nandlal ji to help him and promised to repay all the costs incurred on his return to Allahabad. Nandlal ji did not know him nor did he ask him his address, but he assured the contractor that he would soon buy everything requested and send it all to Kainchi ashram. He spent a lot of money buying the things required. One day Baba unexpectedly sent for Nandlal ji from Haldwani and asked him why he had sent all the provisions. Nandlal ji told Baba all that had happened. Baba asked, "Do you know that man?" When Nandlal ji replied in the negative, Baba asked him, "How will the money be collected?" Nandlal ji replied, "I have sent all the goods on the word of that gentleman. If he doesn't send the money to me, it will not bankrupt me." Baba was pleased with his reply and said, "You did right. That man is a thorough gentleman. Had he asked you to send things costing even ten times more, he would have paid in full." Baba's words fully assured Nandlal ji of the payment. A month after Baba's Mahasamadhi, Nandlal ji received a bank draft from that person repaying the amount in full.

The Court's Decision Many cases of a political nature were pending in the courts against me and my five friends between 1958 and 1968. Maharaj told me that they would finally be settled in our favor, so I was never worried about them. At first we were acquitted by the court, but the government appealed to the High Court against the decision. The cases were remanded for a review. After reviewing the cases, the Sessions Court sentenced each of us to two years imprisonment. We appealed against the sentences. Meanwhile some of my relatives went to Kainchi to see Baba and asked him about me. Baba told them that the matter would be set right when a particular judge, who he mentioned by name, decided the case. Soon after, the judge who was hearing the case was transferred, and another judge came in his place. The appeal was heard in his court. The case was argued for a full day, and then the hearing was adjourned until the following day. I was afraid because the new judge was not the one mentioned by Baba. The next day the hearing was postponed for an indefinite period. It was taken up again when the judge mentioned by Baba took charge. He gave the decision in our favor. -Harish Chandra Dhaundiyal, Nainital

His Body Is Worn Out Dhaundiyal once asked Baba about the health of three people. His first question was about his law teacher, who had suffered a second heart attack. The second question was about his mother, and the third concerned his brother-in-law, who had been ill for some time. Baba told Dhaundiyal not to worry about the first two people. He asked him to tell his teacher to move about and to go out of Bareilly to work. Regarding his brother-in-law, Baba said, "His body is worn out." Thirteen days after Baba said those words, Dhaundiyal's brother-in-law A Six-month Wait One day in 1955 Maharaj was staying at Birla temple in Delhi, and Radhay Shyam, a dealer in gold and silver from Firozabad, was busy attending to him. He stood at the door all day,

directing visitors to Baba's room. A man who seemed to have no faith in ascetics or temples sat alone at a distance. When Radhay Shyam saw that night was setting in, he asked the man who he was waiting for. The man replied that Birla had advised him to meet Baba. He also said that he wanted to see him alone. Although Radhay Shyam asked the man to return the next day, he refused to go home. Radhay Shyam explained it all to Baba who said, "Let him sleep in your room. We shall talk tomorrow." The next day Baba gave darshan to the man. The man told Baba, "My family consists of only three people—my wife, a son, and myself. My son has been missing since 1947. I want to know whether he is alive or not. If alive, should I hope to met him again?" Maharaj sent him away saying, "Go, you will meet him in six months." After four months the man began writing letters to Radhay Shyam in Firozabad, expressing his disappointment at the fact that his son had still not returned. Radhay Shyam replied, informing him that Baba had gone to the hills and that his letters could only be delivered on his return. He also requested him not to send more unnecessary letters since the period mentioned by Baba had not yet elapsed. After six months Radhay Shyam received a letter from the man stating that by Baba's grace his son had returned home and that he was a teacher in Chandigarh. He also requested Baba's address so that he could go to thank him in person. A Promotion Foretold Sub-Inspector of Police Ram Narain Sinha was very devoted to Maharaj. One day, when he had been in the department for just a few years, Baba asked him to bring a pen and paper. When he brought it, Baba wrote "Ram, Ram, Ram" all over it. At the end of the page he write, "You will become superintendent of police." He then put his thumbprint on it and signed "Baba Neeb Karori" underneath. In those days of British administration it was unthinkable for an Indian junior sub-inspector to rise to the post of superintendent of police. Consequently, Sinha did not believe Baba's written prophecy. Nevertheless, he kept that piece of paper with care. When India gained independence in 1947, the British officers went back to England, and the Muslim officers

opted to go to Pakistan, which created a scarcity of police officers in Uttar Pradesh. In those circumstances Sinha was promoted to superintendent of police. After continuing in that capacity for more than five years, the government brought forward a scheme whereby officers promoted from the ranks were to be demoted and replaced by newly trained I.P.S. officers. Sinha was very much upset by this scheme. He was telling his wife that he had better retire or resign rather than serve in such humiliating circumstances, when his attendant came to tell him that there was an ascetic in the street outside who wanted to talk to him. Sinha went out and saw that the ascetic was none other than Baba Neeb Karori. Seeing him, Baba said, "You won't leave the job. I say that none can remove you." Soon after, Sinha received a government letter stating that in recognition of his meritorious service, his promotion to superintendent was confirmed. Darshan After Twenty Years Purnanand Tewari and his brother went to Nainital with some papers concerned with the litigation of their land. Purnanand had to return to Kainchi to get one more document, but his brother fell sick. This required Purnanand to remain in Nainital taking care of him until evening. By that time there were no buses back to Kainchi, so leaving his brother in Nainital, Purnanand began to walk to Gathia (a stop on the way back to Kainchi). The darkness of night had fallen, and he still had several miles to go. There was only one shop at Gathia, and when he reached there, Tewari asked the owner if he could stay overnight. Choudhry, the owner, refused but said that if a truck stopped, he would ask the driver to pick him up along the road. Purananad set out into the darkness again, carrying a small torch. Along the way he came to a frightening culvert known as Kufia Danth. A steel chain hung from a tree there, and it was said that an ascetic had tied a ghost to it. Though Tewari was a young man of about twenty-one years, he was scared of ghosts. As he got closer, he saw a bulky man in the dim torchlight sitting on the parapet in that lonely place. The man called out loudly, "Who is there? What's your name? Where do you live?" Tewari got frightened. He thought it was a ghost, but he believed that there was no point in running away from an evil spirit. He went closer and saw that the man was Baba Neeb Karori. Tewari had heard of

Baba's fame and had seen him earlier that same day in the house of an overseer in Nainital. Purnanand still cherished a desire in his heart to touch Baba's feet, for he had hesitated to do so that morning. At that solitary place he thought that perhaps Baba was giving him the opportunity. Tewari said his name and that Kainchi was the name of his village. Baba said, "Your brother has fallen sick. Don't worry, he will be alright." Tewari was amazed and remained standing respectfully with folded hands. Baba continued, "Now go. You will get a lift on the way. Litigation is on, do not worry, you won't lose in court. It is suffering due to karma. The case will drag on for a long time." When Tewari asked Baba why he was there, Baba said, "I have come here to avoid evil spirits. There are many evil spirits in Nainital." Tewari then asked, "Baba, when will I have your darshan again?" He replied, "After twenty years. Now go. You will get a lift." Tewari bowed, touched his feet, and went on his way. He thought that Baba said "after twenty years" because he did not want to give him darshan anymore. He hardly walked five hundred yards when a truck driver approached from behind and offered him a ride. This event took place in 1942. On 25 May 1962 Baba stopped in Kainchi on his return from Ranikhet. Purnanand was sleeping in his house when Baba sent a laborer to go and get him. The laborer told Tewari that a bania (businessman) had come to meet him. He came out and saw that Baba Neeb Karori was waiting for him. Baba kept his word and fulfilled the promise he made to him twenty years earlier. A Transfer Cancelled

In 1965 Central Jail in Agra was vacated so that the prisoners from the Pakistan War could be accommodated. Bhushan Chandra Joshi was superintendent of the jail. One day the inspector general of jails was in Agra and told Joshi to get ready because he was going to be transferred. Joshi immediately got his luggage packed. Later that day he received news that Baba was visiting someone's house in Agra and went there to have darshan. Upon seeing Joshi, Baba at once said, "Is the I.G. God, that you have packed your luggage on his word? I say go and unpack your luggage. You will not be transferred now." Joshi was a great devotee, and on returning to his house, he obeyed Baba. Later he received a written order from the government entrusting him with the supervision of the Pakistani prisoners. He remained in Agra until 1968. Two More Children In 1971 my wife's health deteriorated gradually until one day her condition became serious. I was worried about her and went to the ashram to tell Baba of my concern. The sun was setting, and Maharaj was sitting alone in his kuti, facing the window. I bowed to him from outside the window, went into the room, and sat facing his back on the floor by his takhat. Some moments passed in silence. Then Baba suddenly turned around and showing two raised fingers, said, "Two more children are yet to be born." He then became serious and sat quietly facing the window. In the mental state I was in at the time, I could not understand him. My wife was at death's door, and Baba was saying two more children were to be born. It came to my mind that my wife would not die if two more children were still to be born. Surely she would escape death. I felt a little more relaxed. I offered pranaam to Baba and went back home. Then I began to think that my wife was aging and that if she was going to give birth to more babies, she would not be able to withstand the physical strain. I then thought that the birth of a child was a matter for joy and wondered why Baba became serious and quiet. I did not have any answer to this question and it remained a mystery. Gradually my wife recovered. In September 1973 Maharaj took Mahasamadhi, and in the winter of that very year, my wife

gave birth to twins. Both children had a beautiful appearance, but they were stillborn. It was then that I understood the meaning of Baba's silence. -Purnanad Tewari, Kainchi Ordinary Problems One day I was irritated by an itch on my head. Although I did not have lice in my hair, I suspected them to be the cause. I asked Dwarkanath, who was standing nearby, to look, but he did not find any. At that very moment Maharaj sent for me. I bowed before him and sat on the floor by his takhat. Without saying anything, he patted me on the head and rubbed it for a while. I got much relief from it. Both of us were silent; no one uttered a single word. I take it to be one of his many ways of showing that he was aware of even insignificant problems. -Radha Baum, U.S.A.

Whereabouts of a Missing Person In 1932 Jagdev Singh came to see Baba with a subordinate Sikh officer. Speaking about Baba's greatness, Jagdev Singh told the officer that Baba would answer his question correctly even if he did not ask it. The Sikh officer wanted to ask something in particular about his friend Gainda Singh, whose son had disappeared in grief after the death of his wife, but he did not say anything to Baba. Looking at him, Baba said, "You want to ask about Gainda Singh's son who has run away from home. The boy has been asking the priest in the gurdwara [Sikh place of worship] at Amritsar to take him as a disciple. His wife has died and his mother is alive. The priest is not inclined to make him a disciple without his mother's permission." The officer passed this information on to his friend Gainda Singh, who at that time was jailer at Farrukhabad. Gainda Singh went to Amritsar immediately and brought his son back home.

Three Sons In 1968 Rajinder Anand came to Kainchi with her mother for Baba's darshan. As soon as Baba saw her, he said to her mother, "Get the marriage of your daughter arranged." He gave Rajinder two rupees and sent them away. They came out of the ashram, got on a bus for Haldwani, and sat down. When the conductor came to give them tickets, they found that they were two rupees short of the fare. They paid with the money that Baba had given to Rajinder. While they had accepted the money from Baba very reluctantly, they came to understand that his purpose in giving it was to save them from that embarrassing situation. At home the family began to make arrangements for Rajinder's marriage, which took place the following year. After her marriage Rajinder and her husband went to Kainchi for Baba's darshan. Baba held up three fingers and said to her, "Three sons will be born." Indeed, she gave birth to three children—all boys.

Fail-Pass After Shrimati Durga Mai's son took his B.A. exam, he was afraid of having failed and seemed depressed. His mother came to Kainchi, and telling Baba of the situation, she asked whether her son would pass the exam or not. Baba at once said, "Fail-Pass," and smiled. All the devotees present laughed. Then he said, "He will pass and get a job in a bank." The boy's name was published in the pass list, and later he got a job in a bank.

She Won't Marry Godawari Tewari got a job in the Department of Planning, Uttar Pradesh, after completing her education. One day she went to Hanumangarh to have Baba's darshan. When Baba saw her, he immediately said, "She won't marry." Later she narrated, "Baba's utterance proved true in my case. I was rendered helpless by circumstances. I had to shoulder the responsibilities of the education and marriages of my brothers and sisters. Under these circumstances, I had to give up the idea of my own marriage." Baba's B.D.O. Daughter Once, when I went to Bhumiadhar to see Baba, he said, "My B.D.O. daughter has come." I wasn't B.D.O. (block development officer) then, so I did not understand. Baba then said, "Don't go to America. Stay in this country and serve it. If you go there, you will become a westerner." This also seemed completely irrelevant. About a year after Baba said this, I was posted to the Garampani block of Nainital as B.D.O. I also got the opportunity to go to America, but remembering Baba's advice, I did not accept the offer. -Godawari Tewari

Hidden Devotion Shrimati Damyanti Tewari's husband was very much devoted to Maharaj and always kept Baba's photo in his wallet. One day in 1964 he and his wife came to Kainchi for darshan. Shrimati Tewari bowed at Baba's feet and asked her children to do the same. Then she gestured to her husband to touch Baba's feet. Maharaj saw her gesture and said, "He offered pranaam to me before the others. He believes in deeds done without making a show of them." After looking at Tewari for some moments, Baba asked her, "Does he keep my photo in his pocket?" and smiled affectionately.

The Magic of Speech Kamla Soni was scared because she had to undergo a stomach operation. Others in the family were also worried, so the whole atmosphere in the house was gloomy. Suddenly the telephone rang; it was Baba. He asked Soni, "What's the matter?" Soni started talking about Kamla's operation. Maharaj interrupted him saying, "The operation is done. Talk about something else." Kamla said, "There was a mysterious charm in Baba's speech. It changed the atmosphere in the house. Everyone became more relaxed and I myself felt relieved." The next day she went for the operation happily. She faced the trouble with ease, and the operation was successful.

Proposal Accepted By the Government I first had Maharaj's darshan in 1946 at the home of Bhagwan Sahai, I.C.S. (Indian Civil Service) officer in Lucknow. As soon as I touched Baba's feet, he said to me, "Where were you? What did you talk about with Lal Bahadur and Pant? They did not accept your proposal? They will agree with you the day after tomorrow." I was surprised that Baba knew about the secret matters of the government, but I purposely avoided further conversation about the matter. Two days later I had another meeting with Govind Ballabh Pant and Lal Bahadur Shastri, and they accepted my proposal completely. -Jagan Prasad Rawat, Kamlanagar, Agra

The Destined Proposal Deshraj Pabbi of Rudrapur received two marriage proposals for his daughter—one from a family in Delhi and the other from a family in Bareilly. His preference was for the one from Bareilly, but his wife preferred the one from Delhi. Because of this difference of opinion, they could not accept either proposal. Deshraj was worried because they wasted a lot of time in indecision. At last both of them agreed to accept whichever proposal Baba chose for their daughter. When Deshraj came to Kainchi to settle the matter, Baba said, "It has to take place somewhere else," and then got up and left. Deshraj did not understand what Baba meant. He went to Delhi to accept that proposal, but because of the delay, it was too late. Then he went to Bareilly where he was also disappointed, for the boy had got engaged to another girl. Some time later they received a proposal from Amritsar that they were all happy with and their daughter was married there.

It Will Not Be Done Mahinder Singh, an acquaintance of Deshraj, appeared for a job interview at Pantnagar University. In spite of being quite confident that he would get the job, he did not receive the letter of appointment after waiting for some time. Deshraj sent Mahinder Singh to Kainchi for Baba's darshan. As soon as Maharaj saw him, he said, "He has come for a job. Thakur [a name for God] has spoiled your case. The work will not be done now." Baba's words proved true. Mahinder Singh did not get the job.

Speculation In Gold One day a rich man who speculated in gold on the stock market was present in Baba's durbar. Baba introduced gold as a topic of conversation and said, "The price of gold will go down in future." The rich man said, "No Baba, there is no such possibility." Baba gave certain reasons and said, "Its price will certainly go down." The man got the point and sold all his gold at a marginal profit. Later the price did go down and the man escaped a great loss. When he came to meet Baba the next time, he offered him two thousand rupees as a way of showing his gratitude. Despite all his entreaties, Baba did not accept the money. After he left, a devotee told Baba that the money could have been utilized for the ashram and temple. He wanted to know why Baba had rejected the offer. Baba said, "He wanted to buy me with that money."

An Unexpressed Desire Fulfilled Shrimati Durga Sah had heard of Baba, as every household in Nainital knew of him by that time, but she had not found time from her housework to visit him at Hanumangarh. Once, when Guru Purnima (full moon day dedicated to the worship of the guru) was being celebrated in Kainchi, she went there in the company of some other women. When they arrived, puja to Maharaj was being performed. At her first glimpse of Baba, Durga Mai received so much grace that a wave of bliss passed through her body. She remained sitting with her eyes closed and felt that she was having the darshan of Hanuman through Baba. A few months later many of Maharaj's devotees from Nainital were going to Vrindavan to see him. Durga Mai was keen to go with them but felt unable and helpless due to family circumstances. She was sad at heart since everyone known to her had left for Vrindavan. In the meantime a woman who had not gone telephoned Durga Mai's husband and persuaded him to allow his wife to accompany her to Vrindavan. Durga Mai hurriedly left with the woman. When she reached the ashram and bowed to Baba in reverence, he said jokingly, "I had to chant a mantra to call you." She was overwhelmed.

Interrupted Samadhi There was no permanent bridge over the river when I went to see Baba. Instead, there was a narrow wooden bridge, and Baba was sitting at one end of it. It was raining heavily, yet devotees were going there to touch his feet. I remained standing in the temple and did not dare to go to him. I prayed to the Almighty saying, "O God, bestow upon me such devotion that I might bring Baba from the bridge into the ashram." When everyone had come back after having his darshan, I also went to him. As soon as I got there, Baba got up and said, "Who are you? You made me get up from my samadhi." Then he walked back to his kuti with me. -Shrimati Savitri Devi, Begumpul, Meerut

One Ailment, Different Treatment One day Baba was sitting on a parapet by the roadside when a sadhu named Balak came and offered pranaam to him. Baba said to Balak, "What's the trouble?" Balak told him that he had been suffering from stomach pain since the previous evening. Baba gave him some of the remaining water from the lota (metal pot) that he used when washing. Balak drank this, and then Baba made him run around. In a little while the pain subsided. The same day Pandit Mama also had pain in his stomach. Baba immediately got him admitted to Ramsay Hospital in Nainital and sent his devotees to enquire about his health throughout the day. A devotee asked Baba the reason for according different treatment to Pandit Mama. In reference to Balak, Baba said, "God takes care of the person who has no one to look after him. Pandit is a well-to-do man. He wants good treatment and also expects others to express their sympathy for him."

You Will Be I.G. Once, when the appointment for the post of I.G. (inspector general) of police was under consideration by the govenment of Uttar Pradesh, Hari Shankar Mathur, a devotee of Maharaj, was the D.I.G. (deputy inspector general). There were six or seven other D.I.G.s who were senior to him. One day Maharaj asked Mathur, "Why haven't you taken charge of the I.G.?" Mathur replied that he was quite junior. Maharaj said, "No, you will be I.G. Go and take charge." The same night Mathur received a letter from the government appointing him I.G.

A Desire For Halwa On his way to Kainchi, Iftiqar Hussein bought some mangoes to offer to Baba. One of the mangoes was a peculiar shape, and he had a fancy for it. It came to his mind that Baba could be regarded as an enlightened saint if he gave that particular mango back to him as prasad. He was also aware that Baba gave puris (deep-fried bread) and vegetables to every visitor, which prompted another idea to flash in his mind. His presumptions about Baba being an enlightened saint would be confirmed if Baba gave him warm halwa (Indian pudding) to eat. Before Hussein arrived at the ashram, Baba gave instructions for the preparation of halwa. When Iftiqar Hussein arrived, Baba was in his room. After some time the door was opened and everybody went inside. Iftiqar Hussein placed the mangoes at Baba's feet. Baba smiled and at once gave him the mango of his choice. Iftiqar Hussein was amazed and said, "Master, I apologize for my thoughts." Maharaj immediately sent someone to bring the warm halwa and gave it to Iftiqar Hussein to eat. Tears welled up in Iftiqar Hussein's eyes.

No Discrimination In an issue of Kadambini, a Hindi magazine, Dr. R.K. Karoli described his own experience with Baba. He wrote that before going to the hospital one day, he went to the house where Baba was staying. On his way he had thought of taking some bananas for Baba but could not buy any. When he arrived, he had to wait for his turn amongst the other visitors. Meanwhile an industrialist drove up, got out of the car, and walked straight into the room to meet Baba. Feeling that the rich and famous were receiving easy access to the saint, Dr. Karoli was very perturbed. He decided to go back to the hospital to make good use of his time. He was about to leave when a man came up to him and asked if he was Dr. Karoli. When he said yes, the man said that Baba was calling for him. Asking the doctor to accompany him, the man led him to Maharaj, who said, "You have not brought bananas? Come, take these bananas as prasad. You were intending to go back. Listen, I don't discriminate between people." fter some time the door was opened and everybody went inside. Iftiqar Hussein placed the mangoes at Baba's feet. Baba smiled and at once gave him the mango of his choice. Iftiqar Hussein was amazed and said, "Master, I apologize for my thoughts." Maharaj immediately sent someone to bring the warm halwa and gave it to Iftiqar Hussein to eat. Tears welled up in Iftiqar Hussein's eyes.

Bhushan's Promotion Bhushan Chandra Joshi was promoted to deputy inspector general of prisons in Uttar Pradesh. He was not at all happy with his promotion. He did not know whether to accept the appointment or not because he had a weak heart and was afraid that too much traveling would be involved. He was confused and could not decide what to do. He went to Kainchi to seek Baba's advice on the matter. When he was at the gate of the ashram, Baba was sitting in his room. Baba said to the devotees present, "Joshi is coming. He thinks he would die of touring duty." They did not understand what he meant. After a short while Joshi ji came into the room, and Baba said to him, "Are you afraid? Will you die of a touring duty? Accept the promotion. You still have to become inspector general." Although there was no chance of him becoming an inspector general (I.G.), or so he thought, he did in time become an additional I.G. and later retired from that post.

Not By This Bus After staying at Kainchi ashram for some time, Shankar Prasad Vyas got ready to return to his home in Varanasi. He decided to go to Kathgodam by bus and went to Baba for his blessings. Maharaj said, "You won't go by this bus," and sent him by another bus the same day. Vyas ji narrated later that he saw the bus that he had originally wanted to travel in along the roadside, where it was lying damaged after having met with an accident. He then understood the significance of Maharaj ji's words.

A Desire Fulfilled When I first came to Kainchi, I did not know the ashram way of life, nor was I acquainted with the people there. One day I saw a relative of mine taking a piece of roti (bread) from Maharaj's room. I got curious about it, and he told me that it was called mahaprasad (specially consecrated prasad). I understood that it was the leftover food from Baba's meal, but my desire was not limited to a piece of bread. I thought that I would be very lucky if I got the entire leftovers of his meal without asking for them. The very next morning, after Baba finished his meal, he asked Shakuntala to give me all the leftovers. I did not know Shakuntala then, but she came to my room bringing Baba's thali (plate). She said, "This plateful of Maharaj ji's prasad has been sent for you." Then she gave me the plate, which she had covered with a piece of cloth. I was very surprised and deeply moved. I thought myself very fortunate indeed. It was my experience that Baba fulfilled all sorts of desires that arose in my mind, no matter how trivial, whenever I was in Kainchi. Consequently I felt that I was giving a lot of trouble to Baba by desiring things unnecessarily. I resolved not to do so, but when other such occasions arose, I forgot my resolution or found myself hopelessly lacking in determination. -Rajida

A Twofold Blessing In 1946 Devkamta Dixit ji had Maharaj ji's darshan with his uncle, Durga Shankar Dixit ji, in Nainital. Baba told Devkamta Dixit ji, "Stay with your uncle, do not leave him to get yourself treated by a vaidya [ayurvedic physician] or a doctor. Have a long walk every day and eat a lot of fruit." Dixit ji was surprised when Baba mentioned his illness. He did not place any importance on Baba's instructions, but he did as Baba told him. In fact, doctors had thought that he was suffering from a serious illness, but after further tests they found it was no longer the case. He recovered quickly and continued to maintain a close relationship with his uncle, who unexpectedly gave him the management of Budhwal Sugar Mills. In this way Baba blessed him twofold.

Freed From Worry Once, while Pooran Chandra Joshi was attending Maharaj, he stayed in Bhumiadhar ashram for about fifteen continuous days. During this time he did not even think of his family or his office. Some people suggested to his wife that he might intend to become a sadhu. They said she should inform other members of the family so that they could have a timely word with him to deter him from this course. She did not believe that her husband would ever become a sadhu, and she did not want to involve other family members unnecessarily. She was, however, worried about him. The very next day Baba came to their house from Bhumiadhar and said to her, "You think that your husband will become a sadhu? Don't worry about it. If he could become a sadhu, I would have immersed you in bliss."

An Unusual Way of Showing Grace At Church Lane, Sudhir Mukerjee once showed Baba a calendar from Lucknow depicting Hanuman deep in meditation of Lord Ram. Seeing it, Maharaj said, "Hanuman ji is absorbed in meditative bliss and so am I. Get it framed tomorrow and keep it in the nearby almirah." I suggested that the picture be placed there the next day accompanied by the recitation of the Sundarkand and the Hanuman Chalisa. Baba agreed and leaving the task to me, asked me not to tell anyone about it. It is not clear how and from where many people gathered there on that auspicious occasion since it was not publicized in any way. The bhandara lasted until midnight. After this celebration I longed to have the same calendar to provide a focus for worship. I looked for it in vain in Allahabad and again when I went home to Lucknow. One day my nephew saw the same calendar in the house of Dr. Har Narayan Singh, a lecturer at D.A.V. Degree College in Lucknow. My nephew asked Dr. Singh to give the calendar to me, but Dr. Singh said, "I myself am a devotee of Hanuman. I cannot part with this picture of my deity." That night Hanuman ji appeared in Dr. Singh's dream and ordered him to give his picture, the calendar, to me in the morning. He also told him that the outcome of my worship would also accrue to him. The next day while I was reading the morning paper in the living room of my home, Dr. Singh arrived and introduced himself to me. He gave me the calendar and told me about his dream. Thanking Dr. Singh, I was overwhelmed by Baba's grace. I understood that my desire was not hidden from Maharaj and that it was he who gave darshan to Dr. Singh in the form of Hanuman. After all, he himself is Hanuman. -Rajida An Unexpected Visit I practice homeopathy from my home, and patients with chronic diseases would occasionally come to me and tell me that Baba Neeb Karori had sent them for treatment. I attended them,

and they would be cured. It surprised me to notice that my medicines worked better on the patients sent by Baba than on other patients. I did not know Baba, nor had I ever seen him. Although I had a keen desire to meet him, it was not possible for me to leave my work to look for him. One day a robust man with bare feet entered my room when his turn came. He was wearing a dhoti and had a blanket wrapped over his shoulder. Without any formal introduction, he stood before me. When I asked him what his problem was, he told me that he had a burning sensation in the palms of his hands. I asked him a few questions to help with the diagnosis, but he did not give specific answers and then said, "Give me any medicine that comes to your mind." I was rather disturbed by this and asked him to report back to me on the fourth day. He said, "What will this small quantity of medicine do? Give me a larger quantity. I am going away and will not come back." Then he asked the man who was with him to give me twenty rupees. From his appearance and his way of talking, I guessed that he was a sadhu baba. Being busy at the time, however, it did not come to my mind that he might be Baba Neeb Karori. I filled a bottle with the medicine and gave it to him. In spite of my saying that I did not charge sadhus for medicines, the man with him put two ten-rupee notes on my table. They took the medicine and left. I immediately put that money in the charity box. The next patient entered the room. After the usual exchange of greetings, he said to me, "Do you know the man who just went out of your room?" When I said that I did not, he told me that it was Baba Neeb Karori. I was stunned that such a great being had sat waiting for his turn two hours. My conscience pricked me, for I did not show him due respect because of my ignorance. I went outside to look for him, but he was nowhere to be seen. -Dr. Brahma Swarup Saxena, Allahabad

Peace In the Family Ram Narain Sinha's parents had died, and while he treated his two young stepbrothers like his sons, both of them harbored ill feelings towards him. In spite of the fact that there was electricity in the house, one day they quarrelled with Ram Narain's wife over a kerosine lamp. They told her that the lamp had belonged to their father, so it was theirs. This lamp was very dear to Sinha's father, and Sinha had kept it carefully as a momento. On his return from work, he heard about the harshness of his brothers and was deeply hurt. He gave the lamp to them. At that very moment Baba stepped into their house. Sinha did not know him nor had he ever seen him before, but such was the impact of Baba's presence that he bowed before him. Baba called both boys to him and severely reprimanded them. He made them apologize and bow at the feet of their elder brother. He also made them say that they would respect him not only as their brother but also as their father. Having restored peace to the family, Baba went outside where his devotees were waiting for him. Sinha went outside with him and learned from the waiting devotees that Baba was Neeb Karori Maharaj. Sinha has been a devotee ever since. Peace to a Restless Mind My future wife's aunt was making the arrangements for our marriage at her house. She was very worried because she did not have enough money for it and could not find a way to solve the problem. It is said that saints are moved by the distress of others. The family members were devotees of Maharaj, and one day he arrived at her house. Just before he was about to

go, he said to her, "Why do you worry about money? Look into that box of yours. You have kept money in it." When Baba had gone, she thought about how he knew that she kept money in a box. She knew how much money was inside, so she was not eager to open it. She left it for a while and then thought again about the circumstances. When she went to open the box, she was simply amazed to find it full of money. Baba's compassion moved her deeply. There was nothing more needed, and the wedding arrangements went ahead smoothly. -Ramesh Chandra Pandey, Barot, Meerut A Grudge Against Baba An aimless, unemployed youth came to meet Baba one day. Baba took pity on him and got him a good job through people present at the time. He also spoke to members of the boy's family and arranged for his marriage into a good family. Baba gave him the opportunity to lead a happy and comfortable life. After getting the job, the youth increased his expenses to such an extent that he became distressed. His family became a burden to him, and he lost the ability to think rationally. He blamed Baba for his marriage and held a grudge against him. One day on the pretext of having darshan, he went into Baba's room at the house of Mehrotra ji in Lucknow. As soon as Baba saw him, he put his blanket aside and baring his chest said, "Kill me if you want to." The youth was stunned to see the expression on Baba's face and at the exposure of his own thoughts. Holding him by the hand, a devotee immediately took him outside and asked him what the matter was. The man confessed that Baba had revealed his true motive. He felt utterly humiliated and left with his head bowed.

The Significance of His Command Maharaj was at Church Lane when a woman from Jagati Niwas, Colonelganj, came for his darshan. Seeing her, he said, "Are you well?" The woman, who seemed to be healthy, answered, "Baba, I am quite well." He at once said, "Consult the lady Dr. Barar and complete the treatment she suggests. Don't worry about money. I shall give money. Her fee is sixteen rupees." The woman then said, "I am healthy. I don't require any treatment." Baba did not agree with her and said, "It is my command. Won't you carry it out? When your legs fail you, even the members of your family will not care about you." Hearing his words, the woman got scared. She could not discuss it with her family, for she felt healthy. As it was imperative to obey Baba, she went to see Dr. Barar without telling them. Dr. Barar checked her thoroughly and told her that because she had come early for examination, her condition could be cured with a long course of treatment. Maharaj saved her from intense agony in the future.

His Words Came True In 1930 Jagdev Singh Vohra of Rai Bareilly was sent from Quetta to Rajput Centre for training and stayed with Ram Singh. One day Ram Singh took him to Baba. As soon as Baba saw them, he told Ram Singh, "He has come from Quetta. He worships Shiva. You retire, take your pension, and leave your post for him." After completing his training, Jagdev Singh went back to Quetta, and eventually all that Baba said took place. Although there were many subedars senior to him, Jagdev was promoted to the rank of subedar major and transferred to Fatehgarh Centre, where he took over from Subedar Major Ram Singh.

An Opportunity to Serve Whenever Baba moved from one place to another, devotees got busy preparing for the journey. Someone would get his car filled with petrol; another would buy railway tickets for him and the people accompanying him. A devotee in Allahabad once made up his mind to buy Baba a railway ticket. When Maharaj got ready to leave Allahabad, the devotee kept some money in his pocket and went with Baba to Prayag station. When they got there, the devotee followed Baba but hesitated to ask him if he could buy his ticket. Baba turned to him and said, "You are carrying money in your pocket. Why don't you buy a ticket?"

Seasonal Fruit Shankar Prasad Vyas of Varanasi was sitting in his room at Kainchi ashram involved in a discussion about fruit. He said he had eaten all kinds of fruit, but he had not eaten a mango since his arrival. Sometime later he went into the temple area and saw Baba sitting in his room. Baba saw him and at once said, "You didn't get mangoes to eat?" Shankar Prasad felt petty and sat quietly by Baba. After a while a devotee arrived with a basketful of mangoes and offered it to Baba. Baba asked an attendant who was standing nearby to carry the basket to Vyas' room. With folded hands Vyas ji humbly said, "Baba, I was talking casually about mangoes in my room. What shall I do with so many mangoes?" He then picked up a few mangoes from the basket and raised them to his head in reverence. Baba looked at him, smiling. Disregarding Baba's Instructions Ganga Prasad Shastri was very devoted to Baba. One day he asked Baba whether his sadhana would be accomplished. Baba replied, "Pandit, you have Hanuman's complete grace with you. There is no need for you to do anymore sadhana now. If you do, you will have problems." Shastri thought that Baba said this because he was old. He felt he was quite strong and undertook another arduous spiritual sadhana. In a small accident he fractured his pelvis and could no longer move about independently. Whenever he remembered Baba, he would say, "Baba gave me good advice, which I ignored. I would not have suffered in this manner if I had followed his advice." He died in this helpless state.

A Warning A Muslim constable named Haji did sentry duty at the gate of Kainchi ashram. One day he went for Baba's darshan before starting his work, as he usually did. Maharaj said with a smile, "Haji, it is a bad day for you. Don't leave your duty. Don't go anywhere." Haji bowed before him and went away to his duty. Later he forgot Baba's warning and leaving the gate, walked towards the bus stand. On the way he slipped on a banana peel and fell down. He fractured his arm and was sent to the hospital. He regretted that he did not pay attention to Baba's warning.

Not to Marry The marriage of a girl in Ramesh Chandra Pandey's family could not be settled, and everyone was worried about it. The astrologer who read her horoscope said that she would be married in the thirty-second year of her life. A marriage was arranged for her that year, and all the preparations for it were underway. One day Baba arrived quite unexpectedly. Everyone in the house came to do pranaam to him. When the girl bowed to him in reverence, Maharaj said to her, "Do not get married." Nobody understood the significance of his words, so they were taken lightly. She was married as arranged. Five months later her husband died, and she became a widow. Resisting Baba's Influence I first heard about Baba while I was teaching in Ghorakhal. One day in 1966 I decided to go for his darshan. As soon as I went into Maharaj ji's kuti, he said, "Come, Srivastava, come." and told the devotees present, "He belongs to Ayodhya. His father works in the Water Works Department." Considering I had never met him before, I was surprised and impressed by his words. After that I went to Kainchi ashram to see him often, and each time the impression he left on me deepened. My guru had initiated me into the Nanak Shahi mantra, and I recited it every day. Once, when I came to Kainchi to see Baba, I deliberately sat behind other visitors. I was having his darshan and simultaneously reciting my guru mantra. Baba called me to him again and again and gave me fruit. After taking prasad from him, I returned to my place each time and started to repeat my mantra. At one point I said to him, "Baba, you are giving me all the fruit." Thereupon Baba smiled and whispered, "Because you were testing me. Now you go." Baba knew what was in my mind. I did not want to leave his company, but at the same time I wanted to restrain his influence on me because I was afraid that it might lessen my devotion to my own guru.

-R.C. Srivastava, Khochan, Ayodhya The Consequence of Disobedience At Hanumangarh, Maharaj once told his devotee Bhagwati Prasad, "Go and recite Hanuman Chalisa before Hanuman ji and do not go anywhere else." Just then the Raja of Kashipur's car arrived for Baba, and he left. After Baba's departure other devotees also started leaving. Since Bhagwati Prasad did not want to stay at Hanumangarh on his own, he ignored Baba's words and went with them. On the way a huge stone came rolling down the mountainside onto the road. Bhagwati Prasad was hurt, but the others remained unharmed. He was immediately admitted to Ramsay Hospital in Nainital. Roadside Darshan

Kainchi was on my bus route, so I had seen the construction of the temple and ashram. There was always a crowd of devotees there, and I always drove past. I never went to have Baba's darshan because I could not leave the bus. The Bhumiadhar temple had been constructed earlier and was also on my route. One day while I was driving to Ganai via Bhumiadhar, I saw a large crowd along the way and heard that Baba Neeb Karori was there. I could not stop to have his darshan for the same reason. I consoled myself, thinking that highly enlightened saints are the images of God, therefore, if Baba was an enlightened soul, he would know my feelings and give me darshan on his own. The very next morning, while I was driving past the ashram on my way back to Bareilly, Baba was standing alone at a turn in the road as if he had been waiting for me. I immediately stopped, got off the bus, and did pranaam to him. Baba asked, "Where are you going?" and without waiting for a reply said, "You should never bother a sadhu in this way, understand?" I apologized for my mistake. -Sardar Ranjeet Singh Cook Again One morning at about 10 o'clock, Maharaj and some devotees arrived in Bareilly by train and went to the house of Dr. Bhandari. Dr. Bhandari gave everyone lunch, and after some time Baba said, "Clean the dining table and cook food again for seven people." Baba was obeyed, and everyone waited for the guests. Before evening Prem Lal arrived from Lucknow with his family. He had not told Baba about his visit, nor had he informed Dr. Bhandari. He was surprised and happy to see Baba at the house. The family came to know that Baba had already asked that a meal be prepared for them. Baba's consideration made them realize how much he loved them.

Giving a Test One day Baba was sitting in a closed room at Radhay Shyam's house with some members of the family when someone knocked at the door. Radhay Shyam did not like any disturbances during Baba's darshan. He was also aware of Baba's supernatural powers, so before opening the door, he asked, "Baba, who is it?" Smilingly, Baba asked, "Are you testing me?" and went on to say, "He is the brother of Badshah, the advocate. He works at Solan. His wife has TB, and sitting by her bedside at night, he weeps." On opening the door, the man who entered introduced himself as Baba had said and then entreated Baba for his blessings to rid his wife of her disease. Testing Maharaj

We were having tea with a dentist at Indra Pharmacy in Nainital when we learned that Maharaj had arrived in Bhumiadhar. The dentist proposed that we go and give Maharaj a test. He prepared some questions concerning turiyavastha (one of the highest states of samadhi in which the individual self merges with the universal self), and we took a bus to Bhumiadhar. Baba usually ignored people who came to test him, and we were also treated with a befitting indifference. Since Baba's room was full of devotees and visitors, we did not find any room inside to sit. We offered pranaam to him from the door and sitting on the shoes that lay scattered outside, had his darshan from there. Baba looked at us once. Without saying anything to us, he asked one of his devotees to read out of the Yogavashistha. The devotee opened the book at random and started reading from that page. Whatever he read was the complete answer to my friend's unasked questions. We had nothing in our hearts but the utmost reverence for Baba's supernatural powers. Having offered pranaam to him again, we returned to Nainital. The dentist later became a sadhu. -Dr. Ramlal Sah, Haldwani Go, the Test Is Over Godawari went to Kainchi to see Baba one day and saw him giving out mangoes. There was a small packet of cloves among them. When all the mangoes had been distributed, Baba picked up that packet. He told the visitors who brought the mangoes, "You, husband and wife, quarrel a lot. The wife should attend to her husband and the husband should not lose his temper unnecessarily." Then, giving the husband the packet containing the cloves, Baba said, "Yesterday at your house you were talking about giving me a test. Now go, the test is over." They put that little packet of cloves there deliberately to test Baba.

He Knew Everyone A couple came into the room while I was sitting with Maharaj at Church Lane in Allahabad. Glancing at Baba, the man looked around the room for a chair to sit on. Not seeing one, he sat on the floor with great difficulty. He completely forgot to pay his respects to Baba or to greet him, but his wife touched Baba's feet with great devotion. Baba asked the man, "What name?" The man thought for a little while and replied, "Baba, you would not be able to know me by name?" He had hardly finished his sentence when Baba all of a sudden asked, "How is your aunt from Park Road, Allahabad, feeling now?" The man was taken aback and looked at Baba in astonishment. Peace and Comfort Beyond Imagination

One day in Kainchi, Maharaj ji asked for puris and vegetables to be prepared throughout the night. Nobody understood the purpose of Baba's order since there was no festival at the ashram. Nevertheless, many hundreds of kilos of puris were fried. The next day prasad was distributed as usual and much of the food remained. The workers were worried that such a large quantity of food would go to waste. Towards evening a bus went out of control because of some mechanical defect and collided with the parapet of the road just outside the ashram. Its front wheels slipped onto a steep slope, and the bus came to rest in such a way that it blocked the traffic on both sides. About one hundred and fifty buses were stranded. Darkness soon fell on the Kainchi valley, and there seemed to be no way out of the situation. In those days there were no shops in the village except for a small tea stall. The passengers were planning to spend a cold night in the buses with nothing to eat when Baba sent for everyone and gave them hot tea and plenty of food. The women and children were provided with bedding and accommodated in the ashram. The men were given blankets so that they could spend the night in the buses and keep watch on their luggage. The passengers were amazed and grateful. The comforts and facilities provided to them in that lonely place at that odd hour were totally unexpected. Go Away From Here After attending a meeting of the Public Accounts Committee in Ranikhet, Minister Jagan Prasad Rawat went to have Baba's darshan at Bhumiadhar along with many other people. Maharaj gave them a lot of prasad, and while the minister wanted to stay with Baba for some time longer, all of a sudden Baba said, "Go away. Go away from here immediately." The minister followed his instructions and went to Nainital. Hardly had he sat down in his room when there was a severe earthquake. If he had delayed in following Baba's instructions, anything could have happened on the way, for the consequences of an earthquake in the hill region were often devastating.

Present On Call One day Maharaj ji arrived at the house of Devkamta Dixit ji in Kanpur. Before 4 a.m. the next morning they both left by car for Prayag, Allahabad. It was very foggy and visibility was poor. Feeling that it was too early to travel, Dixit ji suggested that they spend more time in Kanpur. Baba didn't say anything, so the car continued on for another two kilometers. Near Chakeri, Baba suddenly directed the driver to drive through the gates leading to a bungalow. As soon as the car entered, Hiralal Sah "Habba" came out to welcome Baba. Overwhelmed by love and joy, he said, "Baba, when I woke up, I remembered you. It was my keen desire to have your darshan today."

Prasad For Tewari One day Bhuvan Chandra Tewari, a clerk at the Roadways bus station in Bhowali, was sent to replace another worker at the Brewery station. He left home without having anything to eat that day and was so busy at the station that he continued working on an empty stomach. Maharaj was in Bhumiadhar and could not bear a devotee going hungry. At about 2 p.m. he sent a basket packed full of puris and spicy potatoes for Tewari with a bus conductor going via Bhumiadhar to Brewery. Tewari felt Baba's kind-heartedness and shared that prasad with everyone there.

Exam Results My cousin had seen Baba many times and had heard talk of his lila every day at home. He was worried after taking his high school exam and thought that he should visit Baba to know of his results before they were released. He went to Kainchi ashram and told Baba about his concern. Like a child, Baba at once said, "You will fail." The way he spoke was convincing enough, but the boy could not persuade himself to accept the truth of the words. Realizing that it was an utterance of a saint, he was even more worried. He thought about it for days, and finally, presuming that Baba would have forgotten what he said, the boy went back to Kainchi to ask him the same question again. This time Baba said straightaway, "You will pass." The reply pleased the boy, but the thought that Baba had initially said "fail" and then "pass" put him in a quandary. After a gap of several days he went to Kainchi again and asked the same question for the third time. This time Baba said "fail." Hearing the word "fail" twice from Baba, the boy became sad. Baba said to his devotees, "Even the wisest have not been able to fathom me, how can this boy do so?" The boy failed. His name was published for a supplementary exam, and he got through. -Rajida

The Last Exam Mahendra Singh of Bareilly came to Kainchi with his father in 1965. As their bus was driving through the hilly region on the way to the ashram, Mahendra told his father that the journey would have been more enjoyable on a motorbike. No more was said. His father was taking him to see Baba to have his blessings for a successful result in his exams. The boy had failed for the last two years. Just after having Baba's darshan, the boy's father brought up the topic of the exams. Baba immediately said, "He won't study. He will drive a motorbike." Hearing this, Mahendra Singh was astonished as he remembered what he had said to his father on the way to Kainchi. When his father entreated favor, Baba said, "I won't tell a lie. Let me ask Hanuman ji." Immediately after that Baba said, "He will get through the examination this time. But for the future, I say nothing." Mahendra Singh said, "I knew very well what I wrote in the exam, but I was declared pass anyway. That exam was my last. Exactly what Baba said happened."

Awakening India One day during the Chinese aggression against India, I saw Baba in a house in Allenganj, Allahabad. Sitting by his feet, I was brooding over the morning news. The Chinese forces had penetrated deep into the country via Tejpur, and the Indian army, caught by surprise, was not able to hold them back. Depressed by this state of affairs, and the crisis it caused, I expressed my disappointment to him. He simply said, "India is a country of saints and follows the dictates of religion. Communism cannot stay here. China will go back." I thought, How indifferent we Indians are even at a time of crisis, and felt further saddened. I humbly expressed my doubts and asked, "Baba, why has China invaded India if it has to go back?" His prompt and brief reply was, "To awaken you." It did not satisfy me, but I kept quiet. On the third day after this conversation, I was surprised to read the headlines in the morning newspapers, stating that the Chinese had withdrawn unconditionally without giving any reason. Baba's statement from our last meeting immediately flashed in my mind, however, the truth of his words did not dawn on me until shortly after this event, when the government of India took concrete steps for the defence of the eastern, western, and northern boundaries of the country. -Rajida Helper of the Helpless

Dr. Bhonsle, who was renowned for the treatment of incurable diseases by massage, was involved in a political movement during the struggle for India's independence and had to go underground. While the police were searching for him, he took shelter in a dharamshala (rest house for people on pilgrimage) in Rishikesh and had to remain there without food for several days. All of a sudden Baba came into his room and as if he knew him very well, said, "Oh, you are famished. You haven't had food for several days. Come." He took him into an adjoining room where a plate of food was already set out. When Bhonsle finished eating, Baba said to him, "You run away from here now. The police are coming after you." Baba then asked him, "Where will you go?" and without waiting for a reply, he said, "Go straight to Tibet, crossing the Himalayas." Following Baba's advice, Bhonsle went to Tibet and stayed there a free man for many years. Later, when the political climate changed, he returned to India. One day after his return Dr. Bhonsle went to former member of parliament Shiv Narain Tandon's home in Kanpur to treat Tandon's nephew. Seeing Baba's photograph there, he started talking about him. When Tandon told him that Baba was in Lucknow, staying at the home of Suraj Narayan Mehrotra ji, Dr. Bhonsle left immediately. He arrived at Mehrotra's house at about 8 p.m. and had Baba's darshan. Taking Baba's feet in his hands, he massaged them for a long time while narrating the experiences he had had twenty years before.

Omnipresence Maharaj ji had a physical form, but he was not limited by his body. Instead, it was a source of continuous, often amazing, supernatural acts. Matter never impeded his movements. He would appear or disappear in an instant, observe events in distant locations, and give darshan to different people at different places simultaneously. He could create and control all kinds of situations and circumstances. Without doing anything obvious, he was doing everything. Hearing a call for help, Maharaj ji would appear no matter how trivial the desire. He would often respond to a devotee's distress without being called. He frequently said, "If I hold the hand of anyone, whoever he may be, I do no leave him, even though he may leave me." In these cases Maharaj ji took the welfare of his devotee upon himself. Even if the devotee strayed, Baba never forgot him. His devotees were so impressed by this reassurance that their faith continues unabated, even after his Mahasamadhi. Baba's Darshan In London

One day I was traveling by a double-decker bus in London and had occupied a seat near the entrance. There was nobody by my seat, and the conductor was on the upper deck. The bus was almost empty. Suddenly the bus stopped and an old beggar got on. He was wearing many layers of tattered clothes and was holding a red and blue blanket in his hand. He stood in front of me and looked at me with a gentle smile as if saying, Move aside I want to sit by you. I moved aside and he sat down. I do not like staring at people, so I turned my face a little and peered out of the window. At the time I thought, What a lovely smile he has. How nice that old man is! The words "old man" turned my thoughts to Maharaj ji. I had always heard that he was known as "the old man with a blanket," so I turned my face to see him again and was surprised to see that the seat by my side was vacant. It had only been a few minutes. Where had he disappeared? I looked outside, but the bus had not stopped anywhere. If he had wanted to get off the bus, how could he? The road was deserted, and the beggar was not to be seen anywhere. I could not understand how it had all happened, and it was not a case of hallucination. The next day some of my friends came to me and said that the previous morning (the same time that I was on the bus) they had had a sudden inspiration to help me buy a ticket to go to India to visit Maharaj ji. It was all rather strange. Although the amount offered by my friends met my travel expenses, a poor student like me had no means of subsistence in India. Maharaj ji had to show another miracle to solve this problem. In England a student gets travel expenses from the university to go back home after the end of each term. I had applied for this, but I was surprised to see that the authorities had issued a check for double the amount that I had asked for. I pointed out the mistake to them by telephone, but going through their account books, they informed me that the amount paid to me was correct. I finally realized that Maharaj ji wanted me to go have his darshan. I arrived in Delhi by plane within a month and went directly to Kainchi to see Maharaj ji. As I went into the ashram, I decided to ask him if he was the same old man who had met me in London. When I went to him, I saw that he was wearing the same blanket that the old man was carrying that day on the bus. Baba looked at me with the same I-know-all smile. After this there was nothing left to ask. I knew he was the same old man who had met me in London. What a benign look that was! It filled my heart and soul with bliss. -Heather Thompson, U.K.

Baba's Darshan In Hanuman's Murti I came to Kainchi with my wife and two children, aged six and four, after hearing about Baba from Devilal Sah of Nainital. After we bowed before him, our children prostrated at Baba's feet. Baba put his hand on their heads and blessed them saying, "They will make good progress in life and will attain high positions." We were pleased to hear Baba's blessing. After this Baba said to me, "You are an atheist, you do not believe these things." Agreeing with him, I said that I had no faith. Baba at once bade us farewell and said, "Go now, have Hanuman ji's darshan in the temple." On our return to the temple, we did not see Hanuman ji at all. In the place of the murti, we had Baba's darshan in person. We were struck speechless with wonder at this spectacle and had darshan for some time before leaving the temple. This event changed our lives. -Colonel S.S. Chinvan

A Visit to Varanasi The Maharaja of Vijayanagaram and Devkamta Dixit were both on the board of directors of Prem Lal's paper mill. They were also good friends, so when the Maharaja passed away, Dixit ji wanted to go to Varanasi to offer his condolences to the family. However, he hesitated to do so since he had not met them before. After a few days Baba came to his house and said, "You didn't go to Varanasi?" Dixit ji explained the difficulty. Baba said, "Come, I'll go too. I'll also let you have Shankar's [Lord Shiva's] darshan." When they arrived at the Maharaja's mansion in Varanasi, Baba said, "Don't take the car inside. I'll go to the temple of Sankat Mochan Hanuman." Dixit ji was surprised that Baba was changing the program without any apparent reason. Instead of meeting the family or going to the Vishwanath (Lord Shiva) temple, they went to the Hanuman temple. When they arrived, Dixit ji saw that the family of the Maharaja had also come to the temple for darshan. All of them received Baba warmly and took him to their mansion with great love and reverence.

A Suitable Height We received many proposals of marriage for my elder son and wanted to make the decision with Baba's consent and blessing. One of the things my wife hoped for was a tall girl to suit our tall son. While I was in Kainchi for the 15 June consecration ceremony in 1973, I made every effort to talk to Baba alone. One day during evening darshan Baba spoke to me about this in front of many people. He said, "Now you should get your son married." I asked him, "Where?" He asked, "Where have you got proposals from?" I told him about all the proposals, but he did not approve of any of them. In the end he asked me to arrange a marriage with the daughter of Amba Datt Tewari of Allahabad, who had never met Baba. I had received a proposal from him just the previous day in Kainchi, which I had forgotten about. Then I realized why Baba had not given me the opportunity to talk to him about it for so many days; he wanted me to receive Tewari's proposal first. Anyway, an educated girl from a cultured family was selected by Baba. He gave his consent about this girl twice and finally said in clear words, "It is my command." I took out the two horoscopes of the bride and groom-to-be from my pocket and placed them at Baba's feet. He picked them up and put them under his arm. Raising the forefinger of his right hand, he said, "Girl's height is suitable." It was a reply to my wife's desire. I was surprised that Baba had heard the conversation we had had in our house in Allahabad. -Rajida

The Ganga Gives Shelter Maharaj was surrounded by about two hundred devotees at Sarsaiyya Ghat in Kanpur when Panwar, Deputy Superintendent of Police, and Govind Chandra, Senior Superintendent of Police, arrived and requested Baba to see Gulzarilal Nanda and Lal Bahadur Shastri, for they wanted to have his darshan. In spite of Baba saying that he would not be able to meet them, the two police officers brought them to the ghat. Before Nanda and Shastri arrived, however, Baba disappeared. Nobody saw him go or knew where he went. A search was made for him, but he was nowhere to be found. The same evening I saw Baba at the railway station and asked why he did not want to give darshan to Nanda. Baba said, "Instead of coming by himself, he wanted to come escorted by the police." When asked where he had hidden himself, Baba answered, "The Ganga Mai [Ganges River] gave me shelter." In gratitude to Mother Ganga, he asked me to arrange a bhandara. Before I could make the arrangements, people started arriving with food and sweets for prasad, and a bhandara was held. -Bhagwati Sevak Bajpai

A Tiger's Darshan After my graduation from Allahabad University, Baba got me appointed as manager of Kehar Singh ji's farm in Rudrapur, Nainital. One day I went to Rampur for some work, and while I was returning to the farm through a grassy stretch of land, I saw a tiger, a tigress, and a cub coming from the opposite direction. I stood stock-still. I did not have any weapon with me for my protection. I could not even run away. As they were coming towards me, all of a sudden the tiger turned to one side and the tigress to the other, and the cub began to smell my body. I was terrified. Meanwhile the tigress growled and holding the cub between her teeth, dragged it away. At that time Baba was staying at the house of Jamuna Dutt in Allahabad. A friend of mine who lived in the nearby university hostel went to see Baba. During their conversation Baba asked him about me and immediately made him write me a letter saying, "Don't be afraid of lions or tigers. They also come to meet good souls." It was the divine power of the omnipresent Baba that protected me from that perilous situation. -Jagdish Chandra Pande, Nainital

One Blurred Image Devkamta Dixit asked Baba to inaugurate the new girls' school at Vagarka on 6 December 1960, but Baba wanted Kehar Singh, Secretary of Education for the government of Uttar Pradesh, to do it. All three of them went to Vagarka. The villagers were pleased to see Baba. There was an arrangement for lunch, and afterward a request was made for a group photograph. Kehar Singh ji did not want to be in the group photograph, for it would prove that he was not in Lucknow doing his official duty that day. However, Baba asked him to sit with the group, so he had to obey. Baba was aware of Kehar Singh ji's worry, and the next day, when the print of the photograph was received from Kanpur, all were surprised to see that the image of Kehar Singh was so blurred that he could not be identified. The images of the others were very clear.

Punishment For Impure Thoughts An army officer arrived in Kainchi and stood at the door of Baba's kuti. Vishambher of Aligarh was also standing there holding a large puja plate. They were waiting to go inside since all the ma's (women devotees) were in Baba's kuti. When Baba asked the women to leave so that his devotee Vishambher could also have a chance to do his puja, the army officer started to count the women as they came out. When all of them had left the kuti, Vishambher, the army officer, and others went into the room. Baba suddenly got up and started hitting the army officer with his fist. Vishambher's puja plate and its contents fell and were scattered all over the floor. Baba threw off his blanket, pulled the officer into the courtyard, and hit him so hard that he rolled across the ground like a ball. Everyone in the ashram was unnerved. It was clear to all present that the officer had had improper thoughts on seeing and counting the women devotees. This was intolerable to Baba, who punished the officer and told him, "Do not come here again ever." The officer continued to come to Kainchi now and then, even after Baba's Mahasamadhi, but he never entered the temple premises. He would do pranaam from outside and then go away.

Tears of Joy Many of us were sitting together inside the ashram when all of a sudden Baba said, "He has gone to Hanumangarh." Nobody understood who Baba was referring to. After some time he said, "He will come here just now. He is hungry. Prepare fresh puris and vegetables for him." He then said to me, "Go with a gas lamp and stand across the bridge. Hold the old man by the hand and help him cross the bridge carefully. His sons will not take care of him." It was dark when a car stopped in front of the ashram gate. An old man and his two sons got out of the car. Seeing me there with a gas lamp, the old man said, "Has Baba sent you to escort us?" When I said yes, his eyes became moist. Meanwhile his two sons had crossed the bridge, forgetting to help their old father. I helped him cross the bridge carefully and took him to Baba. The old man prostrated himself at Baba's feet. Tears flowed from his eyes. He was choked with emotion, and his body trembled with joy. Baba gave him warm food to eat and sent him off lovingly. The old man was Ram Narain Sinha. He had come to see his son at Raj Bhavan (governor's residence) in Nainital that day and had said that he would eat his meal only after having Baba's darshan. So his two sons had first taken him to Hanumangarh, and learning of Maharaj's whereabouts from there, they brought him to Kainchi ashram.

The Birth of a Son Dr. Suresh Chandra Mehrotra from Gorakhpur was living in Agra when his friend Dr. Laxmi Chandra Joshi took him to have Maharaj's darshan. They did not take anything with them to offer, but when Baba saw them, he said, "Give me sweets. I would like to have some." Mehrotra immediately went to the market and got a kilo of sweets for him. Baba took a small piece and got the rest distributed among the people present. Mehrotra then asked Baba, "Why did you ask me to bring sweets for you and then give them all away to people?" He replied, "You have been blessed with a son." At the time Mehrotra's wife was in Delhi with her parents, awaiting the birth of a child. Mehrotra had no idea of the birth or the sex of the child. On hearing Maharaj's words, he kept quiet. He returned to his house and was surprised to find a telegram announcing the birth of a son. Mango Prasad at Khairna Bridge

Major Sunanda had Baba's darshan at Kainchi and then left for Ranikhet by car. On the way he saw Baba sitting at Khairna Bridge. Major Sunanda had just left Baba at Kainchi, so he was surprised to see him there. He stopped the car, and bowing to him in salutation, he asked, "How come you are here?" Baba replied, "You left Kainchi without taking prasad, so I had to come here." Baba took some mangoes out from under his blanket and gave them to him as prasad. It was not the mango season, so it came as another surprise for Major Sunanda. Saving Food Expenses Once, when Godawari Tewari was going to Kainchi to see Baba, an acquaintance of hers named Pant asked if he could accompany her. Godawari suggested that Pant eat before going. She herself did not eat anything because she wanted to have Baba's darshan before having her evening meal. Pant said, "Food is served to everyone in Baba's ashram, so let me save a day's food expenses." When they arrived for darshan, a woman was offering Baba fresh kalakand (a sweet made with milk and sugar). Baba gave some kalakand to Godawari saying, "Have prasad." He then turned to Pant and said, "You go and take prasad in the dining room. That will save you your one day's food expenses."

Come, Eat, and Go Nandlal ji, who supplied the Kainchi ashram with ghee from his shop, had had Maharaj ji's darshan in Haldwani and had faith in him, but he had never gotten an opportunity to visit Kainchi. One of Nandlal ji's friends, who was a devotee of Baba's, had bought a new truck and was going to Kainchi to ask for Baba's blessings. He invited Nandlal ji to accompany him. Nandlal ji got ready saying, "I have never been to satsang [a gathering of devotees] in Kainchi. Let me enjoy it today." He checked the ashram ghee account and found that he needed to collect 1,300 rupees. They arrived in Kainchi at 11 p.m. and found Baba seated on a takhat on the roof of the ashram's dharamshala with some devotees. When they got there, Baba sent everyone except for Nandlal ji to have prasad. Taking his hand out of his blanket, Baba placed it on his own shoulder and then gave Nandlal ji a wad of notes that he asked him to count. There were 1,100 rupees. Baba then told Nandlal ji to go and take prasad. After Nandlal ji had eaten, a worker at the ashram directed him to the room where he would spend the night. The thought that he had not brought any bedding with him worried Nandlal ji, and he was not sure what to do about it. When he got to the room, he was happy to see two freshly made beds—one for him and one for his friend. Baba then asked him, "How is your satsang getting on?" Nandlal ji replied, "Nothing special." Baba then said, "Why don't you go to your guru's place?" Without waiting for a reply, Baba described the guru's physique and appearance saying, "He was a saint of a very high order." Referring to Kainchi, he said, "Here the satsang is aao, khao, jao [come, eat, go]."

An Experience of Indrayani ji In 1960, when Maharaj ji was at the house of the district magistrate (D.M.) in Nainital, he suddenly asked the D.M. to send someone to fetch a lady named Indrayani from Indra Pharmacy. Shrimati Indrayani, an educated and saintly lady, came from an affluent family that had left their wealth in Pakistan and come to India in 1947. The family had a farm at Palia, where she lived, however, during the summer she usually stayed in Nainital. Her living expenses from Palia farm were sent care of Indra Pharmacy, but she had not received the money for some time and had thus been compelled to borrow. The situation was worsening because all the provisions in the house were exhausted, and she had no way of repaying the debt she owed. She was very worried and upset and went to Indra Pharmacy to try to borrow some money. Soon after her arrival at Indra Pharmacy, a policeman came and asked her her name. Indrayani ji said, "I was startled by his question. I told him my name and asked him why he was asking. The policeman told me that I was being called to the district magistrate's house. I got anxious at this, but he said, "There is no reason for anxiety. Baba Neeb Karori is there and he has asked the district magistrate to send for you. I have been sent to escort you." I had not met Baba before, so I was surprised that he knew my name and had sent for me. I accompanied the policeman to the house, and seeing me, Baba shouted with joy, "Our Indrayani has come." It was the impact of his darshan that, like a four-year-old child weeping before her mother, I started to weep bitterly before him in anguish. Baba put both his hands on my head and said, 'Don't worry. All will be set right.' That same day I received my bank draft and all my worries were over."

Vyas ji's Remorse Pandit Shankar Prasad Vyas was speaking about the characteristics of Hanuman ji to a gathering in a large pavilion at the sangam in Allahabad. Maharaj stood behind the gathering and listened to Vyas' discourse. When it ended, Baba called a devotee and asked him to fetch Vyas. The devotee gave Baba's message to Vyas who said, "Who? Baba Neeb Karori? I have no time." The devotee stared at Vyas in disbelief. He was horrified by such curt behavior towards Baba. Dudhari Baba, who was present on the dais, said something to Vyas that made him accompany the devotee to Baba. Baba said, "You have become such a big man that you have not time?" Vyas was stunned to hear his words. As Baba was walking away, he turned back to Vyas and said, "Prabhudutt is coming by car. Tell him that I will not go." Vyas looked around. Two minutes later he saw a car stop at a distance. Prabhudutt Brahmachari ji, a well- known and highly respected holy man, got out. He had seen Baba, and as soon as he got out of the car, he started doing dandavat pranaam (full-length prostrations) all the way until he reached Baba's feet. Vyas held Brahmachari ji in high regard, so his reverence for Baba made him realize Baba's greatness. Vyas regretted his earlier behavior and later accepted an invitation from Baba to come to Kainchi in the summer.

Saved From Drowning In 1948, when the Ganges was flooding in Kanpur, District Magistrate Kishan Chand was inspecting the affected areas by boat. Many important people were on that boat with him, including Senior Superintendent of Police Omkar Singh, the district congress president, and the tahasildar (tax collector). Suddenly water began to fill the boat. The lives of everyone were in danger, and there seemed to be no way out of the situation. In desperation Omkar Singh cried out again and again, "Baba, we are drowning. Save us." Hearing him screaming, all the others thought that he had become mad with fear. Just then an uprooted tree floated by and touched their boat. Seeing it, Omkar Singh left the boat and climbed onto the tree. The others followed him, and within a few moments the boat sank. The Ganges flows in between Unnao and Kanpur. The floating tree could have been carried away to Unnao or could have been overturned by the fast-flowing water. Instead, the tree floated to the bank on the Kanpur side, and everyone was saved from drowning.

A Saint Passes Away One day while Baba was talking to people at Haldwani Furniture Mart, he suddenly became absorbed in deep thought and remained silent for some time. Then he said faintly, "Pooran, give a spoonful of water to drink. He is in great agony." I could not understand what the matter was, but I nevertheless poured two spoonfuls of water into Baba's mouth. After some time two tears fell from Baba's eyes, and he said to me, "Ramana is no more. India has lost a great saint today." This incident occurred on the day that Ramana Maharshi left his physical body in Arunachala. -Pooran Chandra Joshi

A Sharp Reprimand For Rumors Home Minister Govind Ballabh Pant was ill and lying in a coma in Delhi. A visitor came to Church Lane, where Baba was sitting among a group of devotees, and informed Baba that Pant ji had died. Hearing this, Baba covered himself from head to toe with his blanket and sat silently. After some time he sharply reprimanded the man saying, "You are spreading rumors among people." Justifying himself, the man said that he had heard the news at the market. Baba said, "Such things should not be spoken without knowing their truth." Pant ji died two days later. Freed From the Bondage of Desire

One night when all the inmates of the ashram were asleep, Baba called out to Sri Jivanti Ma, "Jivanti, Jivanti, make some moong dal [lentil soup] for me, I am hungry." Both Sri Ma and Sri Jivanti Ma got up and reminded him that he had already taken prasad and that it was past midnight. Baba made a show of being angry and said, "If you don't want to cook the food for me, I will wake Brahmachari Baba to do it." Jivanti Mata ji cooked moong dal and roti for him, which he ate. The two Mothers also ate again, and then they all went back to sleep. The next day Baba received the news that a certain devotee died at 2 a.m. the previous night. Baba said, "On his deathbed his mind was thinking of moong dal and roti instead of being focused on God. My devotee would have gone thinking of food. I had to eat for him to relieve him of that desire so that he would be freed from rebirth." A Misleading Thought Kehar Singh ji bought a new car with the idea that a person who had a car would spend more time traveling in Baba's company. When Baba came to Lucknow, Kehar Singh went in search of him by car with the hope that he would get an opportunity of going around with Baba. Wherever he went, he was told that Baba had just left. After looking everywhere, he returned to his house disappointed. As soon as he arrived home, he received a phone call from Baba. Baba told him where he was and said, "Choudhry [Kehar Singh], where have you been roaming today? Come and visit me."

She Has Come After Writing "Aum" Pooran Chandra Joshi's wife, Kamla, wanted to see Baba but did not get the opportunity because of her domestic chores. One day she told her husband of her desire to have Baba's darshan. That particular day Baba was visiting the house of Dr. Bhatt in Nainital, so Joshi suggested that she see Baba at Dr. Bhatt's house the next morning. She got up early the next day, took her bath, and then said her prayers. While she was writing "AUM" on Baba's photograph, which she kept on their puja, she thought that Baba would know what she was doing if he was an enlightened saint. After finishing her worship, she went to the doctor's house and had Baba's darshan for the first time. As she bowed to him Baba said, "She has come after writing 'AUM.'" She was surprised to hear Baba's words; it had not been in her mind to test him.

You Didn't Go? One day Daya Narayan Khatri went to Kainchi from his hometown of Bareilly. The next day after the morning aarti (the ritual waving of lights), Baba ordered Khatri ji to go back home. Shri Sarvadaman Singh Raghuvanshi spoke on Khatri ji's behalf saying, "Baba, he came only last evening and you are sending him off today." Baba then told him to go the next day. The next morning after aarti, Baba asked Khatri ji, "You didn't go?" Khatri ji replied that he had asked Baba's permission to stay another day and that it was still early. Baba said, "Well, you go now," and sent him back to Bareilly. When he arrived at his house, he found that his wife's health had deteriorated the previous night and that her condition was serious. She improved slightly just before his arrival. He believed that Baba took the responsibility for his wife's safety on himself when he permitted him to stay for one extra day at Kainchi.

Two Lives Saved In the winter of 1962 Ramesh Chandra Sah's wife and daughter were sleeping in their house in Mukteshwar, Nainital. It was a cold night, coal was burning in a grate, and the doors of the room were shut. They became unconscious as the room filled up with toxic gases from the burning coal. Meanwhile Baba got a grate of burning coals brought to him in his room at Vrindavan ashram. Baba closed all the doors and windows and stayed inside. Surprised at his behavior, the devotees opened the door sometime later and found Baba in a bad state. They opened all the doors and windows and took the grate out. In a little while Baba became well, and miles away in Mukteshwar, the two women regained consciousness. When the family came to know about Baba's compassionate act on their behalf, they considered themselves blessed with the kindness Baba showered on them from such a distance.

Suffering From Dropsy A woman was very worried about the serious illness of her brother-in-law and went to Church Lane to see Maharaj. The woman was weeping and holding Baba's feet saying, "Baba, my brother-in-law has seven daughters. He is lying sick in his village, and his condition is very serious." Baba said, "He is suffering from dropsy." The woman agreed with Baba's statement and asked him to bless her brother-in-law for his survival. Baba's eyes moistened, and he said, "Don't make me tell lies. I can only pray for him." His reply indicated that the omnipotent Baba did not think it proper to interfere with the laws of destiny in this instance. Late By Half an Hour When Bhanu Pratap Singh arrived at the residence of his uncle, Commissioner Lakhpat Singh Raghuvanshi of Bareilly, his uncle sent him and his cousin to the Bareilly railway station to

meet Baba and escort him to their house. Baba's train arrived on time. They searched for him on the platform and in the train, but there was no sign of him. When they returned home, they found Baba talking with Raghuvanshi ji. Bhanu Pratap said, "I was meeting Baba for the first time, and I did not know anything about his divine powers. I just thought that the mistake was ours and that we had missed him at the station. Baba had to go back the next day. A ticket was bought in advance, and he had to board the train at 1 p.m. My uncle asked me to see Baba off at the station, but Baba delayed our departure for no reason. With only five minutes left before the arrival of the train, Baba said to me, 'I am going to visit Dr. Bhandari, he lives in this neighborhood.' I was worried about the delay, so I told Baba that he would then miss the train because we were already late. Saying that the train was half an hour late, he went to Bhandari's house. I called the enquiry office to find out the correct arrival time and learned that the train was running half an hour late. I was amazed at Baba's divine powers." The Operation Is Done Maharaj ji, Bhagwati Sevak Bajpai, and some other devotees went to the house of Santosh Kumar Choudhry, who had been appointed the controller of Athalton West Cotton Mill. Choudhry was not at home, so his wife received Baba and the devotees. She phoned her husband to tell him of Baba's arrival and sent a car to collect him. Tunis West, the owner of Athalton Mill, and Choudhry were in the middle of an important discussion at the time. As soon as Choudhry received the phone call, he told West that he did not appreciate the interruption and asked him the reason for it. Choudhry told West about the arrival of his guru at home and invited him along. Although West was not interested in spiritual matters, he did

not say anything and accompanied Choudhry to his house. On seeing Tunis West, Baba said to Choudhry, "Why have you brought him? He didn't even want to come." When Choudhry asked West if that was true, he said, "I was very disturbed by the interruption at the time." Baba then said, "Tell him that his wife has reached England. She has been operated upon. There is nothing to worry about. She will get well." On being told this, West said, "She was quite healthy. There was no question of her undergoing an operation." Later on, when he phoned his wife in London, he was surprised to hear that she had indeed been operated on the previous evening. Saved From Suicide Baba and Umadatt Shukla were going to Shukla's house by tonga (horse-drawn carriage). When they came to a wooden bridge over the Gomti River, Baba said, "Shukla, you were going to drown yourself in Gomti one day? Why? Tell Me." Shukla felt ashamed to answer his question, so he kept quiet. Baba repeated the same question three times. Finally Shukla told the story: "When I was about sixteen years old, I did not know you Baba. I was determined to commit suicide by drowning myself in the Gomti. When it was very dark, I stood on the bridge at a place where the river was very deep. I was about to jump into the river when the wind blew very hard and a bright light illuminated the darkness. This unusual phenomenon startled me. My body trembled so much that I lost the courage to commit suicide and I went back home." He also told Baba the reasons why he wished to end his life. When Baba heard this, he quoted from the Ramayana, "A strong wind blew. That was God's light." Baba had saved Shukla's life twenty years before he knew him.

A Car Deal In Germany In 1967 Shri S.D. Ganda, the personnel manager for the State Bank in Kanpur, was sent to Germany for training. He went with Baba's permission, and his family stayed in India. One day Baba went to their house in Kanpur and said to his wife, "Write a letter to Ganda immediately. He must not buy the car in Germany that he is in the process of buying. This is my command. The car will have an accident." Having said this, he left at once. Four hours later on the same day, Baba arived at the house again and asked, "Have you written or not?" Ganda's wife replied that she had not written yet but would write the letter straightaway. Baba said, "Write it at once and post it." She immediately wrote the letter and posted it to his address in Germany. Ganda was in the process of negotiating the deal, which would be completed on Sunday. Though mail is not delivered there on Saturdays, Ganda received the letter on Saturday evening, and following Baba's instructions, he cancelled the deal.

Maharaj Ji's Justice When the news of Baba's arrival in Bhumiadhar reached Nainital, Pooran Chandra Joshi and his close friends decided to go see him. All his friends left by bus but did not ask Joshi to accompany them. Joshi was hurt by this. When he went home, he was distressed. He became angry with his wife and son for no apparent reason and behaved harshly towards them. With a heavy heart he set out for Bhumiadhar alone in the rain. He did not get a bus. He met up with a laborer along the way who also wanted to have Baba's darshan, but when they arrived, they found that Baba had already left for Gathia. They eventually got a lift in a truck and went to Gathia as well. When Joshi had Baba's darshan, Baba was indifferent to him but showered his affection on the laborer. Baba gave him food to eat and sent him off with a lot of prasad to carry home for his family. Baba said nothing for some time and then picked up a copy of Kalyan, a monthly magazine, and asked Joshi to read from it. Joshi opened the magazine to an article entitled "Anger" and read it to Baba. Baba asked him to read it five times. While he was reading it for the fifth time, he realized that he had left his house in a state of anger. After that Baba treated him as usual. Joshi's friends were not able to have darshan until later.

Immunity From Conscription During the Second World War, the government of Uttar Pradesh declared a special ordinance that those in the medical services were to be conscripted for war duty. Dr. M.U. Khan did not want to go to war, and he was worried because there seemed to be no way of escaping it. One of his friends advised him to get the blessing of Baba Neeb Karori. Dr. Khan was not able to find Baba, but Baba came to Lucknow and gave Khan darshan. When the doctor told Baba about his concern, Baba said, "Offer laddus [an Indian sweet] to the Hanuman ji. Everything will be set right." Dr. Khan at once took laddus to the Hanuman temple in Aminabad and offered them to Hanuman ji. Soon after, the government cancelled the conscription and made war services optional.

Cured With a Laddu On one occasion Dr. Khan's wife became ill, and although various treatments were tried, her fever would not come down. Dr. Khan felt very sad that there was nothing he could do, and in desperation he remembered Baba. Unannounced, Baba arrived at his house. When the doctor told him the problem, Baba said, "Offer laddus to Hanuman and give her the prasad to eat. She will be cured." The doctor did this but was still somewhat worried about this form of treatment. He told his wife of his concern, but she had faith. She had a few laddus and then slept soundly. Her fever came down while she was asleep.

The Dumb Child Speaks Maharaj was staying at Dak Bangalia (his family residence) in Akbarpur when his relative Shyam Sunder Sharma came to see him. All of a sudden Baba said to him, "You go into the garden. Someone will come looking for Baba Neeb Karori. His son, who is dumb, will be with him. Tell him that there is no baba here. You say anything you like, his son will be cured." Shyam Sunder said, "As soon as I arrived in the garden, a car drove up and stopped. Dr. Beg of Firozabad and his son got out. He asked me, 'Where can I find Baba Neeb Karori? We are looking for him. My son has been dumb since birth. We have taken him for treatment to various places, but there has been no improvement. Someone advised us to receive Baba's blessing and gave us this address.' I repeated Baba's words, and on an impulse I asked the boy his name. Dr. Beg was amazed at his son's reply. I told him that he should speak to his son and that he would be cured by Baba's grace." Pavan One day I was sitting with Baba at Dak Bangalia in Akbarpur when all of a sudden Baba looked at me with a smile and said, "Your aunt has given birth to a son. Tell her to name him Pavan. He will survive." The boy was given the name Pavan and grew up healthy. None of my aunt's previous children had survived. -Shyam Sunder Sharma, Akbarpur

Baba Disappears One day Maharaj ji was sitting under a tree at Hanumangarh with Jagdish Chandra Pande, Hiralal Sah 'Habba', and many other devotees. They were talking about Adi Heriakhan Baba, who Habba said used to disappear in the twinkling of an eye. During the discussion Baba got up and said to Jagdish, "Pick up your jacket. Let's go." As Jagdish turned to pick up his jacket, everybody's attention was diverted to him. When Jagdish turned back to Baba, Baba had disappeared. They searched for him at Hanumangarh for half an hour, but Baba was not to be found. Later he was seen on the top of a distant hill. When the devotees got there, Baba just smiled at them. Avoiding a Meeting

One day while Baba was talking with people at Karanvir Singh's house, he suddenly got up and said, "I am leaving." When asked why and where he was going, Baba replied, "Some people are coming. I don't want to meet them," and then went out. By the time Karanvir Singh got up from his chair and reached his lawn, Baba was not to be seen anywhere. He had disappeared in a moment. Karanvir Singh was surprised at his sudden disappearance, but he did not pay any attention. A short while later five people called at the house asking for Baba. Learning from Karanvir that he had just left, they were disappointed and went away. The Monkey Took the Form of a Mosquito Tularam Sah, Sri Ma, Nandan Mai, Girish, and some other devotees went from Nainital to Allahabad to have Baba's darshan. When with Baba, Tularam would sometimes recite, "The monkey took the form of a mosquito," from the Ramayana. Maybe this was a way of saying that Baba was Hanuman. One day after the distribution of the morning prasad, Baba walked across his own room and went into a small adjacent room, where he got his bed made on the floor. He said that he was not well. He also said that no one should come to see him and that he wanted to take some rest alone. He got the room closed on all sides. It was then locked on the outside, and the key was given to Tularam Sah so that the room could not be opened by anyone else. At noon Sri Ma looked out the window and saw Maharaj ji on the road going towards Allenganj. She immediately told the others. Tularam Sah was compelled to unlock the door to see whether Baba was in the room. He was not. Tularam Sah and Girish followed Baba and saw him climbing up the stairs of Prakash Chandra Joshi's house. Joshi ji came out and welcomed everyone. Later, while food was being offered to Baba, the Mothers and other

devotees arrived from Church Lane. Baba smilingly looked at Tularam and hummed, "The monkey took the form of a mosquito." Another Disappearance When Baba used to give darshan at the house of Commissioner Ramrup Singh, the commissioner attended to Baba and did not like to leave his company. Once, he asked Baba to rest at his house after dinner. Baba agreed. The commissioner believed that Baba had fallen asleep, however, he knew that Baba wandered around day or night. The commissioner wanted to have Baba's darshan in the morning, so he bolted the door from the outside. When he unbolted the room the next morning, Baba was not inside. He had disappeared.

The Ghost In 1963 Nasir Ali, a retired sub-inspector of police and long-time devotee of Maharaj, came to meet Baba at the home of Suraj Narayan Mehrotra in Lucknow. He was eighty-four years old at the time and wanted to narrate an important event in his life to Baba. Baba, putting his finger to his lips gestured to him to keep quiet, but Nasir Ali was so overwhelmed by emotion that he carried on and began his story joyfully: "Many years ago when I was young, I was the station officer at a village police station. One day I had to go and investigate something far away and got back at about 11 p.m. When I asked the head constable about the day, he told me that a man had been put in the cell under Section 109. I peeped inside and saw a tall, well-built man there. I went home and after having my supper went to sleep." Early in the morning the two night-duty constables were at my door, shaking in their boots and wanting to resign. When I asked the reason, they told me that the man held under Section 109 was a ghost. He was in and out of the prison all through the night. When he came out, the lock and the door opened automatically, and when he went back in, they closed. As soon as it was daylight, I went to the station and saw the same man I had seen the night before. I thought that he could not be a ghost, so he must be a saint. I accepted my mistake and offered my apology for the disrespect shown to him. The man said, "Neither have you made a mistake nor have I been insulted. So there is no need for an apology." I asked him to join me for a meal, for I would then know that he was not displeased with me. He agreed and came to my house.

"He rested for the whole day and then went out in the evening to attend the call of nature. I sent my two sons with him. On the way he took apples out from under his blanket and gave them to the boys to eat. He asked them to go back home, but they were not prepared to leave him. Then he went behind a mound for ablutions and disappeared. He was not to be seen anywhere on that flat land. That man [pointing to Baba] was our Baba." "After this incident Baba was always kind to me. He came to our house once or twice a year, and he protected me from worries and troubles. Whenever I was in distress, I would fast for the whole day. Then I would take a bath and shut myself in my room. Sitting on the floor in the darkness, I remembered Baba and he would come and sit beside me. I would tell him my problem, and he would give me a solution. He himself helped me and steered me out of all troubles." An Invisible Arrival Long ago many devotees went on a pilgrimage to Badrinath with Baba when the journey was more difficult and buses only went as far as Pipalkoti. Tularam Sah, Habba and family, Girish, and Umadatt Shukla were among those who accompanied him. Advance information about their arrival had been sent to Mr. Nautiyal, the manager of the Kali Kamli Dharamshala in Badrinath. Mr. Nautiyal arranged for a grand reception for Baba at a place called Devdarshan, and a crowd of people gathered there to receive Baba. When Baba arrived, riding on a dandi (a seat carried on the shoulders of four men), he and the devotees following him on foot walked through the crowd unseen. Once in Badrinath, Baba asked the devotees to stay in a dharamshala, and he himself rested in a cowshed at Badrivan. When Mr. Nautiyal came to know that Baba had arrived and was staying in the cowshed, he went there for darshan. He did not understand how people who wanted to have Baba's darshan simply did not see him and the group of devotees pass through such a small place. Baba just looked at him and smiled.

The Appropriate Medicine One day in Almora, Diwakar Pant became seriously ill, and by midnight his condition was critical. In the hills it was not possible to send for a doctor at night, so the members of the family sat around Pant waiting for daybreak. He was fading fast, however, so his wife became upset and lost all patience. All of a sudden she felt Baba shaking her violently by the shoulder with one hand. Pointing to a medicine with his other hand, he said, "Give that medicine to him. He will be alright." In her anguish she was not surprised at Baba's arrival nor did she bow before him. No one else in the room saw him. She at once gave an uncertain dose of the medicine to her husband, and in the meantime Baba disappeared. There was a peculiar change in her husband. He became violent, and it appeared from his excitement that he had lost his mind. All the members of the family became frightened and regretted the foolish act of his wife. She did not know the name of the medicine, nor did she have any knowledge of its use or the quantity to administer. The next morning Dr. Khajan Chand arrived. He calmly listened to the story of the patient's condition and examined the medicine, a bottle of Coromine. He called Pant's wife to him and asked her, "Daughter, why did you give this medicine?" She was very ashamed and sad and could not reply, as she was weeping bitterly. The doctor, patting her on the back, told the family that she saved her husband. It was the only medicine that could have been given at that time to save the life of the patient. The doctor said, "He will be alright now. There is nothing to worry about."

Ask Your Guru A man living in Bhowali often came for Baba's darshan accompanied by his guru. The man was impressed by the number of people who were devoted to Baba and was curious to find out the reason. Baba's attitude towards him was one of indifference, which was always the case with those who wanted to test him. Despite his efforts on different occasions, the man was disappointed at not getting an opportunity to talk to Baba. At the same time he was not able to suppress his desire to be near him. One day while he was waiting for a bus to go to Kainchi, the thought came to his mind that Baba would give him darshan of his own accord if he was an enlightened saint. That very moment Baba came and stood before him and said, "What can I tell you? You ask your guru whatever you want to know." Sincere Call

One morning in 1958 Damyanti Tewar was walking with her husband from Brook Hill to Hanumangarh to go see Maharaj. By the time they got to Tallital, they were tired. They walked up to Kishanpur with great difficulty. There Damyanti told her husband, "I am not able to walk any further. If only we could have Maharaj ji's darshan here." Perhaps Baba heard her sincere call. She saw a man lying on a cot in an old garage by the roadside. He had covered his face with a cloth and was lying on his back, unaware of his surroundings. When they went near him, he uncovered his face. They felt happy and amazed, for the man was none other than Maharaj ji. Damyanti said, "I could not believe my eyes. We sat at his feet, and Maharaj said to me, 'Are you very tired?'" See You In Bareilly In 1959 I went to Nainital with my wife and stayed at the India Hotel. One day Choudhry, the hotel manager, told me that Maharaj had just arrived in Bhumiadhar and that I should go and have his darshan. I was surprised to hear the word Maharaj and asked, "Maharaj who?" He told me that he was a sadhu who would know me by name. I immediately went there. I saw a big man sitting in the outer room, but he was not dressed like a sadhu. When I asked the people in the ashram about Baba, they pointed towards the man. They also expressed their surprise at my knowledge of Baba's whereabouts saying, "Baba has just arrived; how could the news have reached Nainital so quickly?" Anyway, I had Baba's darshan, and he sent me off, telling me to see him the next day at Dr. Bhandari's house in Bareilly. I set out for Bareilly early the next morning and went straight to the doctor's house. I was surprised to see that Baba had arrived before me. He said to me, "I am going away for some time. You will see me again after five days." I told him that I also had to go away for some

work and that I might not be able to have his darshan. He said, "I will wait for you." I went to Gonda and from there to Allahabad. I had to go to Varanasi as well, but the thought of meeting Baba came to my mind. I took the night train to Bareilly instead. The train made a stop in Lucknow the next morning. When we started moving again, I saw Baba running with the train all the way to Bareilly. I was totally amazed. Whenever the train stopped at stations, Baba would disappear. On arriving in Bareilly, I went straight from my house to Dr. Bhandari's. I had Baba's darshan and came to know that he had arrived just before me. I was astounded to see him there, but I could not ask him about what I had seen on my way to Bareilly. Baba then came to my house with me and took a simple meal of dal and roti. After some time Kishan Chandra Tewari and Tularam Sah also arrived from Dr. Bhandari's house and had prasad. -Pyarelal, Bareilly Baba's Saving Grace Suraj Narayan Mehrotra's son fell from the upper story of their house in Lucknow and was badly hurt with severe internal injuries. The doctors treated him as best as they could, but his condition deteriorated. Shrimati Mehrotra was worried and remembered Baba. He was at Church Lane in Allahabad at the time, and some devotees were busy preparing his meal. Suddenly Baba got up and wanted to leave. Despite the earnest request of the householders, Baba would not stay for his food. He said, "The condition of my son is bad. I am not going to have my food now." He went out alone and in an instant arrived at Mehrotra's house in

Lucknow. Baba asked for milk, drank some of it himself, and soon improved, and he eventually regained his health. Seeing Baba In Different Places Nandan Mai was going from Nainital to Bhumiadhar to see Baba. She used a footpath to get from the Nainital-Bhowali Road down to Bhumiadhar. From the footpath she saw that Baba was sitting with his devotees at a bend along the road, some distance from the temple. Since she was tired after her long walk, she thought that it would save her a lot of trouble if Baba gave darshan at the temple. When she got closer, she clearly saw Baba sitting on the platform of the temple. This pleased her, but by the time she reached the temple, Baba had disappeared. She looked for him everywhere and at last asked Brahmachari Baba, who pointed down the road to where Baba was sitting. Surprised, she walked to the bend in the road to have Baba's darshan. She thought she would say something to Baba in front of the crowd of people and decided to quote from the Ramayana, "I saw two children, here and there. It was the aberration of my mind that I could not understand the mystery." She thought Baba would certainly appreciate the purpose of her quote, while the other devotees would not understand anything. But as she got closer to Baba, he laughed loudly, and she forgot all about what she had decided to say. This was another instance of Baba's divine play. It was difficult to say anything in Baba's presence unless he willed it.

From the Narmada to Bareilly One night Lakhpat Singh Raghuvanshi was resting at his house. He could not sleep since he was very worried about an operation he was to have the next day. Being upset, he was remembering Baba in his heart when someone knocked loudly on the door. All the members of the family were puzzled and thought it might be thieves. Realizing that thieves would probably have broken the door in to gain access rather than knock on it, they decided to open it. It was Baba. He went straight to Lakhpat Singh's room and said, "You remembered me and I had to come from the bank of the Narmada River." Baba told him to go and have the operation done without fear. The operation was successful and he was cured.

Multiple Darshan After having Baba's darshan, I was driving my bus along the road when I saw Maharaj walking ahead of us. I was at my wits' end because I thought that I was hallucinating. A man cannot walk faster than a bus. After having covered some distance, I saw him again. This time Baba was climbing up a hill. Now there was no reason for any doubts. After this I saw him several times at many different places along the route. This confounded me and helped me accept Maharaj's divinity. I became his devoted servant and have been serving his ashram and the devotees ever since. -Sardar Ranjeet Singh An Unusual Experience On 4 November 1971 an American devotee of Maharaj, to whom he had given the name Radha, was in a rickshaw with her American friend Anjani in Vrindavan. The rickshaw puller was moving very fast. All of a sudden Radha closed her eyes with fear and had Maharaj ji's darshan in that state. She had never had such an experience before. She said: Maharaj ji said to me, 'There is going to be an accident. Jump off.' I immediately obeyed his command. I did so knowingly, with a cool mind and without hesitation. I was not at all afraid or anxious about my safety. There was no apparent reason for my impulsive action, and any spectator would have considered me insane. Just then another rickshaw collided with out

rickshaw at the crossing. It all happened so quickly. I had not had time to say anything to Anjani. She was slightly injured, but was fine after receiving some first aid. All this while, I strongly felt Maharaj ji was with me. Returning to the ashram, I wanted to express my thanks to him, but he did not give me an opportunity. Whenever I was in his presence, either he changed the topic of conversation, or he did not pay any attention to what I said. Agra to Jhansi One day some rich men were taking Maharaj from Agra to Jhansi. The train was crowded, but with the help of his constables, Mahavir Singh secured a separate compartment of the train for Baba and the devotees. Mahavir Singh had Baba sit on a seat near the window and instructed the constable traveling in the train to take care of him. He then stood on the platform, talking to Baba through the window. When the train was just about to leave, an old man arrived and asked Mahavir Singh to help him get into the train through the window. The old man was not able to board the train through the door because there was a large crowd there. He said he had some urgent work and had to travel on that train. Baba at once jumped out of the train. He lifted the old man himself and made him sit in his place. Mahavir Singh was in a quandary. He had gotten that seat for Baba with great difficulty, and it was not possible to find him another one. Then Baba said, "Come, let's go home. I want to meet Karanvir Singh." Mahavir Singh said, "You meet him regularly, why especially today?" The train started, and they returned home, where Baba enjoyed conversation with Karanvir. He had a meal at about 8 p.m., and then asked what time the train would arrive in Jhansi. When he was told that it was just about to reach the Jhansi station, he got up at once and said, "I am going." He left and disappeared into the darkness. The next day, when the constable on

the train returned from Jhansi, he told them that Baba was not to be seen at all on the train journey but that he appeared at Jhansi station. The Hand of Blessing Bhushan Chandra Joshi had a heart attack in Delhi and was immediately admitted to the Medical Institute. The doctors found him to be in critical condition, so he was given oxygen and taken to the ward on a stretcher. Joshi said that he saw Baba's hand of blessing on him and felt that he did not need any more oxygen. He removed the tube and despite the remonstrances of the doctors, refused further oxygen. He soon recovered his strength and returned home from the hospital.

An Offering of Kheer One day when Baba was away from Allahabad, Sudhir Mukerjee of Church Lane, Allahabad, offered kheer (Indian rice pudding) to Baba's photograph. Leaving a bowl of kheer in front of the photo, he went into another room to work. When he returned, he saw kheer dripping from the photo. Surprised, he drew everyone's attention to this miracle. I was visiting Church Lane at the time and went into the room to see for myself. I asked for the remaining kheer as prasad.

Taking Ram's Name Like Hanuman ji, the recitation of the Ramayana and the name of Ram were very dear to Maharaj ji. When the devotees organized the chanting of the Ramayana, Maharaj was often present, even if in an imperceptible form. Sometimes devotees would organize the recitation of the Ramayana or the chanting of Ram's name with the hope that they would have Maharaj ji's darshan. Maharaj had not been to Bareilly for a long time, so Pyarelal Mahajan decided to organize a non-stop kirtan (chanting) of Ram's name. Pyarelal's guru, Swami Vidyanand ji, came to his house and started the kirtan of "Hare Ram, Hare Ram, Ram Ram, Hare Hare." Pyarelal and his wife enjoyed singing the kirtan until late at night. His wife then went to sleep in her room on the upper floor of the house, and Pyarelal rested in a room downstairs. He was sleeping when Baba knocked at the door. When he did not wake up, Baba went upstairs and knocked on the door of his wife's room. She woke up but was afraid to open the door so late at night. Baba turned away and went to Dr. Bhandari's house. He phoned Pyarelal from there, and Pyarelal went with his father to get Baba. When they returned, Baba told them about his visit that night. Pyarelal's wife corroborated the incident and said she had heard the knock on the door but had been too afraid to open it. Be Here Now

With Maharaj ji's permission, Ram Dass published the book 'Be Here Now' in America in 1971. He gave instructions to the publisher to print the book and came to India with the first copy to present to Maharaj ji. Maharaj had not studied English. Yet five months later he drew Ram Dass' attention to some untruths in two passages of the book and said, "Lies should not be mentioned in this book. They will hurt you. Delete those passages from the book." Ram Dass became anxious because a long time had elapsed, and the book might already have been published. He expected that about thirty thousand copies would have been printed. He contacted Steve Durkee and found out that the next thirty thousand copies were, in fact, in print. Explaining the situation to Baba, he said that the changes could only be incorporated into the next edition. It would be a loss of $10,000 to reject the thirty thousand books. Maharaj ji said, "Money and truth have nothing to do with each other. When you printed it first, you thought it was true, but now that you know it isn't true, you can't print lies. You will be hurt by it. You must correct it now." Ram Dass sent a cable to Steve. After a week he received a reply reporting a strange incident. The book could not be printed because Baba's photograph, which was to be printed on a full page, was missing. The original was also missing, so a new plate could not be made. The printer had pulled the job off the press to await further instructions. Baba Appears The Kumbha Mela (a large spiritual gathering) was on at Prayag. One night some sadhus from a certain ashram were talking on the bank of the Ganges. During the course of their conversation, someone mentioned Baba Neeb Karori. One sadhu said that Baba could go

anywhere and that he was endowed with such powers that he could appear from wherever he might be if remembered wholeheartedly. Other sadhus were not ready to accept it as true. They argued that anyone with a bodily form would certainly take time to move from one place to another. Another sadhu pointed out that arguments would not serve any purpose; the matter would be regarded as true if Baba appeared when called, otherwise it was false. At this the sadhu stood up and called Baba loudly. When he had called several times, even he was surprised to see Baba talking to someone just near him. -Swami Vijayananda, 'In the Steps of the Yogis' Now See, He Is Saved Baba was sitting on his takhat at Hanumangarh when he suddenly got up and raised both of his arms as if holding someone. He came out of his kuti and said, "See, he is saved." Nobody understood the significance of his apparent playfulness, and some devotees laughed in ignorance. Pooran Chandra Joshi said that three days after that incident, a woman came to Baba and offered pranaam. With a deep sense of gratitude, she told Baba about an accident that had taken place in Kanpur three days earlier. She said, "My five-year-old son fell off the roof. I called out to you Baba. A man who was passing by spread his arms and caught the boy, who was unhurt. The man said to me, 'See, he is saved.' He handed my son to me and went away. I couldn't even ask him his name." Baba listened to her story with a smile. The devotees remembered what had happened three days earlier.

Omnipotence The elements of nature lost their fundamental properties at Maharaj ji's will. Like Hanuman [Hanuman is lord of the ashta siddhis (eight powers) and nava nidhis (nine treasures), granted to him by Sri Sita; see glossary for listing.], he could transform his body—one minute becoming as small as a mosquito, the next as large as a mountain. Sometimes one could not bear the weight of his one hand, and other times his large body would become as light as a flower. His body appeared tender but sometimes became as hard as a vajra (a weapon). He could make a king a pauper and a pauper a king. By his will, earth and fire produced currency notes, and when he wished, water turned into milk. At times he brought the dead back to life. As it says in the Ramayana, "The glory of his divine deeds cannot be explained." Baba often used his power in less apparent but no less miraculous ways. A simple glance, word, or touch from Baba communicated pure love in a way that changed people's hearts imperceptibly, subtly leading them towards the path of right action. He would erase the innate tendencies of people and bring about a change in their character. In this context he said, "I

possess the key to all." He inspired hope in the distressed and gave comfort to the grief- stricken. He took away illness, blessed the childless with children, and saved people from impending accidents, generally without the beneficiary's knowledge. Baba did everything without any desire for personal gain, acknowledgement, or reward. He used to say, "Why beg from a man, what can he give? God and the saints are all powerful but no one has to beg anything from them. They know all and so they themselves give what is appropriate." A Sadhu's Bank It was a cold day in October and some devotees at Kainchi ashram had made a fire in a portable grate for Baba. He was sitting on a takhat, and his devotees were sitting before him, clustered around the grate. Meanwhile a sadhu who had been wandering the countryside came to Kainchi ashram for the first time. He was pleased by the picturesque location of the temple and was told that it was the ashram of Baba Neeb Karori. Conflicting thoughts arose in his mind; he could not reconcile the apparent prosperity of the place with the simplicity of the word baba, meaning sadhu. According to him, a sadhu should live in a hut by the riverside. Anger stirred within him, and asking about Baba, he went to see him. The sadhu pointed his finger at Baba and said reprovingly, "Baba and this wealth." Baba's face was calm, and he smilingly asked the sadhu to move closer to him. He went over and stood by Baba who took some dirty and crumpled money from the sadhu's waistband. The sadhu was too stunned to say anything. Baba said, "Why are you carrying money with you? Fire is a sadhu's bank." So saying, Baba threw the notes into the grate. As the flame rose, the sadhu became angry and muttered to himself. Laughingly Baba said, "You are going to Badrinath. Ask it from fire there. It will return your money." These words further enraged the sadhu. Baba picked up a chimta (pair of tongs), took new notes out of the fire in the sadhu's presence, and gave all his money back to him. Baba then sent him for food and bidding him farewell, gave him a blanket. The sadhu felt ashamed, and bowing before Baba, he sincerely apologized to him.

In the Guise of an Attendant M.B. Lal, who Baba called Ramesh, worked with Prem Lal in the Titagarh Paper Mill in Lucknow. When he found out that Baba was in Kanpur, he went to have darshan and stay with Baba for a few days. However, his daughter Dolly, who was a student in Standard X at the Loretto Convent, had an examination fee that was past due. While Lal roamed about Kanpur with Baba, he was worried that the unpaid fees might prevent his daughter from appearing for her exam. Baba read his thoughts. When Baba left Kanpur, Lal returned to Lucknow. As soon as he arrived at his house, he went to his daughter's school to pay the fee. The headmistress knew him and asked him the reason for his visit to the school. Apologizing for the delay, he told her that he had come to pay Dolly's fees. She told him that an old man paid his daughter's fees on time, four days earlier. The man had been asked to take a receipt, but he would not wait, saying, "I do not require it." Hearing this and remembering Baba, Lal started to cry.

The Story of the Uttis Tree The entry to the ashram in Kainchi is at the boundary of the temple premises and just inside, about twenty-five meters away, there is a big stone that Baba would often sit on, surrounded by devotees and other visitors. By the side of the stone, a big Uttis tree stood that had died. It was old and bent, and people feared that it would be uprooted in a storm, possibly injuring someone if it fell. One day Baba was sitting on the rock with some devotees when someone expressed his fear about the tree and asked Baba if it could be chopped down. Baba simply said, "Pour some Ganga water at its roots. It will become green again." Sri Ma brought the Ganges water in a can and gave it to Purnanand, who poured it on the roots around the tree. After some time the tree became as green as before. It still stands to tell its wonderful story even after so many years.

A Rich Harvest One morning, Shyam Sunder, who lived in Baba's village of Akbarpur, was going to his fields to sow mustard. On the way he met Baba who asked him, "What are you carrying?" Shyam Sunder took out the mustard seeds from the pot he was carrying and showing them to Baba said, "I am going to sow these." Baba took the seeds from him and put them in his mouth. When he took them out again after a minute, they had sprouted. He said, "See, they have sprouted. The seed is good. The harvest will be rich." Shyam Sunder said that the yield of mustard that year far exceeded previous years and following years.

Achal Samadhi Baba was always in the state of supreme soul consciousness (paramhansa avastha). He gave brief experiences of achal samadhi (a static state in which consciousness transcends the body) to some people, including Kishan Chandra Tewari, Nandaballabh Joshi, and Gurudatt Sharma. After putting Gurudatt Sharma into such a state at Church Lane, Baba turned to a doctor who had just arrived and asked, "See, what has happened to him?" The doctor was puzzled and confused because Sharma ji did not have an obvious pulse and did not seem to be breathing. Baba told some other devotees to carry the completely inert Gurudatt Sharma into another room. After some time Baba went into the room and touched him. Sharma ji then regained consciousness. On another occasion Baba put Sharma ji into samadhi in Major Rikhi's house in Delhi. Someone doubted his state of unawareness and decided to test it by cutting his foot with a razor blade. Blood flowed onto the floor, but Sharma ji was completely unaware of it. When Major Rikhi saw what was happening, he cleaned and bandaged the cut. It was not until Sharma ji regained consciousness that he noticed his bandaged foot.

Gandua the Dog When Maharaj lived in the village of Neeb Karori, he would at times go around riding on a dog named Gandua. A dog cannot bear the load of a man, but Gandua moved around effortlessly with Baba on his back. Obviously Baba was capable of increasing or reducing his weight as he wished.

The Incarnation of Hanuman One evening in Kainchi, Shankar Prasad Vyas was walking with Baba along the road in front of the ashram. Baba seemed to be in a pensive mood, so when he put his hand of Vyas' shoulder, Vyas kept quiet. All of a sudden a thought flashed into his mind that people regard Baba as the incarnation of Hanuman. Then he thought, 'But how can it be believed?' While he was thinking this, he felt the weight of Baba's hand slowly become so heavy that he could not bear it anymore. Baba's hand was placed on his shoulder in a natural way and its size was unchanged. Vyas was very perturbed and hesitated to try to remove the hand so lovingly placed on his shoulder. In this state of uncertainty he silently prayed to Hanuman ji and asked forgiveness for his doubts. The situation immediately became normal, and his doubt was removed.

The Divine Form of Hanuman Once, Shankar Prasad Vyas told Baba that he had given discourses on the story of Hanuman so many times but had not been able to see him in his divine form. Baba said, "Will you be able to bear the sight of him?" and kept quiet. Vyas also remained silent. That same night Vyas woke up with a start at about midnight. He opened the door of his room in Kainchi, and just as he was going out through it, a form as bright and huge as a golden mountain appeared before him. The spectacle frightened him, and he immediately closed the door and fell down on his bed. After this Baba entered his room and rubbing him gently, asked, "Are you alright?" Vyas recovered and bowed before Baba.

The Unruly Mare While Maharaj was living at Neeb Karori, an inspector of police would come to see him. He came riding a beautiful and spirited mare that had been a great effort to break in. On his visits the inspector would remove the saddle and reins and leave the mare to graze and rest. One day, motivated by his childlike temperament, Baba insisted on going for a ride. Though the inspector tried to dissuade him, Baba mounted the dangerous mare without reins or saddle and made her run at breakneck speed. The mare tried to shake Baba off, but he held on, sometimes hanging on the left side, sometimes on the right, sometimes even underneath the mare. At last the mare became very tired. When Baba dismounted and walked away from her, she followed Baba instead of going to her master.

Light As a Flower Maharaj ji was in Prem Ballabh Pande's house when a dandi was arranged to carry him down the hill to Tallital. While the porters were carrying Baba down the slope, Baba unexpectedly said to the devotees, "Who will carry my dandi on his shoulder?" Looking at his build and assuming his weight, none dared to offer. Kehar Singh ji also did not offer to carry Baba, which he later regretted. When Kehar Singh mentioned this incident to other devotees who had actually carried him, they told him that it was easy to carry Baba's dandi because Baba would make himself weightless. Haridas Baba said Maharaj ji became as light as a flower. Conversing With Hanuman

When Baba Shri Ram of Badrinath was about eighty-six years of age, he came with his devotees to Kainchi ashram after his pilgrimage to Manasarovar and Kailash in October 1985. He had had a close association with Maharaj and related an incident that he had witnessed years before. He said, "I saw Maharaj conversing with the murti of Hanuman at Sankat Mochan temple, Varanasi, in the same way as we are now talking to each other." Baba's Will Prevailed Maharaj addressed the murti at the Hanuman temple in Rambag, Allahabad, as "Controller General." One day Sri Ma was at the temple with Maharaj and saw an old woman climbing the stairs with great difficulty to have the darshan of Hanuman, who was on the first floor. She felt great pity for the woman and drew Baba's attention to her. Baba asked the manager, "Why cannot Hanuman ji come down? Mothers find it difficult to go up the stairs." The manager and the priest of the temple knew Baba, but the manager said that since the murti had been installed upstairs, nothing could be done about it. Baba heard this and left. He had only asked a question, but God's will is supreme and must be materialized. Shortly thereafter it rained so heavily that the back portion of the old temple, where the murti had been installed, collapsed. The rest of the temple remained intact and undamaged. When the back walls collapsed, the murti descended to the ground floor in a standing position, as if Hanuman ji had been carefully placed there. The murti was not damaged at all. Keeping Hanuman ji there on the ground floor, the whole temple was reconstructed around him.

Tears From a Murti A devotee came to Vrindavan to have Baba's darshan and brought a friend along with him. The friend, an atheist, was not interested in meeting Baba. He had come only to keep his friend company. Maharaj made his devotee sit by him and asked the friend to sit on the platform in front of the Hanuman temple. The man sat there for a long time feeling bored. Then turning around, he glanced at the murti of Hanuman and saw tears in the murti's eyes. The tears began to fall, drop by drop, onto Hanuman's chest. This sight confounded the atheist, and a total change took place in his feelings and thoughts. The murti that he had considered a piece of carved stone changed his heart and attitude.

The Ramnagar Bridge The late Indira Gandhi laid the foundation stone of the Ramnagar Bridge at Varanasi. However, there was great difficulty constructing the bridge because the first pillar sank every time it was built. Since the engineers could not think of a way to solve the problem, people consulted the well-known guru, Bijlia Baba of Varanasi, for his advice. He advised them to invite Sri Neeb Karori Maharaj, saying the work could only be completed by his grace. At Kamlapati Tripathi's request, Maharaj went to the site. He told Tripathi ji, "Pandit, get a small Hanuman temple built here. All work will be done." A temple was immediately erected, and a small murti of Hanuman ji was installed and consecrated by Maharaj. After that, construction of the bridge was easy. The Hanuman temple still exists today.

Baba's Feet In April 1970 devotees gathered at Vrindavan ashram for the festival of Hanuman Jayanti. I had come from Aligarh for Maharaj ji's darshan. At one point I looked towards Baba's feet, which were hidden under his clothing, and remembered that Radhay Shyam Sarraf from Firozabad had said that Baba's feet were not at all affected by what he walked on. The more I thought about it, the more I was inclined to doubt it. I was not able to understand how it could be possible. Maharaj went out of his room and asked me to go with him. I picked up a blanket in my left hand for Baba to sit on and went. Holding my right hand, Baba went towards the fields at the back of the ashram. I was worried when I saw the rugged field, filled with stumps of corn, jumbled bushes, shrubs, and thorns, but Baba was unconcerned about them. Looking straight ahead, he walked on that thorny field at normal speed. Neither of my hands was free and my feet, pricked by thorns, were soon bleeding. When it became too difficult for me to walk further, Baba took me by the hand and said, "Why don't you walk, what's wrong?" I told him my problem and he said, "How has this happened? Why have thorns pricked you and not me? I am also walking on the same ground." Seeing me at a loss to answer, he asked me to take out the thorns. When I had done so, the burning sensation subsided. Baba again held me by the hand and started walking towards more thorny ground. Gokhru, the thorny seeds of a plant, stuck all over the soles of my feet and it again became impossible for me to continue walking. Scolding me, Baba said, "What has happened now? Thorns have pricked only your feet. Mine have not been touched at all." When he said this, I openly expressed the doubt I had had in my mind. I apologized for my lack of faith and inability to understand the divinity of Baba's holy feet. -Hotridutt Sharma, Aligarh

Producing Puri From Under the Blanket My son received low marks in the mathematics exam of his B.A. Part II degree, and he was preparing for a re-test with the hope of improving his grade. When my sister informed us that Baba had arrived at her house in Allenganj, Allahabad, I asked my son to go for his darshan. My son said that he did not want to go for Baba's darshan for the sake of passing his exam and that he would prefer to see Baba after the results had been published. I agreed to this and went alone for Baba's darshan. When I was bowing before Baba, I heard my sister asking him to bestow his blessings on my son, so I told Baba about the conversation I had had with him earlier. Baba was overwhelmed with emotion. Shaking his head, he said, "You do not understand, he is very shy." We were surprised to see how such a thing had moved Baba. Then I remembered something Baba had once said to Sudhir Mukerjee, "Who comes to me for my sake only?" The unselfishness of the boy pleased Baba. As Baba was leaving the house, I went out with him. He took a piece of puri from under his blanket, and giving it to me, he said, "Give it to your boy." By his grace my son not only passed his B.A. and M.A. exams but also got a job in the State Bank of India before the M.A. results were announced. One day in Kainchi my younger son informed Baba of his brother's new appointment, and Baba said, "I have made him manager." -Rajida

The Satisfaction of a Child A boy in Shri Hariram Joshi's house insisted on eating only sweets and refused to have food. Baba arrived at the house and asked why the boy was crying. The members of the family said that the boy had become obstinate and did not listen to anyone. When everyone had bowed before Baba, the boy also came to offer pranaam to him. Baba asked him to open an empty cigarette packet lying on the floor in the room. Inside, the boy found five rupees. The boy became happy. A lot of sweets could be bought with five rupees in those days. The boy bought the sweets and offered them to Baba. Baba gave the sweets to the child and made him eat to his heart's content.

Puris From His Hand One evening I went to Church Lane with my wife for Baba's darshan. Everyone was having prasad in the house, but since we had already eaten our meal, we went to the outer room instead. Maharaj was sitting there on a takhat alone. I took his feet in my hands and gently massaged them while Baba sat silently. He rubbed his hands together and then put two soft, warm puris into my hands. I was more happy than surprised to receive that unique prasad from him. I wrapped the puris carefully in a piece of paper and on my return home, shared the prasad with the members of my family. -Rajida

Producing Money From the Ground Gopal Datt Pant Shastri, a Sanskrit teacher at the Government Intermediate College in Allahabad and a great devotee of Maharaj, died when his children were in junior school. After his death the economic condition of the family worsened, and their only source of income was the rent from their house. Baba looked after the welfare of his devotees. Even in the absence of Shastri ji, Baba remembered to visit his family every year when he went to Prayag. Once, when Shastri's son was in Standard X at school, he saw Baba coming towards him from some distance away. The boy went forward and bowed before him. Baba said, "Let's go, I will take you to visit Vindhyachal." The boy was happy at the thought of going on his first visit out of town, but the thought came to him that his mother did not have any money to give him and without money, he would not be able to bear Baba's expenses as well as his own. Just then Baba said, "Look, what is there under that stone at the roadside?" The boy walked about ten steps, picked up the stone, and found one hundred and fifty rupees in new notes underneath it. The boy was surprised and wondered, Who put those notes there? If someone dropped them, how could they be under the stone? He picked them up and showed them to Baba. Baba gave them back to the boy. At that time one hundred and fifty rupees was a large amount of money, and they boy was happy to receive them. He eagerly explained the whole situation to his mother and assuring her that he would be back by evening, left immediately with Baba. Baba's devotees welcomed him at Vindhyachal, and the boy wandered around with Baba all day, getting many delicious things to eat. In the evening Baba returned him to his home.

One Thousand Rupees In an Empty Purse One day I went to Kainchi to meet Baba. I had kept some money in my purse, but after buying sweets and fruit for prasad and paying my bus fare to Kainchi, I had only five rupees left. I was very worried. If I had to spend more money on my return journey, I would have a big problem. When I went to Baba and bowed before him, he said, "You do not have money in your purse?" I replied casually, "Baba, there is enough." He said again, "Ask if you need it." I did need it, but I remained quiet because I thought it would be improper to take money from Baba. Instead of taking from a saint, money should be offered to him. On my return journey I purchased a ticket with the five-rupee note, emptying my purse. I arrived home, and later when I opened the purse, I found ten one-hundred-rupee notes in another compartment of the purse. I was amazed at this divine lila of my generous Baba. -Shrimati Savitri Devi, Begumpul, Meerut

Baba's Generosity Sri Swami Mohanand ji lived near Maharaj's ashram on Parikrama Marg in Vrindavan. One day at the time that Swami ji was getting his ashram constructed, the money he had kept for the work was stolen. He had no money left to pay the laborers or to buy food. He was worried and remained without food. Baba went to him, but before Swami ji could tell him about the problem, Baba took puris and potatoes out from his blanket and made him eat. Then Baba said, "You have not lost your money, look under your pillow." When Mohanand lifted his pillow again, he was surprised to find more money than he had lost.

Satisfying Curiosity On one occasion Choudhry Mihilal of Lalpur was massaging Baba's feet at the Vrindavan ashram while Baba was lying quietly. Mihilal started wondering how Baba met the expenses of the ashram when Baba suddenly said, "Fetch that blanket from the wooden stool." When he picked up the blanket, he saw a lot of money under it. He replaced the blanket, covering the notes as they were, and returned to Baba quietly. Seeing his face, Baba laughed and said, "You wondered how we were meeting the expenses of the ashram. Have you seen it now?" Choudhry held Baba's feet and apologized.

Prasad For All One day in 1956 Kehar Singh ji invited Maharaj to eat at his house in Allahabad. Baba said, "I shall eat at your house tomorrow evening." When Kehar Singh ji got home, he told his wife that Baba was coming the next day and asked her to prepare food for two extra people. His wife prepared two vegetable dishes ahead of time and prepared everything for the puris in order to make them fresh later. Kehar Singh ji bought sweets from the market, and then he himself went to Sudhir Mukerjee's house in Colonelganj to escort Baba. About ten people came with them. As soon as Baba got into the house, he asked for food. Kehar Singh ji served him a plate containing two hot puris, vegetables, and sweets. Baba said, "Serve food to all." Kehar Singh ji was in a fix, but he put nine plates and small bowls in the kitchen and told his wife what Baba had commanded. She was perturbed because it would not be acceptable if food was not served to everyone, but her husband had only asked her to cook for two people. Since there was not enough time to prepare more food, she left the kitchen in a state of helplessness. Kehar Singh ji asked their servant to cook food and start frying puris with the dough that was already there. Kehar Singh ji started serving food in the outer room. The food automatically increased to such an extent that everyone had as much prasad as they could eat. There was even food leftover for the family members.

Food For Two Fed Fifteen One day Umadatt Shukla brought Maharaj and a gentleman accompanying him from his shop in Hazratganj, Lucknow, to his house. His mother-in-law was preparing fried puris with cooked vegetables for two, and she had also brought some sweets from the market. While Shukla was serving food to Baba and the person with him in the outer room, R.K. Trivedi and his father and family arrived. Trivedi was Shukla's cousin and his father was a great devotee of Baba. Baba asked Shukla to serve food to the visitors. After everyone had dinner and left, Shukla's mother-in-law said to him that the Trivedis should also have been asked to dinner. When Shukla told her that everyone had eaten their fill before they left, she was surprised. She could not understand how twelve people were fed with the food prepared for only two, especially as there was still enough food left for the three members of the household. Really, Baba fed all.

Eight Oranges One evening in 1973, after traveling in the hills of Uttarakhand, Swami Chidananda, head of the Shivananda ashram in Rishikesh, came to Kainchi with some devotees for Maharaj's darshan. Swami ji wrote: "The revered Baba Neeb Karori was seated on a cot, wrapped in a simple blanket. He received me and my party with a very kind and benign look and motioned us to take our seats on the carpet spread near a cot. I knelt down beside the cot and paid my homage, laying my head upon his lap, where he had tucked up his foot, being seated cross- legged." Shri Yogesh Bahuguna, who came with Swami ji, had brought eight oranges to offer to Baba. He put them in an empty basket near the cot, and after conversing for a little while, Baba distributed those oranges as prasad. By this time some devotees and workers in the ashram had gathered at the door. The visitors were astonished to see that Baba had given an orange to each of the eighteen people present. Swami ji wrote, "From where the additional oranges came into the basket is something we could not explain. Perhaps only Baba ji knows this."

Petrol Increased Maharaj went to Kanpur in Raja Bhadri's car with Ramanand, the driver, and stayed there with his devotees for some time. One day Maharaj told Ramanand, "Take the car to Allahabad." There was, however, only enough petrol in the car for about ten or twelve kilometers. Explaining the situation to Baba, Ramanand told him they would need to get the tank filled. Baba paid no attention to what he said and again asked him to go ahead. The driver was worried all the way because the car could have stopped anywhere at any moment, leaving them in trouble. No such thing happened. The petrol was sufficient for the journey, and they arrived at Church Lane, Allahabad, where Ramanand told the story to everyone present.

Will You Have Tea? During the Kumbha Mela at Prayag in 1966, Maharaj camped at Jhusi, on the other side of the sangam. Late one night Maharaj's durbar was still going strong. Brahmachari Baba whispered into the ear of another devotee that it would be good if everyone could have some tea, for it was quite cold. There was tea and sugar but no milk. Just then Baba said, "Will you have tea? Take a bucket with you and fetch milk from the Ganga. Tell Mother that I am taking milk and will return tomorrow." Brahmachari Baba immediately obeyed him. As soon as he came back with the bucket full of Ganges water, Baba told him to cover it. Reminding Brahmachari sometime later, Baba said, "Why don't you prepare tea now?" Brahmachari immediately put water on to boil but was feeling anxious about how he would make the tea without milk. When the water had boiled, he lifted the cover of the bucket and found that it was full of milk. Everyone enjoyed hot tea on that cold winter night and was amazed at Baba's lila. The next day when milk was brought to the camp, Baba got one bucketful poured into the Ganges.

The Glory of the Ganges One evening at the Kumbha Mela, Baba was boating with some of his devotees. Speaking about the glory of the Ganges, Baba told them, "Milk, not water, flows in the Ganges." The devotees kept quiet because they found it difficult to believe. Baba asked Umadatt Shukla to fill a lota with Ganges water and then to keep it covered. The devotees spent a lot of time in discussion with Baba and it became dark. Baba ordered the boat to be taken back to the shore near the camp and then said to Shukla, "Give everyone Ganga water to drink." To everyone's surprise, the lota was full of milk. Everyone tasted a little of that delicious, nectar-like milk. Milk For Girish

Once, Bhagwati Sevak Bajpai, Girish Chandra Joshi, and a personal assistant to a senior official were with Baba at Sarsaiyya Ghat, Kanpur, when Baba got a boat called to ferry them to a dry island in the middle of the Ganges. The assistant told Baba that it was not safe to go to the island, as bootleggers ran their illegal winemaking operation from there. Baba did not listen to him. When they approached the island, the bandits drew their guns and loudly asked who was approaching. Baba answered in a thundering voice, "Baba." By the time they reached the island, all the scoundrels were calm. Baba went to fulfil the call of nature, and after resting for some time, he said, "Girish is on a fast today. He is hungry. Go and borrow a lota full of milk from Mother Ganga and give it to him to drink." The assistant brought a lota full of Ganges water as instructed, and it turned into delicious milk, which Girish drank. Water For Petrol One time at Kainchi ashram, Habibulla, the driver of Baba's car, told Baba that there was no petrol in the car. He asked permission to go and get the tank filled in case Baba wanted to go somewhere. Baba said, "I do not have to go anywhere." The next night Baba got into the car and asked him to drive. It was a cold night, and Baba had covered himself with two blankets. Habibulla kept his blanket on one side and started driving. He said, "Baba, you did not allow me to put petrol in the car. How will it move now? Where do you want to go?" Baba said, "I have to go to Almora. Now drive." The car ran for about five kilometers, and after crossing the slope at Ratighat, it stopped. There was no petrol. The driver was very worried, for they had no alternative except to spend the night in the desolate forest. He picked up his blanket and sat huddled in a corner of the car until Baba said, "Bring water from the nearby spring and pour it into the petrol tank." On hearing those words, Habibulla said, "Maharaj, the car will be damaged. I am ready to do whatever you say, but I shall leave this job tomorrow morning. I will not stay with you anymore." Baba coaxed him saying, "Not much, pour only three cans of water in." The driver did as Baba told him. Baba said, "Now start the car." Habibulla said, "The car is ruined now. It will not start." Baba again politely asked him to start the car. As soon as he started the car, it moved without any problem. He drove all night with Baba and brought the car back to the ashram in the morning. Habibulla regretted telling Baba he would leave his job.

Gram Flour Baba went to the house of Nand Kishore Joshi and said to Joshi's wife, "Give me food to eat. I shall eat roti made with gram flour." She was happy that Baba had come and given them an opportunity to serve him. However, she was upset because there was no gram flour in the house to allow her to make the rotis that Baba desired. She knew very well that Baba would go away without having food if there was the slightest delay. She also knew that there was no time to get more gram flour from the market, so she decided to mix whatever gram flour she had in the house with wheat flour and then prepare rotis for him. As she opened the can containing wheat flour, she was surprised to find that all the wheat flour inside had turned into gram flour.

Checking Baba's Store Baba once selected Hotridutt Sharma and two other devotees to check the store in the ashram. He sent them to the storeroom one by one and asked them to check the contents of five big cans. All three came back with different reports. One said that there was sugar in all five cans. One said that there was rice in all of the five cans, and the third saw raw sugar in two cans and rice in three cans. Baba laughed.

Swallowing LSD After talking about LSD with his American devotee Ram Dass, Maharaj took three 300- microgram pills of pure LSD from him and put them in his mouth. One of these pills was plenty for an adult, but Baba consume 900 micrograms with no apparent effect. Ram Dass was surprised and thought it over for some time. At last, disbelieving his own eyes, he concluded that Baba could not have swallowed those pills. Three years later, when Ram Dass was back in India, Maharaj asked him again for LSD and this time took 1,200 micrograms. He drank some water and then asked, "Will I become mad?" Ram Dass replied, "It could be." All of a sudden Baba's countenance changed, and he started to behave like a mad man. Ram Dass got worried and felt that he had misjudged Baba's powers, but the next moment Baba appeared to be his own self again. In a normal way he asked Ram Dass, "Is there any medicine more powerful than this one?" Eating Arsenic The Indian saint Swami Rama wrote in his book Living with the Himalayan Masters that he was with Baba one day when a pharmacist in Nainital stopped and bowed before Baba in salutation. The pharmacist was carrying arsenic powder from Tallital to Mallital. Baba said to the man, "I am hungry. What are you carrying with you?" The man answered, "This is arsenic powder. I shall bring some food for you." Baba snatched the powder in one stretch and ate a handful of it. He then asked for water and drank it. The pharmacist became worried. He thought it was not possible for Baba to stay alive. When he saw that Baba's condition remained unchanged, he felt amazed.

Arsenic Became Ineffective A sadhu came to meet Maharaj ji at Kainchi ashram with arsenic hidden in his clothes. Maharaj ji called the sadhu to him and cleverly removed the arsenic. He swallowed a large quantity of it and drank some water. The sadhu became very worried and said, "None can stay alive after consuming so much arsenic." Nevertheless, it had no effect on Maharaj ji, who told the sadhu smilingly, "Before the love of God, all other intoxicants become ineffective." I Shall Change the Season The marriage ceremony of Hotridutt Sharma's daughter was to be solemnized on 18 June 1973. On 15 June, Sharma went to Kainchi to have Baba's blessings and invite him to attend the ceremony. Baba said to him, "Pandit, tell me something I can do." With his hands joined in reverence, Sharma said, "Maharaj, you are doing everything." Baba said, "I shall do the work that nobody else can do." Hotridutt ji became thoughtful, and then Baba clarified his

statement. "There is no electricity in your village. The marriage party will be uncomfortable because of the heat, so I shall change the weather. Make arrangements for proper bedding as it will be very cold on 18th and 19th June." The marriage party arrived at the appointed hour. It drizzled during the day, and a wind started blowing from the east. By night it became as cold as it usually was in the months of November and December. Hotridutt ji, as was his nature, told others what Baba had said in Kainchi, and everyone who attended the marriage was amazed. After the marriage party was sent off, the weather reverted to normal and became extremely hot. Changing the Wind Kehar Singh ji had a large farm in Rudrapur, Nainital, and Jagdish Chandra Pande lived there as the manager. The sugarcane crop was ripe at Kehar Singh's farm and at his neighbor's. One day the neighbor's crop caught fire and could not be saved. Jagdish Pande was worried because only a small footpath separated the two farms. By some unknown inspiration, he picked up some soil, and remembering Maharaj, he threw it towards the neighbor's crop with the faith that it would somehow save their own crop from the devastating fire. The wind changed direction instantly, and Kehar Singh ji's crop was saved.

Go, Take Everything The maize crop at Omkar Singh's big farm in Baharaich had just been harvested and was lying on the threshing floor. Suddenly the sky became overcast and it started drizzling. Omkar Singh became restless, for he had no means of saving that huge crop. If the rain continued, he knew that the whole crop, worth thousands of rupees, would be ruined. Whenever there were crucial moments in his life or things were beyond his control, he always remembered Baba. It had been his experience that wherever Baba might be, he would save him. So when it started raining heavily, he remembered Baba in his distress, however, when he did not see any change in the weather, he lost patience and became disheartened. Then he became angry and said, "Go, take everything." It immediately stopped raining around Singh's threshing floor but continued to rain heavily in the village. A long time after this incident, Kehar Singh ji reminded Baba of this lila and said, "You saved Omkar Singh's crop from destruction." Like a child, Baba very humbly said, "What could I do? He had lost his self control and in anger he was shouting, 'Go take everything.'"

A Cool Breeze One night in May 1958 Maharaj's devotee Kehar Singh ji was at his house in Lucknow trying to sleep. It was quite hot, and he restlessly turned from side to side. The electricity was down so the fan was useless, but suddenly the weather changed. A cold wind like the one that blows in the hills of Shimla and Musoorie started blowing, even though there were no clouds in the sky and no apparent reason for the change in weather. Kehar Singh ji slept soundly and woke refreshed the next day. After completing his daily chores, he made his way to the house of Mehrotra, where Baba had been staying for the last two days. As soon as he offered pranaam, Maharaj said, "You were not getting much sleep last night. You were tossing and turning all night." Kehar Singh ji replied, "Why, I did sleep. You caused a cool breeze." At this Baba burst into laughter. The secret of his divine power was revealed.

The Lighting of Aarti Wicks On one occasion some women devotees came to Bhumiadhar to worship Baba but did not see him in the ashram. Baba was sitting on a roadside parapet a little distance from them. They waited for some time and then decided to go and worship him by the road. As they went towards him, Baba waved his hand, signaling them to wait. Gurudatt Sharma, who was with Baba, requested him to allow the women to do their puja. Baba gave his consent, and after the ritual worship they got ready to do aarti. As they were about to light the wicks of the lamps, they realized that they had forgotten to bring a box of matches. Baba teased them, took the ghee-soaked wicks from the plate in his hand, and saying "Ma, Ma," moved his hand around; all the wicks immediately lit up. The women then performed aarti to him and went away happy.

Feeding a Flame With Water One day when Hanumanghar was under construction, Maharaj was sitting at the puja (place of worship) in Shivdutt Joshi's house at Kishanpur, Nainital. An earthen lamp was burning near Baba and a small bowl containing water and a spoon was before him. Many devotees were sitting by him talking about havan (a ritual during which offerings are thrown into fire). One devotee was describing how Adi Heriakhan Baba performed havan with water. Shivdutt's daughter Munni Devi said that while everybody was listening with rapt attention, Baba was using the small spoon to pour water onto the flame of the wick in the earthenware lamp. Whenever he poured on the water, the flame rose higher.

At Neeb Karori and Vrindavan In 1920, when Maharaj was living in his old cave in the village of Neeb Karori, he did not mix freely with people. Nevertheless, one day some people from the village were going to Vrindavan, and they asked Baba to go with them. Baba had never been to Vrindavan before, but he sent them off with assurances that he would join them later. Baba's devotee Gopal used to leave a plateful of food at the entrance to Baba's cave daily, as Baba had instructed him. After eating his meal Baba would leave the empty plate at the mouth of the cave since Gopal was never allowed to go inside. This day was no different from any other. Gopal left the plate of food and collected the empty plate as usual. When the villagers returned from Vrindavan, they told Gopal that Baba had been in Vrindavan with them and had made them have darshan of some temples there. All of them had enjoyed the journey. Gopal was surprised to hear their accounts and later told Baba everything that he had heard. Baba told Gopal that he should not believe what the people told him. He often concealed his powers in this way.

At Allahabad and Kanpur S.K. Shukla was very eager for promotion. Maharaj blessed him, and he became deputy director of industries of the government of Uttar Pradesh. One day his friend Bhagwati Sevak Bajpai went to Allahabad to have Baba's darshan, and during the course of a conversation Baba expressed his annoyance with Shukla. After staying the night, Bajpai took leave of Baba and reached his house in Kanpur within a few hours. No sooner did he arrive home than he phoned Shukla to tell him about Baba's displeasure. Shukla, who had built a new house in Kanpur with a special room for Baba upstairs, asked him to come to his house at once. On Bajpai's arrival, Shukla said, "You were talking about last night. Well, Baba was here with me then." As proof he showed him Baba's footprints. The floor in front of Baba's room had been newly plastered the previous day. Baba had walked on the wet floor going into the room, so his footprints made a permanent impression there. At Kanpur and Kathmandu On one occasion Maharaj ji stayed with Devkamta Dixit ji for three days. On the fourth day they both went to the house of Hari Ram Joshi at Nazarbag, Lucknow. Joshi was ill with a fever, but seeing Baba in his house, he got up from bed and bowed before him. Baba lay down in his bed and instantly the fever left him. With folded hands Joshi said to Baba, "I was thinking of you only yesterday. I heard the news broadcast from Kathmandu, announcing that the great saint of India, Baba Neeb Karori, had been in Kathmandu the day before and that the king of Nepal had had his darshan. After hearing that news, I expected that you would give me darshan when you returned." Looking towards Dixit ji, Baba smiled.

At Agra and Vrindavan One night Baba woke up Habibulla, his driver in Vrindavan, and told him he wanted to go to Agra and then return to Vrindavan. He also said, "It is a five-minute job. We'll be back by dawn." They reached Agra in the middle of the night. Baba told Habibulla to park the car at Subzimandi and then to follow him. Habibulla had a stomach ache and did not want to go, so he told Baba that it was not a good idea to leave the car unguarded. He also asked Baba how long he would be away. Baba replied, "Half an hour." Habibulla then reminded Baba that when they were in Vrindavan, Baba had said he would take only five minutes. Baba said, "All right, you wait for me for fifteen minutes and if I don't turn up by then, go back to Vrindavan alone." Habibulla's stomach ache got worse. He waited for Baba for about twenty-five minutes, but at last returned to Vrindavan alone with a heavy heart. After parking the car at the ashram, he went inside and saw Baba sitting on a takhat, talking to people. Habibulla had come straight from Agra, driving very fast, so he was naturally very surprised at the sight. He was still suffering from stomach cramps and was tired after the long journey, so he went straight to his room without going to Baba. Baba understood the reason for his annoyance and asked a man to fetch him. Habibulla asked the man, "When did Baba come back from Agra?" The man looked at him in surprise, "Where did Baba go? Ever since he came out of his room this morning, he has been sitting on his takhat and talking to people."

At Allahabad, Kanpur and Bareilly Maharaj got a Hanuman temple built at Panki in Kanpur through Devkamta Dixit ji. The murti was to be installed on 21 January 1964. A few days before this, Maharaj arrived in Allahabad. On the day of the consecration ceremony, I was astonished to see him at Church Lane at six in the morning. I could not understand why Baba did not think it appropriate to go to Panki on that special occasion, when a large crowd of devotees would be waiting for him. After giving prasad to the devotees, Baba went into his room at about six thirty. Sri Ma and Sri Jivanti Ma were there when Baba asked Sudhir Mukerjee to lock the room from the outside and to tell every visitor that he had gone out. He lay very still on the takhat, and the Mothers found him in a state of samadhi. I sat in the outer room in the hope that Baba might come out of his room at any time, and Mukerjee was sending the visitors away as instructed. Just then Jagati Babu arrived and seeing me sitting there in the outer room, came and asked about Baba. I told him what was happening. At about eleven thirty Baba called from inside the room to unlock the door. When he came out, I had his darshan once again. Two days later Baba was sitting with a group of devotees, including Jagati Babu and myself, when a car stopped unexpectedly outside. An engineer, one of Baba's devotees, arrived from Kanpur. We all welcomed him and Jagati Babu added, "How was the consecration ceremony held at Panki in Baba's absence?" The engineer was surprised at the question and exclaimed, "In the absence of Baba?" Then he said, "I received Baba on the consecration day at about six thirty in the morning and remained with him until approximately eleven thirty. The consecration ceremony was celebrated with joy and a bhandara was held. The occasion was marvelous." Jagati Babu did not agree with what the engineer said, for he knew very well that Baba had been locked in a room at Church Lane at that time. After some argument both of them decided to take the matter to Baba. When Jagati Babu raised the question, Baba said that the engineer was a liar. The engineer was taken aback to hear Baba say so. As he tried to remonstrate, Baba raised his finger to his lips, signaling him to keep quiet. This was clear proof of Baba's presence in Allahabad and Kanpur at the same time. Further enquiry into this matter revealed that other people had also had Baba's darshan in Kanpur.

That same morning Dr. A.D. Bhandari's wife was strolling in her garden in Bareilly when she saw Baba coming towards their house. He was traveling alone in a rickshaw. She immediately went inside to arrange a room for him, but when she came out to receive him, she did not see Baba or the rickshaw. She felt unhappy at Baba's coming up to the house and then leaving. When the doctor arrived home, she told him what had happened. He enquired about Baba at various places but without any success. A few days after this incident Mrs. Bhandari met Sri Ma and told her what had happened on that day, 21 January 1964. She could not believe her ears when Sri Ma told her that Baba was present in Allahabad on that day. -Rajida I Am There Ram Ratan Verma practiced law in Mainpuri and was a devotee of Maharaj. Baba showered his affection on Verma's whole family. When Verma died in 1956, his only child Shanta was devastated, and Baba went to her house to console her. She wept bitterly before saying, "I don't have a brother, and now no one is left in my parents' house." Baba, the ocean of kindness, could not bear to see anyone in tears. He emphasized at once, "You have me." From then on Baba became her brother and maintained that relationship until the time of his Mahasamadhi. During that period of seventeen years, Baba went to Shanta's house every year on Rakshabandhan, the festival for brothers and sisters. As part of the tradition, the sister ties a rakhi (sacred thread) around the wrist of her brother. Maharaj got Shanta to tie the rakhi, and he gave her money, which is also part of the tradition. Once, when she was in Meerut on

Rakshabandhan, Baba even went there to get the rakhi tied. Devotees remember celebrating Rakshabandhan in Kainchi with Baba for eleven of those seventeen years, so Baba was in Kainchi as well as with Shanta on those auspicious days. Who Did You Call? Shakuntala Sah of Nainital once went to Mirzapur with Maharaj for the darshan of Vindhyavasini Devi. After a few years passed, she took her father to have Vindhyavasini Devi's darshan. While taking a bath in the Ganges, her father desired to have a swim. In his youth he had been a good swimmer, but he had become old. She forbade him and pleaded with him, but he could not resist his desire to swim. He went under water. With great effort, he resurfaced, and Shakuntala was stunned to see his desperate look. He went under again right before her eyes. In her helplessness she remembered Baba and cried out, "Maharaj, Maharaj." In the meantime a man standing nearby jumped in the water with his clothes on and dragged her father out of the water. After some treatment, her father recovered. They wanted to give something to the man to thank him, but he had disappeared and even after enquiries, could not be found. Shakuntala returned to Nainital and told Baba the whole story. Then she said, "Who was that man?" Baba said indifferently, "Keep quiet. Your work is done. Who did you call at that moment?"

Perceptible and Imperceptible Forms Whenever Baba came to Prayag, his devotee Kanhaiyalal Srivastava would inform all the devotees that Maharaj had arrived. Baba scolded him for this, but he was not able to resist the impulse to share Baba's darshan. Once, when Baba was staying at Church Lane, Kanhaiyalal ji took three dignified men to have darshan. Before they arrived, Baba left for the Allahabad train station with Sudhir Mukerjee. On hearing the news, Kanhaiyalal ji also went to the station, and leaving the three men at a particular place on the platform, he went to look for Baba. He saw Baba and Mukerjee Dada sitting on one end of the platform. He went to them and humbly asked Baba to give the three men darshan. Baba did not grant the request. Because Kanhaiyalal ji glorified Baba, it inspired people to want to meet him and sometimes to test him. Baba never like people to praise him, and he was always indifferent to those who wanted to test him. Kanhaiyalal went back disappointed and stood quietly by his companions. He thought that Baba would have to return that way and that they would have his darshan as he passed by. After some time Baba got up and wandered around the platform, holding Mukerjee Dada's hand. There were not many people around since no train was due, but Maharaj passed by those four people twice without them seeing him. Mukerjee Dada could see those people looking towards them and could not understand why they did not take advantage of the opportunity to meet Baba. He did not understand that in being with Baba, he was also invisible to those people.

A Car Made Invisible A car was waiting at the entrance to Kainchi ashram to pick up Baba and Mukerjee Dada, and many devotees from the ashram were standing on the roadside, waiting to see them off. At a bend on the road, Ambadatt Pande, Secretary to the Central Government, was standing with his family. They had anticipated that Baba's car would leave before they arrived at the ashram, and knowing that Baba's car would have to go to via Bhowali, they decided to stop on the road and wait for Baba's car to pass with the intention of having his darshan. Before getting into the car, Dada drew Baba's attention to the fact that the family had not arrived and would therefore be stopping at that particular bend. Baba said, "They won't have darshan now." At this, Dada said that they would stand in front of the car to stop it. Baba said to him, "You sit in the backseat bending low so that your face cannot be seen from the outside." Dada obeyed him and the car set off. High up on a bend the family watched the car approach. After passing the bend, Baba told Dada to sit comfortably. No one saw the car pass. The members of the family were puzzled about where the car had gone. It had disappeared. The devotees standing at the temple entrance down in the valley lost sight of the car as it went toward the bend. When the Pande family arrived at the temple gate and talked to the devotees still standing around it, they were all astounded. Not only Baba, but the entire car had become invisible to them all.

Present Though Absent One day on my way to the office, I saw Maharaj sitting on the veranda of Sudhir Mukerjee's house. I wanted to meet him, but I was getting late for work. I thought and believed that Baba would not keep me there at the time and would allow me to carry on to the office. It did not happen. Baba kept me with him until 1 p.m. I became carefree and thought that I would apply for a day off that day. While I was thinking that, Baba said loudly, "Go to your work. You are sitting here doing nothing." I bowed before him and thought that I had better go back home since the time had passed for going to the office. Then I remembered that Baba had told me to go to the office, not home. I was in a state of indecision but decided to go to the office. On reaching the office, I wrote out an application for leave and went to give it to the person concerned. He glanced at the daily report and asked, "Which day do you want to be on leave? You are present today." I also checked the attendance register and was surprised and puzzled to see my signature there. I said nothing and returned to my desk. I was not able to understand how it happened and who did it. I did not think of Baba then. I was also surprised to see that my colleagues who sat near me did not ask me why I was arriving so late. That same evening when I went to meet Baba, the idea that it was all his lila flashed in my mind. I realized that his divine play had been to make up my absence by being present in my office in tangible form. I was very moved by this.

Bullets Absorbed By His Blanket In January 1966 preparations were being made for the Kumbha Mela at Prayag, Allahabad. Maharaj got a camp pitched on the bank of the Ganges, towards Jhusi, so that his devotees could stay there and bhandara could be held every day. Baba would spend the day at the mela grounds and then return to Church Lane, where visitors would be waiting for him every evening. One day a high government official and some other important people arrived at Church Lane by car. They waited for Baba until 8:30 p.m., and then becoming disappointed, they thought of going back. When the official asked me how much longer they should wait, I told them that there was no fixed time for Baba's return. I suggested they stay for another half an hour. They agreed to stay until 9 p.m., and in the meantime I asked them when they first had Baba's darshan. In reply, the official told me he first had Baba's darshan at the invitation of the civil surgeon of Jhansi, who was one of Baba's devotees. He then related one of the experiences the civil surgeon shared with him. During the Second World War, Baba arrived at the civil surgeon's house one day. The surgeon welcomed Baba and later that night, made a bed for him on a takhat. He thought he himself would sleep on the floor so that he would be able to attend to Baba should he need anything. Both of them went to sleep at 11 p.m., and at about 1 a.m., the sound of someone restlessly tossing and turning woke the surgeon. He switched on the light and saw that it was Baba. When he asked Baba why he was so restless, Baba gave him his blanket and said, "You go and throw it in the water." The surgeon asked Baba if the task could wait until morning, but Baba insisted that he go straightaway.

It was a dark night, and there was no road to get to the lake by car. He woke up servants and after completing the task, arrived back before dawn. When the civil surgeon asked him the reason for throwing his blanket in the lake, Baba said, "Your son [an army officer] was not able to face the German attack. A stampede was caused among his troops and he also ran away, but the German soldiers followed him. He jumped off the top of a ridge and got stuck in a marsh. The soldiers fired on him from above, and taking him to be dead, they left. All those bullets got stuck in my blanket and their heat made me uneasy. When you threw the blanket in the lake, I was relieved of my discomfort." The blanket was new, and there were no holes to be seen in it. The surgeon could not really comprehend what Baba had said, but he was more at ease knowing that his son was safe. Baba went away the next day. Many days after this incident the surgeon's wife received a letter from their son. In it, he told them all the same details but expressed his surprise at some unknown power that had saved him from a rain of bullets. There was no possibility of his being saved otherwise. After reading their son's letter, the civil surgeon realized Baba's great blessing. By the time the official had finished telling the story, it was 9 p.m. Just then Baba returned. -Rajida In the Guise of a Thin Sadhu

Shrimati Vidya Sah used to come to Kainchi from Nainital to visit Maharaj. One day while she was sitting near him, she thought that Baba often visited the houses of his devotees in Nainital. She wished that he would come to her house, but she hesitated to ask him. Her house was in the main market, and one had to climb a narrow staircase to reach it. Seeing Baba's physique, she thought that he would not be able to climb up those steps. Baba said, "I will come to your house. Get havan [fire sacrifice] performed." She got the havan performed by the priest in the temple, and the day the final oblation was offered to the god of fire, she returned home after taking prasad. A sadhu followed her the whole way. This slightly disturbed her, yet she did not say anything to him. When she reached home, she went in through a back door, passing through the house of a Punjabi family. The sadhu followed her, but the Punjabi family scolded him and sent him away. She did not understand why he had followed her. Many months after this incident, while she was again sitting by Baba, she remembered that Baba had told her that he would visit her house one day. She had had the havan performed as he requested, but he had not made the promised visit. Baba spoke at once, "I did follow you to your house until the Punjabi family scolded me and sent me away." Seeing no similarity between Baba and that weak, thin sadhu, she was surprised at Baba's words but did not disbelieve them. She felt full of remorse that she did not welcome him because of her ignorance. In the Guise of a Priest On Ekadashi Gurupriya Mai was going from her house in Nainital to the temple to have darshan and saw the priest of Pashan Devi temple on her way. All of a sudden an idea flashed

in her mind that she should give him food that was to be given to a brahmin on Ekadashi. She took him home, and since the priest did not accept uncooked food and wanted to have a cooked meal, she gave him a proper seat, brought a plateful of food from the kitchen, and asked him to eat. While eating, the priest saw a photograph of Maharaj hanging on the wall in front of him. He said, "Who is that hypocrite in that photo?" Gurupriya felt hurt by his words and became annoyed inside. She had thought of giving ten rupees to the priest, but because he had hurt her feelings, she changed her mind. She decided to give him only one rupee. She had two notes in her box, a ten-rupee note and a one-rupee note. When the priest had eaten his meal, she sent him off with one rupee. She then went to Leela Mai's house, where Baba was staying. Baba had been sitting all by himself in his room while his meal was being cooked. Gurupriya arrived as the food was being served to him. Baba ate a little and left the remaining food on his plate. In spite of Leela Mai's earnest request for him to have some more, Baba refused saying, "Gurupriya has made me eat already today and I have cheated her of ten rupees." Gurupriya could not understand what Baba meant. She had offered food to the priest not Baba, and she had given him a one- rupee note not ten rupees." Baba immediately took out the new ten-rupee note and showed it to her. Gurupriya could not believe it. When she returned to her house, she opened the box and found a one-rupee note, not the ten-rupee note, inside. Who was that priest that called Baba a hypocrite? As a Beggar Although Baba accepted invitations from his devotees to marriages and other such functions, he never attended them in the usual manner. The devotees believed that one of the advantages

of extending an invitation to Baba was that the work was accomplished without any hindrances. Once, a devotee invited Maharaj to attend his son's marriage and made Baba promise to come. The devotee made special arrangements to welcome Baba and telling everyone that Baba was coming, waited for him on that day. When Baba did not come, he became sad at heart. In the hustle and bustle of the marriage, a thin beggar in clothes all tattered and torn came and attended the function. Seeing him, the devotee got angry. He scolded the beggar and leading him by the hand, turned him out. After the marriage he went to meet Baba and complained to him because he had not attended the marriage ceremony. Baba smiled and said, "I did come. Holding me by the hand you turned me out." Realizing that it was Baba in the guise of a beggar, the devotee was very surprised and his heart filled with regret. In the Form of the Child Krishna It was the festival of Guru Purnima, and Baba was away in Vrindavan. We received information that Gopal Swarup Pathak, Vice President of India, was coming to Kainchi to have darshan of the temples. At the appointed time I waited at the ashram gate to receive the vice president, and Haji, the Muslim sentry, was there on duty. Haji was a constable from the police department who also lived at the ashram and had his meals there. We both stood silently for some time. Then suddenly Haji said to me, "Pandit ji, God does not reside in these temples. He is in Baba and we are only his servants." I praised him in my heart for his firm faith in Baba and went on listening to him quietly. He said, "When I saw Baba on Guru Purnima last year, I was startled. The huge physique of Baba appeared to me like the child Krishna. Rubbing my eyes, I looked at him again and again, and every time his child form was before me. A devotee standing by me was also looking at Baba without blinking. I shook him and asked him what he saw. Without looking at me, he gave a short reply, 'The same— whatever you are seeing.' Again I asked, 'The child Krishna?' Gesturing with his head, he

nodded in agreement." The memory of seeing the child Krishna stayed with Haji. His enthusiasm while narrating the experience was remarkable. -Rajida As a Stranger Devkamta Dixit ji asked Baba about his uncle's idea of holding a bhandara at Chitrakut. Baba gave his consent for the auspicious work and asked him to go with his family. Dixit ji asked Baba to grace the occasion with his presence. Baba agreed and said, "At the end of the bhandara, three saints will come. Receive them well." They did not fix the date of the bhandara at that time because Baba had asked Dixit ji to go with the family, whose schedules needed to be consulted. Keeping in mind the children's school holidays, they decided to hold the function during Navaratra (the nine days and nights dedicated to the worship of Goddess Durga). Dixit ji could not inform Baba of the date since Baba's whereabouts were unknown, so he left his brother Dr. Dixit at home, thinking that if Baba arrived there, he could then escort him to Chitrakut. Upon his arrival in Chitrakut, Dixit ji met an unknown sadhu who helped him make arrangements for the bhandara, gave good suggestions, and provided all sorts of facilities. After Vijayadashmi, Baba arrived in Kanpur on Ekadashi day and asked Dr. Dixit, "Has the bhandara been done?" Dr. Dixit could not give any definite reply, and Baba himself said, "It is not done yet. It will be held tomorrow." The bhandara was held on Dwadashi, the twelfth day. Baba arrived in time with Dr. Dixit and left after having prasad. The bhandara lasted until evening. Thousands of holy men had prasad. At about 5 p.m. the three saints Baba mentioned arrived. They were well received and fed. Each of them had as much prasad as would satisfy many people. When the feast ended, Dixit ji's uncle remembered the services and help of the unknown

sadhu and wanted to give him a pullover to protect him against the coming winter. Devkamta immediately bought a woolen pullover for him, but when he went to give it to the sadhu, he had disappeared. In the Form of Destiny On a dark evening in Bhumiadhar, 9 November 1962, Brahmachari Baba was warming himself by a fire, outside the temple on the roadside. Maharaj was sitting alone in meditation in his kuti. A thin, weak man with long, matted hair, wearing shabby and tattered clothes, came and sat quietly near Brahmachari ji. His hands and feet were both twisted. Brahmachari was looking at him, taking in every detail, when Maharaj came running out shouting, "You have come, you have come," and sat with them by the fire. Since Brahmachari ji was in Baba's service, he got up and stood beside him. Baba asked the visitor, "Where have you come from and where are you going?" He replied, "I have come from Pilibhit and am going to Meerut." Brahmachari ji wondered to himself why he had come to Bhumiadhar instead of going directly from Pilibhit to Meerut. Just then Baba asked, "What is the purpose?" He said, "Lal Bahadur Shastri is to be made the prime minister." Hearing this, Brahmachari was surprised, for there was no question of making Shastri prime minister in the lifetime of Jawahar Lal Nehru. Baba then enquired about his devotees one by one. The first question Baba asked was about Brahmachari ji, who was standing by him. The man said, "Brahmachari is the guru of sadhus." After many questions like that one, Baba asked about Tularam Sah saying, "He is lying sick in Ramsay Hospital, what about him?" With a heavy heart he said, "It is not good that you save everyone. He will certainly die on the seventh day from today." Baba at once got up and returned to his kuti. The stranger also went on his way and disappeared at once. On the seventh day after this incident, 16 November 1962, Tularam passed away. The sadhu did not mention a timeframe for Shastri ji, but he became prime minister after a year and a half.

A Glimpse of Ram Durbar Baba was sitting at Hanumangarh, absorbed in the recitation of the Ramayana. Many women devotees were also sitting there with their eyes closed, engrossed in the melodious recitation. A five-year-old girl was sitting in front of Baba, looking at him without blinking, while the chapter called Uttarkand was being read. She clearly saw the details of Ram's coronation playing like a film on Baba's chest. At the part of the story where it says, "First of all, the saint Vashistha marked Ram's forehead with vermilion and then permitted all the Brahmins to do so," Ram's image was obscured by the arrival of the saint Vashistha and all the other Brahmins who stood up to bless Ram. The girl cried out in anguish. Everyone looked at her. Baba at once picked her up, put her on his lap, and soothed her. Later, while the women were going home, they asked her why she had cried out so loudly. She did not understand the singing but told them in detail what she had seen on Baba's chest. She told them she had cried because a sadhu with a long beard and jata (matted hair) and some others had stood in front of Ram, so she was not longer able to see his beautiful face.

In the Form of Hanuman One day in Kainchi ashram, Baba asked Shiv Narayan Tiwari of Unnao to read from the Ramayana. Tiwari ji asked, "Baba, from where shall I start?" Baba gave a spontaneous reply, "Read from where I said to Vibhashana...." With these words, he revealed his reality. As soon as Tiwari ji began reading from the line, "Vibhashana, listen to the ways of Lord Ram, he always loves those who serve him," Baba was overwhelmed with emotion. Unable to restrain himself, Baba got up and taking Sudhir Mukerjee's hand, left the place. Baba's hand became so heavy that Mukerjee could not bear the weight. He was afraid that he would lose his balance and fall. Arriving at the entrance to the Shiva temple, Baba rested his hands on the ground and bent down on his knees and toes, but he did not let go of Mukerjee's hand. The pressure was so intense that it began to stop the circulation. Gradually Baba's appearance changed—his face became red and his body was covered by light brown hair. Mukurjee Dada was very frightened. Freeing his hand from Baba, he ran towards the forest and lay there unconscious for a few hours. Baba had attained the form of Hanuman, and he also disappeared from Kainchi. A thorough search was made for Baba, but he could not be found. When Mukerjee came back to the ashram, people asked questions to which he had no answers. Meanwhile, Baba appeared on a roadside parapet outside the ashram in his usual form, and people had his darshan there.

In the Form of Lord Ram Devi Dutt Joshi used to go to Hanumangarh to visit Baba. One morning as he met Baba coming down the stairs, he looked up startled. He saw Lord Ram with a bow and arrow instead of Baba. The scene changed in a moment, and he saw Baba again, smiling at him. This incident made a big impression on him, and he cried out, "I now know the reality. You are Ram. I will disclose this secret to everyone." Baba put his finger to his lips, indicating that he should keep quiet, but he did not pay any attention to Baba and continued shouting. This incident completely changed his life. He became very detached from the world and acquired a joyous radiance. He spent his days singing devotional songs to Baba and remained blissful up to the last moments of his life.

In the Form of Mother The Gayatri Yagna was being performed for one month at Kainchi ashram. At the time the puja was to be completed, I saw Manohar Pant kneeling at the feet of Maharaj in the upper room of Vishnu kuti, crying with emotion, "Ma, Ma." I could not understand why he was calling Maharaj, Ma. Going nearer, I saw tears flowing from Pant's eyes. Maharaj was standing like a statue, wearing a blanket, and also shedding tears. This lasted for about ten minutes. After this, Pant became unconscious for a few moments and fell onto Baba's feet. He later told me that Baba gave him darshan of Divine Mother. -Rajida

In the Guise of Two Bulls Baba ordered a small murti of Hanuman ji to be installed before starting construction work at Hanumangarh, but all efforts to install the murti on the unstable Manora hill proved unsuccessful. One night Pooran Chandra Joshi and some others were there until late. Everyone was afraid, for it was said that ghosts haunted the hill. Suddenly two bulls appeared out of the darkness. Seen in the dim lantern light, one was black and the other was white. They came up to the murti of Hanuman ji and bowed before it. Everyone was filled with fear, but within moments the bulls disappeared. After that, the installation of the murti became easy. The next day when Baba arrived, the devotees told him about the experience of the previous night. Baba simply said, "You should have performed their aarti. They were siddhas [elevated souls] who had come to have darshan."

A Change of Dress I once went with Maharaj to his village of Akbarpur. When we entered the village, I found that Baba's mode of dress had altogether changed while we were walking. He was wearing a dhoti, kurta (loose-fitting shirt), turban, and shoes. The sight startled me. After meeting people, Baba decided to leave. As we came out of the village, his clothes turned into a dhoti and blanket, as before. Baba never openly showed a marvel, so I took this incident as a sign of his special blessing on me. Keeping his views on publicity in mind, I concealed this experience from people. -Jeevan Chandra, Haldwani

A Treat For the Dogs During the time that Hanumanghar was under construction, the owner of Bijnor Sugar Mills, Seth Kundan Lal, came with Trilokinath Brijbal of Mathura for Baba's darshan. Baba was in deep meditation, and the devotees around him were singing devotional songs. When Baba started talking to the visitors, Seth Kundan Lal invited him to his house for a meal. When Baba accepted his invitation, Kundan Lal asked Baba what he would like to eat. Baba said, "Missi roti [bread made from wheat and chick pea flour] and dal [lentil soup]." Kundan Lal did not like Baba's choice, so he said, "I will get malpua [sweet fried bread] and kheer [rice pudding] prepared. Please come tomorrow." Baba said, "Okay. Get malpua and kheer prepared. Dogs will be fed. Now go, it is late." The next day Kundan Lal got malpua and kheer made in large quantities and invited many people for the occasion. It was raining heavily, and the car that he sent to collect Baba broke down on the way. When it finally arrived, Baba could not be found. All the people in Kundan Lal's house were waiting for Baba. Meanwhile two dogs got into the kitchen and proceeded to eat the malpua and kheer.

Protection From Accidents One day I was very busy at work. By the time I got home, it was about 8 p.m. I took off my shoes and immediately lay down on my bed. I was too tired even to eat. Then my servant came to me and told me that Baba had arrived. I left my bed, welcomed him, and became busy attending to him. After dinner, at about 10 p.m., I gave Baba a takhat to sleep on, and I myself slept near him on the floor. About half an hour passed when he woke me up after having hardly taken a nap. He asked me to get the car out of the garage. My body and mind were so lax from tiredness that they were hardly under my control. In a state of drowsiness, I asked him, "Where do you want to go?" He expressed his desire to go to Kainchi. I suggested that we go in the morning, but Baba did not agree. With great difficulty I got the car out of the garage. I could not rely on myself at that time, and there was every possibility of having an accident. I drove barefoot because I never sat with Baba with my shoes on. On the way the drowsier I felt, the more cautiously I drove. In this way the car passed Haldwani and the hill journey began. I lost all courage, and we had several close calls on the bends. When we reached Bhumiadhar, I wanted to ask Baba to take some rest for a few hours, but I could not utter a single word. After passing Bhumiadhar, sleep and tiredness made me helpless. I rested my head on the steering wheel and slept soundly. Kainchi is about twelve kilometers from Bhumiadhar, on a difficult road through the hills, with many turns and culverts on the way. I was not aware of passing through Bhowali. At the entrance to Kainchi temple, Baba woke me up with a violent jerk and said, "You are sleeping." I woke up and raised my head from the steering wheel. Being frightened, I suddenly applied the brakes. I was stunned to see the gate of the ashram. In fact Baba had

been driving the car all through the journey, for it was not at all possible for me to drive under those circumstances. -Yogendra Prakash Goel, Bareilly A Train Stopped For a Devotee My uncle was traveling from Kathgodam to Lucknow by train and Baba was seated in the compartment next to his. At the Bhojipura station, my uncle went to Baba to talk to him. When the train was scheduled to depart, the engine hooted several times and the guard showed the green light, but the train did not move. My uncle told Baba about it and asked him the reason for the delay. Baba said, "I have asked a devotee to meet me here. He is coming, running." About five minutes later a man arrived looking for Baba. He touched Baba's feet, and Baba whispered something to him, blessed him, and sent him away. Then the train moved on. -Rajida

The Protection of a Devotee A bus driver from Nainital named Nar Singh came to Kainchi to meet Baba and remained with him for the day. It was past eleven at night when Baba permitted him to leave. He did not like the idea of walking the nineteen kilometers back to Nainital along the road, so he decided to take the route through the forest, which was only eight kilometers. He was afraid of going through the forest alone on a dark night, but he left anyway, taking long brisk steps. After some distance he saw a black dog following him. He was frightened, thinking that the dog might come from behind and bite him. Nonetheless, he continued going forward, every now and then glancing at the dog. He had forgotten all about his fears of going through the forest, and his attention was concentrated on the dog. The dog maintained a certain distance from him but followed him all the way. Reaching Nainital, he turned to see the dog again, but it had disappeared. The next day when he arrived in Kainchi for darshan, Baba said without any prompting, "That was a dog. You were unnecessarily scared. Bhairav [an aspect of Shiva] rides a dog. He had come to protect you."

Control Over Motor Cars Maharaj generally did not sit in the backseat of a car or jeep. He always took the front seat by the driver and saved the car from accidents, kept the engine going, and when necessary, made up for any shortage of petrol. Habibulla Khan, Baba's driver, said that Baba always liked to be driven at high speed—90 to 100 kilometers per hour or more. He took Baba all around the country, but he never had any accidents, flat tires, or mechanical problems, nor was he ever stranded by running out of petrol.

Baba's Control of the Movement of Trains When in Neeb Karori, Baba often arrived at the train station after the scheduled time of departure, yet the train never left until he boarded. At times Baba would intentionally delay going to the station, causing anxiety to the people accompanying him. Nevertheless, on arrival, they would find that the train was running behind schedule. Devotees also noticed that Baba's compartment would stop just next to where he stood on the platform and that there was always room for him. The experienced porters would suggest better places for him to stand and wait for the train, but Baba never paid any attention to their suggestions. Driving On Water Baba wanted to go from Vrindaban to Delhi. It had been raining continuously for many days, and Ramanand, the driver, said, "I was taking Baba by jeep. In one particular place on Mathura Road, so much water had accumulated that it had formed a river. The vehicles coming from Delhi were turning back as well, but he did not listen to me and said, 'Drive through this river.' I became concerned and told him that the water would fill the engine, and then we would be stuck in the middle. Baba said, 'You close your eyes and drive.' I had to obey his command. The jeep moved across on the surface of the water and we crossed it. I was very surprised."