In the year 1951 CE (V.S. 2007), Shastriji Maharaj fell ill. One day he said, “I have performed the arti of the murtis for the Gadhada mandir. They will now be ritually consecrated by Yogiji Maharaj. There is not even a slight difference between me and Yogi. I am Yogi, and Yogi is me.”
These were his last words. On 10 May 1951 (Vaishakh sud 4), Shastriji Maharaj passed away to Akshardham. His body was cremated the next day. The devotees were in deep shock. They all thought, “Shastriji Maharaj has gone. Now what will happen to us?” No one knew what to do.
At that time Yogiji Maharaj reassured everyone, “Shastriji Maharaj has not gone. We should never think that Shastriji Maharaj has gone from our midst. Shastriji Maharaj is forever present in Satsang.” Listening to these words of Yogiji Maharaj everyone felt, “Shriji Maharaj was ever present in Shastriji Maharaj, and that same Shriji Maharaj is now manifest in Yogiji Maharaj. Shastriji Maharaj will now bless everyone through Yogiji Maharaj.” All saw Shastriji Maharaj in Yogiji Maharaj. The spiritual eyes of all opened.
Six days after the passing away of Shastriji Maharaj to Akshardham, on 16 May 1951 (Vaishakh sud 10, V.S. 2007), Yogiji Maharaj performed the murti-pratishtha in Gadhada with great joy and festivity. Fifty thousand devotees had assembled to witness the ceremony. Everyone was convinced that, “Shastriji Maharaj is always present in the Satsang.”
The opponents were disappointed. They had thought that as Shastriji Maharaj had reverted to Akshardham, no one would attend the celebrations and that the Akshar Purushottam Sanstha would collapse. But they were amazed by the personality of Yogiji Maharaj. The glory of Akshar Purushottam spread in all directions. It was the beginning of a new era in the presence of Yogiji Maharaj. He captured the hearts of all the devotees, and won their respect and admiration.