Incomparable is the region of Idar, and blessed, blessed is Todla village, blessed the Brahmin caste in which a desireless devotee was born. A yogi from a previous birth, exceedingly beloved in the Lord's company, manifest together with the Lord — a true devotee named Khushal. Perfected through disciplines of self-control and restraint, complete in austerity and renunciation of body, knowing the eightfold yoga, fully accomplished and pure. In childhood he cared for nothing else, having not the slightest inclination toward it; he showed complete indifference upon seeing the five sense-objects.
Such was the true devotee Khushal, to whom worldly ways never appealed. In childhood he was absorbed in worship, caring for nothing else in his mind. As time passed, satsang came to him, and its color rose exceedingly in his heart. True intoxication came into his being, unable to be removed by anyone. He meditated on Maharaj constantly, his love for the manifest Lord exceedingly deep.
As time passed, a light manifested in his own body. Like crores upon crores of suns, earth and sky were covered with its radiance; within it three great cracks of sound occurred, and people thought the end of the world had come. "This is like the coming of dissolution (pralaya)," they began saying house to house.
This sound and light were witnessed within a radius of six yojanas. Seeing this wonder, people were astonished, and their joy grew, their sorrow lifted. What can be said fully by mouth of the greatness of Shri Maharaj?
Let me tell another day's account, describing it, well known. As he meditated upon Maharaj, he forgot all bodily awareness. His inward vision became unveiled, and he saw the Lord of Randal at night. Its radiance grew intense, and the darkness within him was dispelled.
This too Khushal considered to be by the Lord's greatness. Then, whatever he contemplated at any moment, exactly that would come to be. People understood this as proof, saying, "This is truly a great perfected one." As people came to understand this in their minds, at that same time a drought seized the land.
Then everyone came and fell at his feet: "Bring rain, remove our suffering. Men and animals are suffering greatly, we have come pleading, suffering ourselves." "So, great one, show us mercy, bring the rains and our suffering will end." Hearing the people's plea, Khushal remembered Sarangpani (the Lord).
He prayed with a compassionate mind, and rain came there at once. It rained for three days continuously, like monsoon rain in the height of a dark summer. Then the people came and fell at his feet, saying, "Blessed, blessed, Brahmin king." "There is none like you in the world — Sahajanand is your helper."
The people together accepted this wonder; hear another account now. He himself became a schoolmaster and opened a school, and young children came to study. He taught them a little, and had them worship Hari as well. As the children meditated on Swami, all of them attained states of samadhi.
They spoke of extraordinary things, and all who heard rejoiced. Then Khushal said, "Listen, children, I must go wherever the compassionate one is." Then the children folded their hands: "Nath is coming to fetch you." "Maharaj himself, taking a Brahmin's form, is coming for your sake."
Then the Lord came and they walked together, the Beloved giving them food and water along the way. They came as far as Jetalpur together, and then Nath became invisible. Swami was in Jetalpur, and Khushal beheld the all-knowing one. He told the account of the road, and all the Beloved ones laughed to hear it.
The Lord said, "Having seen the Brahmin — brother, you are exceedingly fortunate. This wonder has occurred for you, know this; do not entertain any other thought." Then the Brahmin said, "Maharaj, I have come to study." The Lord said, "Very good — this pleases me greatly."
Then Khushal remained among the sadhus, and once went to Vadodara. There many satsangis lived, all worshipping Swami. There was a Brahmin named Sadashiv, who honored Khushal always: "Come and eat at my home always — Shri Maharaj's grace is upon me.
"As long as you stay here, do not eat anywhere else." Then Khushal went to eat there, and the Lord came to eat there too. Then Sadashiv brought water, unable to be satisfied looking at Nath. Then a fine plate of food was prepared, and the compassionate one ate with grace.
Sadashiv, and his wife too, saw what others could not see even slightly; but at mealtime everyone knew, for the food would become half of what it was. Whatever vegetables and dishes were on the plate would visibly diminish, seen by all. The water-vessel, whatever its contents, the Lord would drink from it and it would become depleted.
Whatever mouth-freshener was set before him, the Lord would take and half would be eaten and returned. Having eaten it, he would then give a betel nut, and seeing this, men and women were astonished. Thus for a month, day and night, Hari ate together with Khushal continually. Whenever and wherever Khushal ate, there too the Beloved would eat.
The Lord ate always by the devotee's hand — this was through Khushal's own devotion. Thus, meeting Khushal Vipra, the Lord fulfilled many wonders for him.
He had been from the start deeply renounced, exceedingly detached from worldly life. He then took up the path of the disciplined ascetic, renouncing all worldly enjoyments. He took the name Gopalanand, becoming a master of yoga, revered by the world. The compassionate one wandered through every land, giving instruction to seekers.
Maharaj made him one of the greatest, and everyone regarded him as a great muni. One day, taking a group of sadhus, he came again to Vadodara. There the satsangis came upon hearing this, and fell at his feet, bowing repeatedly. "Great is our fortune beyond telling — you have come on the eighth-day festival." "Hold the festival with joy," said the devotees, "and set up the swing."
Then Gopal Swami said, "Very well — whatever pleases Hari will be done." The eighth-day festival then arrived, and all together kept the vow. They set up a swing for Hari's sake, and the manifest Maharaj came and swung upon it. His beautiful, fine form shone, and all who saw it were entranced.
Beholding him, all rejoiced, saying together, "Blessed, blessed." "You have given us extraordinary darshan today, making us fulfilled." Both satsangis and non-satsangis were there, and all saw the manifest one swinging. He swung on the swing for a couple of ghadis, then was seen no more.
All remained astonished, saying, "Blessed, Sahajanand Swami." This wonder was given by Bhagwan himself, through the greatness of Swami Gopalanand.
Let me also tell of another wonder fulfilled for Swami Gopalanand, describing it with reverence. Once the monsoon did not come, and people began to die, causing great turmoil. Search the city as they might, no grain could be found; a famine had fallen, everyone said.
Then all the satsangis gathered together and came to where the assembly of munis was. They sat before Gopal Swami and said, "There is no hope of surviving. Many people are dying in the city, all suffering for lack of food. Even paying money, no grain can be found — tell us how the people can survive.
"So let us offer prayer before the Lord, that we may be saved through rain." Gopal Swami, compassionate, said, "All of you, engage in worship, swan-like ones." They sat in worship for a couple of ghadis, and rain came, thundering loudly. It rained continuously for three days, day and night, in the midst of a dark summer.
Both satsangis and non-satsangis knew this wonder had occurred, all acknowledging it as proof. They fell at Gopal Swami's feet: "Blessed, blessed, lord of munis." Gopal Swami said to them in response, "What has happened is through Shriji's power. Nothing can be accomplished by anyone else — one should not boast falsely and vainly."
Thus how many wonders can I tell that occurred for Gopal Swami? Telling and writing them, there is no end, says Nishkulanand with certainty.