The Last Days Before the Mahasamadhi of Bhagavan Nityananda (Part V)
“Bring Me a Pundalik” – The Measure of Nishkama Bhakti
As the days drew closer to Bhagavan Nityananda’s Mahasamadhi, an atmosphere of profound silence enveloped the Bangalorewala Building. Devotees waited outside with folded hands, hoping for a fleeting glimpse of their beloved Baba. Access to His room had become extremely restricted. Those attending upon Him were determined that He should not be disturbed.
Among those longing for one final Darshan was Shri Madhav Hegde.
Unable to obtain permission to enter, he quietly observed the routine of those serving Bhagavan. He noticed that in the early hours of the morning there was a brief interval when the night attendants had retired to rest and the next group had not yet arrived. For a few precious moments, Baba remained alone.
Madhav recognised this as the opportunity he had been praying for.
Across the road from the Bangalorewala Building stood a humble coffee stall. The owner was deeply devoted to Bhagavan and often expressed one simple wish:
“If only Baba would once accept a cup of coffee prepared by these hands, my life would be fulfilled.”
Hearing this, Madhav wrapped a cotton towel around his head like a village vendor and offered to carry the coffee to Bhagavan. The vendor’s eyes filled with joy. With loving care, he prepared the coffee, poured it into a clean cup and saucer, and entrusted it to Madhav as though offering Naivedya to the Lord Himself.
Disguised as the coffee vendor, Madhav quietly entered the Bangalorewala Building.
Bhagavan was sitting alone.
The moment Baba saw him, a gentle smile appeared on His face.
Madhav immediately prostrated before Him and, with trembling hands, poured some coffee into the saucer. Bhagavan accepted a sip—not merely receiving the offering from Madhav, but also acknowledging the devotion of the simple coffee vendor whose heartfelt wish had silently reached Him.
After a few moments of silence, Baba spoke.
His words carried neither complaint nor disappointment. They carried the compassion of a Master who had spent a lifetime watching humanity seek everything except the one thing that truly liberates.
He said,
“Now—Sthira Samadhi. No one seeks Bhakti. Everyone comes with worldly desires. They ask for bungalows, successful businesses, degrees for their children, journeys abroad, wealth and comfort. But no one asks for Nishkama Bhakti.”
Throughout His life, Bhagavan had fulfilled countless prayers. He relieved suffering, healed diseases, protected families, removed obstacles, and transformed lives. Yet His greatest gift was never worldly prosperity. It was the awakening of the heart.
Worldly blessings may improve life for a while.
Bhakti transforms life itself.
Madhav Hegde could no longer contain himself.
With folded hands and tear-filled eyes he pleaded,
“Deva, why don’t You postpone Your decision to take Mahasamadhi?”
Bhagavan looked at him with infinite tenderness and replied,
“Yes… it can be postponed—if you can bring Me a devotee like Bhaktaraj Pundalik. If such a devotee asks Me to remain, I shall stay for as long as he desires.”
Those few words contain one of the profoundest teachings ever given by Bhagavan.
Why did He mention Pundalik?
Why not another great devotee?
Why not Prahlada, Hanuman, or Mirabai?
The answer lies in the unique quality of Pundalik’s devotion.
Why Pundalik?
Bhaktaraj Pundalik was not born a saint.
In his early years he neglected his aged parents, causing them immense sorrow. Through the grace of Sage Kukkut Muni and a profound awakening, he recognised the gravity of his actions. His life underwent a complete transformation.
From that day onward, serving his parents became his worship.
Their comfort became his joy.
Their happiness became his sadhana.
His service purified his heart so completely that his love became entirely free from selfish desire.
Pleased by this extraordinary transformation, Lord Krishna Himself appeared before Pundalik and invited him to accompany Him to Vaikuntha.
For most seekers, this would have been the fulfilment of every spiritual aspiration.
But Pundalik thought not of himself.
His concern was for the countless devotees who had not yet had the Lord’s Darshan.
Instead of rushing to embrace liberation, he requested the Lord to wait until his service to his parents was complete. Placing a brick before Him, he humbly asked the Lord to stand upon it.
The Lord waited.
He continues to wait even today in Pandharpur as Lord Vitthal, standing patiently upon that brick with His hands on His hips, awaiting every devotee who comes with love.
Pundalik did not seek liberation.
He sought only the welfare of others.
That is Nishkama Bhakti.
That is why Bhagavan invoked his name.
Returning to Madhav Hegde, Bhagavan’s words now carried a different meaning.
He was not asking for a famous devotee.
He was asking for one whose love was so utterly free of self-interest that even the Lord would respond to it.
Overwhelmed, Shri Hegde began searching throughout the Bangalorewala Building.
He first asked whether Swami Janananda had arrived from Kanhangad.
“No,” came the reply. “He is still on the way.”
He then asked about Shri Devrai Master.
“He has already attained Kailash.”
In desperation he rushed to Madhav Mama, waking him from sleep and imploring him to come before Baba and pray that He postpone His Mahasamadhi.
Madhav Mama quietly declined.
Next he approached Gulabi Akka of Anand Matha.
She gently asked,
“Did Swami call for me?”
When Hegde answered in the negative, she replied,
“Then I should not interfere.”
No one came.
Heartbroken, Shri Hegde returned to Baba’s room.
Falling at His feet, he cried,
“Swami Deva, no one is willing to come. I alone remain. I offer myself completely. Please accept my prayer and stay.”
Bhagavan smiled.
With infinite compassion He said,
“You are a samsari. Develop Nishkama Bhakti. Cultivate Nishkama Prema towards This One. Then This One will always remain with you. This One will never leave you.”
What a remarkable assurance.
Bhagavan did not say,
“Remain near My body.”
He did not say,
“Come often to Ganeshpuri.”
He did not say,
“Perform great austerities.”
He pointed to only one qualification:
Nishkama Bhakti.
Where desire ends,
the Guru becomes eternal.
Where self-interest dissolves,
the Guru never departs.
In that moment, Shri Hegde realised that Bhagavan was not preparing His devotees for separation.
He was preparing them for an unbroken inner presence.
Shortly thereafter, another attendant entered unexpectedly. Seeing Hegde beside Baba, he angrily struck the saucer from his hand, spilling the coffee onto the floor, and pushed him out of the room.
Bhagavan quietly witnessed the entire scene.
Then, with the same sweetness that had characterised His entire life, He uttered only a few words:
“Mithi… Sab Mithi…”
“Sweet… Everything is sweet.”
That was Shri Madhav Hegde’s final Darshan of Bhagavan Nityananda before His Mahasamadhi.
Years later, whenever he narrated this incident, tears would well up in his eyes.
He would often say,
“I searched everywhere for the devotee Baba was seeking. But perhaps such a devotee had already fulfilled his work centuries ago in the form of Bhaktaraj Pundalik.”
The Journey Continues
As we reflect upon Bhagavan’s final days, a beautiful progression unfolds before us.
In Part I, Bhagavan revealed that true wealth lies not in hidden treasures but in Vairagya.
The Last Days before the Mahasamadhi of Bhagavan Nityananda (Part 1)
In Part II, He assured devotees that His Nitya Darshan would continue beyond the physical body.
The Last Days before the Mahasamadhi of Bhagavan Nityananda (Part 2)
In Part III, He revealed that the Sadguru’s Grace transcends both time and distance.
The Last Days before the Mahasamadhi of Bhagavan Nityananda (Part 3)
In Part IV, He gently lifted His devotees from Saguna Darshan to the awareness of the Nirguna Parabrahma Sadguru.
.The Last Days before the Mahasamadhi of Bhagavan Nityananda (Part 4)
Now, in Part V, He reveals the one qualification that alone binds the Guru forever to the disciple—not ritual, not scholarship, not proximity, but Nishkama Bhakti.
Perhaps this was among Bhagavan’s final and greatest teachings. The Guru does not ask us to become extraordinary. He asks only that we love without bargaining.
For where there is desireless love, there the Guru never departs.
Om Namo Bhagavate Nityanandaya.
