16. The Last Phase

The beloved Anadimuktas of Shree Hari manifest on earth by the exercise of the Lord's will to liberate 'jeevas' - human beings. They exhibit divine powers for the benefit of devotees and seekers and on accomplishing their mission on the earth, bring the curtain down on their human drama and return to their place of origin- Murti of Maharaj. From the Brahman they come, to the Brahman they return.

Muktaraj had turned 75. We in India celebrate 75th birthday as 'Amrut Varsh' - the year of nectar. The devotees decided to celebrate the 'Amrutvarsh' as Shree Hari Krupavarsha Brahma Yagna. They decided to win Shreeji Maharaj's and Muktaraj's divine pleasure by organizing religious discourses, meditation camp, singing of devotional songs, special discourses, yagnas throughout the year. They had planned everything to the last detail to make the celebrations a grand success. But God had some other plans. It is very difficult to understand the ways of God. Muktaraj had given enough hints of his departure. Before he withdrew himself from public appearances, he had taken some devotees into confidence and expressed his desire to conclude his activities in their midst. But blinded by their love for Muktaraj, the devotees failed to understand the meaning of his words. In fact, in the last phase, he was seen more cheerful, more willing to address the gatherings and showed more interest and greater enthusiasm in the activities of the Mission. Before he shut himself into voluntary 'seclusion', he visited every house in 'Sarvamangal Society', performed 'arti-puja' and showered our Lord's choicest blessings on everybody and increased their spiritual wealth. He had decided not to exclude any soul from receiving God's bliss.

He must have spent four months in 'seclusion'. Then he began to show the external signs of illness. On Saturday, September 15, he entered hospital. He called Leelaben at home and reassured her : "You need not come to hospital. Take care of your health. Rest. I'll be home in a day or two.'' He did not reveal his plans even to his followers who were attending on him. He kept on telling them "Don't worry. I'll bid the illness go in a very short time.'' The followers, with firm faith in his words and their earlier experiences of his illness, thought that this too was being done to allow them to serve him. He would soon recover and offer them the bliss of his company, the grace of his presence and the happiness of serving him for a long time. But slowly he began to drift away from the world of men and went deeper and deeper into the ocean of infinite bliss of God. Severing all ties, lest the prayers and cries of the devotees should obstruct his voyage to the ultimate Reality-Shreeji Maharaj. Turning his face away from the world of senses, Muktaraj was fully awake and conscious inwardly. When Leelaben visited him, he opened his eyes, smiled and once again entered tranquillity, serenity. The restless devotees kept on calling him, praying him but their Guruji, their dearest Muktaraj would not hear them or answer their prayers. The devotees refused to believe their eyes. Muktaraj had decided to use this illness as an excuse to return to 'Dhama'. Therefore, this time he refused to show any signs of recovery. Except for some close devotees, the news of his illness was deliberately kept secret from other disciples. After a brief period of seven days in bed, on Saturday, September 20, 1997 (Samvat 2053, Bhadarva Vad Pancham) at 12.25, with folded arms, Muktaraj silenced his mortal frame by the independent exercise of his will and became the pilgrim of eternity. He withdrew to himself, singing himself the song divine.

The bereaved devotees stood there completely stupefied. They stood there as orphans, perplexed and confused. As their souls in their trouble sank, they thought they had lost everything and now they had nothing to live by or live for. But soon they recalled his ever smiling face and stopped crying. The very breeze brought his divine breath to them. He was deathless. The telephones rang, the T. V. flashed the news, and the newspapers carried the news. People began to pour in and an ocean of humanity began to sing with the voice of uttermost sorrow. Everybody who has come into his contact, came there to have his last glimpse. Everybody knew that the Muktaraj are free from the cycle of birth and death. They are birthless and deathless in the worldly sense of these terms. They continually manifest on earth to fulfil God's mission. Being immortal the Muktaraj are always with us. Thus, the devotees found strength and consolation from within because they could hear his voice speaking to them from their own hearts.

To enable every devotee and believer to have the last 'darshan' of Muktaraj, it was decided to perform the cremation rites on the next day Sept. 21. The entire day of Sept. 20, was spent singing 'akhand dhun' (continuous chanting) through night and the dawn of the next day. The morning brought crowds of devotees.

On Sept. 21 at 9.30 in the morning the last journey began. Muktaraj's 'palkhi' was offered 'arti pujan' and the air ranted with the 'jay ghosh' hailing Maharaj, Bapashree and Muktaraj. The funeral procession left the "Mission' with the devotees chanting 'Dhun'. On the way the 'Palkhi' was received with the citizens of Ahmedabad with tears, flowers, 'abeel', 'gulal', rice and coins. The funeral procession arrived at Narayanghat at 11.30. At 12.06 Muktaraj's mortal body was consigned to flames amidst 'jay ghosh' and sobs of the devotees. There was now complete hush as the last episode of an active life was being enacted. The people were engulfed in the ocean of grief and sorrow. Nobody was ready to believe that Muktaraj had returned to the heavenly abode.

Muktaraj was a pilgrim of eternity and therefore birth and death were just stations on his way. He comes and goes at his own sweet will by the exercise of his independent will. He had come in human shape to bring happiness on earth and allow the devotees to serve him. Now the physical contact was not there but his astral body continued to guide the devotees. He ramains present in his spiritual self; there is no stoppage and never can be stoppage to the all-pervasive self of Mukta. The very next day Muktaraj gave 'darshan' to Pujya Leelaben, asked for water and took some sips. This incident reassured the devotees and inspired them to re-dedicate themselves to his incomplete task and re-call his teachings. They resolved to carry on with greater sense of commitment and vigor.

He had gone away in a purely physical sense. But his divine immortal spirit continues to guide and inspire his beloved devotees. Most of us have experienced and felt his presence. He can never desert us. He breathes in our breath and grants our wishes and answers our prayers. No matter where we walk, he leads us onward. Only the tyranny of senses produces divisions of birth and death.

Muktaraj has brought to us the philosophy of Lord Shri Swaminarayan, as established and explained to him by Pujya Abjibapashri. Muktaraj has given scientific explanation for the fact of the supremacy of Lord Swaminarayan over other 'avtars'- incarnations. Now the spiritual aspirant can easily identify with God and meditate on His Murti and attain 'moksha'. Thus he has helped the devotees’ foster love for God. It is in this spiritual sense that we love to call him a true path finder. When we are surrounded by dangers, seen and unseen, his life continues to guide us by the qualities of courage, generosity, steadfastness, devotion and strength of character. In fact he has taught us the true art of living- the Religion of Man. We shall forever remain indebted to him for showing us the light divine when we were surrounded by the encircling darkness of 'maya' and ignorance. Our true tribute to our Master can be in proportion to our devotion to him and also in proportion to our desire to imbibe his virtues as well as values dear to him. A poet has rightly said: "Worshipping greatness passing by, we ourselves become great.'' We must strive hard to remain worthy of his divine love and grace.

Astu !