I tell of a village called Intolu in the Kanam region. A good devotee of the Kanbi caste, known as Jijibhai. He was foremost in satsang, with great love for Hari, having taken firm refuge, offering body, mind and wealth. When his lifespan ran out, the end of his body came; Bhagwan came to fetch him, knowing him his own devotee. With his own companions, many great sadhus, Maharaj arrived seated in a golden chariot.
The Imperishable One came at midnight, and great light filled the village. A Brahmin devotee, Bapubhai, had the chariot stopped in his courtyard. He awoke and fell at Bapuji's feet -- the Lord could not be satisfied gazing at him. He said, "Today I am fulfilled, you have come to my home, Maharaj." "Now be pleased and stay, O Lord," he said, standing with joined hands.
Then Maharaj said, "We have come for Jijibhai's sake. We shall take him away today, believe this truly, Bapubhai." Bapubhai then said, "How can we say -- leave him behind? But in satsang there is no one else like him to teach a lesson to others." Then Hari said, "We will not take him -- we shall instead take his bullocks."
Then Bapu, the devotee, said, "Lord, what merit has he done for this?" Shri Hari said, "He had yoked those bullocks to a cart carrying food for the sadhus. So we shall take him today," saying this Maharaj departed. Then at that moment Bapubhai went to Jijibhai's side.
He said, "Just now Nath came here, with many sadhus accompanying Hari. They had come to take you, but they left you at my word. But if this is true, it will show -- your bullocks will have died alongside." Then he lit a lamp and went to look -- and indeed, the bullocks had no life left in them.
Then everyone was called together and told what had been seen with their own eyes. Hearing this they were astonished, and said "Blessed is the Swami," bowing their heads. They said, "This is a great miracle." "What greater miracle than this could there be? Consider it, all of you, in your hearts." I tell you another account -- listen, all of you.
In the Kanam region, in the village of Mangrol, there was a Kanbi devotee named Bechar. He farmed for his livelihood, chanting the name of Swami Shri Maharaj. He kept his vows, with devotion to the sacred image, and would not put his mind to farm work.
Then the government had him called and said, "Pay us the revenue you owe." Saying this they detained him at once; he had no means from which to pay. Two days passed while he sat there, and he was given neither water nor food.
Then Bechar thought: "How, O Lord, will you get me through this? My only strength is you; without you I have no recourse." As he said this, Maharaj arrived to free his devotee. Seeing him, the wicked officials became afraid and fled from the assembly; the chains were broken and Hari departed, taking with him all his household, and delivered him to where another's rule prevailed. Everyone was left dumbfounded, watching; none could follow after.
Having done this uncommon deed, Maharaj then departed from there. I tell one more good story, hear it, it is wondrous.
In Kanam there is a village called Karali, where many devotees live, with boundless love and affection. There, many miracles have occurred -- how many shall I recount? At the time of death people leave their bodies, and Bhagwan comes to fetch them, riding chariots, carriages, vimanas and horses, joyfully. Such miracles occur by the lakh; I tell only a few.
But listen to one more account. There was a Patidar named Nanabhai who fell gravely ill. He gave up eating, drinking, water and food; many days passed for him. Whoever came to see him had no hope for his survival.
Then one day his pulse and breath stopped entirely. Then his relatives, gathered there, said again and again, "Take him out, take him out." They got ready with everything needed -- then Shri Maharaj arrived. He brought chariots, carriages and a vimana, and came accompanied by sadhus, the Lord himself.
Everyone present had darshan; none remained without darshan. Seeing this, people were overjoyed and said, "Welcome, Bhagwan has come." Then Shri Maharaj said, "We have come for Nanabhai's sake -- we had intended to take him with us, but we shall leave him."
Then he said to Nana, "We shall not take you today. So now take food and water, and happily say 'Swaminarayan'." Saying this, Bhagwan departed, the Life of the World, having revived his devotee. Seeing this, everyone was astonished, and men and women said, "This is indeed a great matter. What greater miracle than this could there be? Consider it, all of you, in your hearts."
I tell you one more account -- listen to the exceptional power of Hari. There was a devotee, a young boy named Jethiyo. The time of his body's end had come; he became ill and stopped speaking, and those opposed to Hari, seeing him, said, "A ghost has possessed him -- why are you standing here watching, run for a healer!"
Then his father said, "Do not speak such things. Whether he lives or dies is not in your hands, but one should not go to an exorcist. Whatever pleases Hari will happen -- why doubt it?"
They did not heed this at all -- and then Bhagwan arrived. There was a devotee woman there, and he gave her darshan. The woman fell at his feet with joined hands and said, "Where have you come from, Lord?" The Lord said, "We have come today to take Jethiyo away. But we shall leave him today; go and tell him this. We give you this token for him -- vermilion, uncommon, we gave.
Go and apply this as a mark on his forehead, taking the name of Swaminarayan. The boy will sit up and speak," saying this the Merciful One departed.
Then the woman came to him and said, "Bhagwan came to me; he gave me vermilion to apply as a mark, and said Jethiyo would not die. The Lord came in person and told me all this." Everyone hearing this was astonished, and said, "Blessed, blessed is the Lord."
Seeing the uncommon vermilion, immediately Jethiyo sat up. When the account was told to the devotees, this was recognized as a miracle.
Listen to another uncommon story, all of you, in bliss. In this same country there is a village called Runu, where a yogi named Prabhatgir lived. Everyone knew him as a great siddha, renowned among ruler and subjects. Hearing the account of the sadhus, he came to know Swami as the one who effects liberation.
Then, abandoning the ways of a sannyasi, he formed love for the manifest Lord. As many days passed thus, in due time he came to give up his body. Then Maharaj came to fetch him, bringing many vimanas for the ascetic's sake. He came and placed a garland around his neck, gave him a saffron cord, and said, "Be ready."
Then the ascetic sat in the vimana, and Bhagwan himself departed, taking him. The garland and cord that had been given remained, manifest, around his neck. Seeing this everyone was astonished, and said, "Take this cord and garland with you as evidence. This is indeed a great uncommon matter," said the gathered people.
This is the great power of Maharaj, of Swami Sahajanandji. Such miracles occur again and again -- Nishkulanand cannot write them all.
Thus ends the one hundred and fiftieth chapter of the Bhaktachintamani, describing the miracles of Shri Ji Maharaj toward his devotees.