In the summer of 1970, Yogiji Maharaj was in London. Only after
repeated insistance from the local devotees had he agreed to spend
time in England for his spiritual mission. One day, while he was
preparing to retire to bed, Mr. Meghani, a devotee, asked, "Swamiji,
you often bless our homes by visiting them and scattering rose petals
but it would be wonderful if some day you show us your home."
The whole room pricked to attention, awaiting Swamiji's reply. Yogiji
Maharaj smiled and said one of his most profound utterances.
"Just as I have shown you the home of Shastriji Maharaj, Pramukh
Swami will reveal my home to you," and he pointed to Pramukh
Swami who was silently present in the room. It was a spiritual riddle
which was not fully understood until the day Yogiji Maharaj retired
from his earthly life, passing his spiritual succession to Pramukh
Swami. In revealing his home, he revealed the person with whom he
was at home and eternally one with.
"Pramukh Swami is the Form of
Shastriji Maharaj."
During his last days on earth, Shastriji Maharaj had revealed, "I
am Yogi and Yogi is I - we are one and the same." Thus, Shastriji
Maharaj pointed towards Yogiji Maharaj as his spiritual successor.
We know that Shastriji Maharaj and Yogiji Maharaj were spiritually
one. On many occasions, Yogiji Maharaj shed light on his spiritual
oneness with Pramukh Swami Maharaj by identifying him with Shastriji
Maharaj. In essence, all the Gunatit sadhus are one and the same.
Once, Yogiji Maharaj told a devotee named Ramanbhai, "Pramukh
Swami is the spiritual successor of Shastriji Maharaj and the leader
of this Sanstha."
A devotee named Ravjibhai of Pij requested Yogiji Maharaj to bless
his home. Yogiji Maharaj said, "Pramukh Swami will bless your
home - he is the form of Shastriji Maharaj."
On 3rd February 1968, Yogiji Maharaj said on the occasion of Vasant
Panchmi festival, "Please perform the 'pujan'(worship) of Pramukh
Swami - in so doing it will amount to having done the 'pujan' of
Shastriji Maharaj and myself."
On May 19th, 1957, Yogiji Maharaj was talking to devotees in Ahmedabad,
"It is indeed great that today Pramukh Swami is residing over
this assembly. He is no other than the form of Shastriji Maharaj."
In 1969, during Pramukh Swami's 48th Birthday Celebrations in Bombay,
Yogiji Maharaj uttered, "Pramukh Swami is very special because
Shastriji Maharaj's love and grace are constantly on him. Shastriji
Maharaj appointed him as President of this great organisation. He
is the form of Shastriji Maharaj. There is not an atom of difference
between them. Develop such divinity in him and obey his commands.
It is our wish to initiate 700 young men as sadhus - this aim will
be fulfilled by Pramukh Swami."
"Pramukh Swami is in My Place."
On many occasions Yogiji Maharaj revealed his eternal oneness with
Pramukh Swami in direct terms.
Once, Pramukh Swami's attendants, Devcharan Swami and Pragat Bhagat,
had both fallen ill. A devotee grabbed the opportunity of washing
and drying Pramukh Swami's clothes). Later, the devotee talked to
Yogiji Maharaj about this. Yogiji Maharaj was very pleased and said,
"You have done a great service. Pramukh Swami is really a great
sadhu and your hands are sanctified by washing his robes. Please
place them on my head so that I too may be blessed."
In 1970, during the course of Yogiji Maharaj's last visit to East
Africa, there was a spiritual assembly in Kampala, Uganda. The local
youth organization played the band in front of Yogiji Maharaj and
pleased him. Pramukh Swami was absent during the performance as
he had gone to visit some devotees' homes in the city. When Pramukh
Swami returned in the evening, Yogiji Maharaj told the youths to
play the band again. "Please make Pramukh Swami happy. If he
is happy, I am also happy."
In this way, Yogiji Maharaj showed his oneness with Pramukh Swami.
In 1970, whilst Yogiji Maharaj was in London, a sadhu showed Yogiji
Maharaj a photograph of Pramukh Swami performing 'puja'. Yogiji
Maharaj was happy to see the photograph and instructed the sadhu,
"Pramukh Swami is my form - keep this photograph in your 'puja'
from today."
Once during the festival of Raksha Bandhan, Yogiji Maharaj said
to a group of youths, "From today onwards, your real mother
and father is Pramukh Swami."
On a few occasions, Yogiji Maharaj prophesied that Pramukh Swami
would become the next spiritual leader.
During the foundation stone laying ceremony of Bhavnagar mandir,
Yogiji Maharaj professed, "This mandir will be completed in
one year from now. Pramukh Swami will perform the image - installation
ceremony." A year later Pramukh Swami performed the rites.
In 1970, during the Diwali-Annakut celebration, all the sadhus in
Gondal requested Yogiji Maharaj to keep Pramukh Swami there. But
Yogiji Maharaj told Pramukh Swami to celebrate the New Year in Sarangpur
and said, "Let Pramukh Swami celebrate the Diwali in Sarangpur
this year. From next year he will surely remain with you in Gondal
to celebrate Diwali."
A few months after this prophetic utterance, Yogiji Maharaj left
this earth and Pramukh Swami, as the spiritual successor, has continued
the tradition of presiding over the Diwali celebrations in Gondal
to the present day.
Once, a Youth Festival was being organised in Gondal. Ishwarcharan
Swami had drafted a letter of invitation for all the guests. Yogiji
Maharaj read the draft and quickly pointed out, "Why haven't
you mentioned that the festival will take place in the presence
of Pramukh Swami?" Unaware of the significance behind Yogiji
Maharaj's words, Pramukh Swami's name was added to the draft. A
few months later Yogiji Maharaj passed away, leaving Pramukh Swami
Maharaj as his successor. And the youth festival that followed was
held in the presence of Pramukh Swami Maharaj. It was then that
everyone realised why Yogiji Maharaj had insisted Pramukh Swami's
name to be included.
On 18th January 1971, just a few days before Yogiji Maharaj left
this earth, he called Harshadbhai Dave, a prominent devotee, and
said to him in Gondal, "Now my body will not remain for long.
Time has come for me to leave this earth."
"But Swamiji, who will lead us and inspire us in Satsang?"
Harshadbhai asked.
"Pramukh Swami is here, isn't he? He will lead you to greater
heights. He will give you more happiness than I ever did. Pramukh
Swami is everything that I am."
What more is there to say about the spiritual oneness of Yogiji
Maharaj and Pramukh Swami?
A single soul dwelling in two different bodies! In the line of succession
of Gunatit sadhus, Pramukh Swami Maharaj is the successor of Yogiji
Maharaj.