Maharaj

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.