We had a life-size photograph of Baba in our house. Just a few days before Baba’s Mahasamadhi, my mother noticed that Baba’s face in the picture appeared drawn as if He were unwell. She immediately remarked, “Baba is not keeping well.” This photograph held special significance as a representation of Baba in our home.
Meanwhile, in Delhi, Captain Hatangdi experienced a similar connection with Baba. Mrs. Hatangdi had a small silver lamp that she lit before Baba’s photograph on her altar. The lamp was quite small and didn’t hold enough ghee to burn for long, so the flame typically extinguished after about an hour. However, on the 7th of August, 1961, she felt an inner prompting to keep the flame burning continuously. She added ghee at intervals to ensure the flame didn’t go out. Not only that, but she also gathered all the flowers from their garden and beautifully decorated the altar—something she had never done before. When Captain Hatangdi returned home from work, he asked why she had taken this unusual action. His wife replied that she simply felt compelled to do so. Although initially disapproving, Captain Hatangdi eventually joined her in adding ghee at regular intervals to keep the silver lamp burning. The next morning, they received a telephone call informing them that Baba had taken Mahasamadhi at 10:43 AM. Despite being far away in Delhi, their connection with Baba remained strong.
In a similar incident, a doctor received an intimation from Baba about His Mahasamadhi. I believe his name was Dr. Pandlaskar or Dr. Plasekar. He and his family were devotees of Baba and often visited Ganeshpuri. On the 8th of August, 1961, his son woke up earlier than usual and began behaving very strangely. Speaking with an unusual accent and using expressions far beyond his years, he addressed his parents as if he were an elderly person. He said, “Go to Ganeshpuri immediately. Baba is leaving today. The Rishi Mandal has called Him, saying He is needed to protect the world from the evil effects of the eight-planet conjunction.” Interestingly, in February 1962, eight planets were indeed set to align in Capricorn, a rare conjunction believed to bring disaster to the Earth. The young boy had no way of knowing this, nor that Baba was about to take Mahasamadhi.
Engineer Hegde also had a profound experience. While sitting in his office, deeply engrossed in his work, he suddenly saw Baba manifest before him and heard Him say, “Come immediately.” Without hesitation, Mr. Hegde left his office, picked up his wife and children, and headed to Ganeshpuri. It was as if Bhagavan wished for him to be present at the time of His Mahasamadhi.
About a year earlier, in 1960, Bhagavan Nityananda called Shri Vamanrao Khalkar and instructed him to go to Kanhangad immediately and build a Gopur on top of the hill where the Kanhangad Ashram is situated. Shri Khalkar departed without delay, uncertain how he would accomplish this task or where he would find the necessary funds. In those days, travel to Kanhangad was by sea. Upon disembarking from the ship, a man approached Shri Khalkar and asked for his name. When Shri Khalkar identified himself, the man said, “Swami Nityananda told me in a dream that someone named Khalkar would arrive by ship, and I was to assist him.” When Shri Khalkar explained his mission, the devotee offered to provide all the wooden beams needed for the Gopur and any additional funds required. Reassured, Shri Khalkar proceeded to Kanhangad and sought permission from Shree Swami Janananda to begin construction. As promised, the devotee provided everything needed for the Gopur’s construction.
Once the work was completed, Shri Khalkar approached Shree Swami Janananda to request permission to return to Mumbai and inform Bhagavan Nityananda of the task’s completion. Swamiji requested Vamanrao not to return and inform Bhagavan, but Shri Khalkar insisted on delivering the news personally. Upon his return to Ganeshpuri, he informed Bhagavan that the Gopur was completed and ready. Bhagavan expressed His satisfaction.
Swami Janananda knew that once the Gopur was built, Bhagavan would take Mahasamadhi. Bhagavan had told my father, “When ‘the crown’ (Gopur) is placed on the hill (Kota), ‘This One’ will drop the body!” This Gopur, which is an octagonal Bhajan Hall, now stands like a crown on the Ashram hill.
