This is the photo of Pandit Ravishankar Shukla. He was instrumental in inviting Shri Nathji to Nagpur. Shukla family had known Nathji ever since His days in Lahore and His visit to Raipur in 1937. Shri Nathji’s visit to Nagpur is mentioned in the Mahagranth - God Incarnate on page 718 – 722 where we can read the details.
Pandit Ravishankar Shukla 2 August 1877, Sagar – 31 December 1956, Delhi) was a leader of the Indian National Congress, Indian independence movement activist, the Premier of the Central Provinces and Berar from 27 April 1946 to 25 January 1950, the first Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh state from 26 January 1950 to 31 October 1956 He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Freedom Movement.
In his remembrance the Pt. Ravishankar Shukla University in Chhattisgarh's was founded in 1964. His wife Smt. Bhawani Devi Shukla was very devoted to Shri Nathji. In 1974 she along with her grand son Ramesh Chandra Shukla, washed Shri Nathji’s feet and drank from the charan-aamrit.
For the grand mother and the grandson the presence of Shri Nathji in the home was like that of Lord Krishna.
When Shri Nathji praised the food laid out for him, the old lady said:
"You ate even the rice of the poor Sudaama, when you were Lord Krishna."
After
Shri Nathji had eaten, the old lady said: "I have one request–please
stay in the house for a few hours more and relax after the meal!"
Shri
Nathji accepted her prayer and rested in the afternoon on a specially
prepared couch in the sitting room. It was the first time Shri Nathji
had ever eaten in anyone’s house and slept for the afternoon in the same
place.
"Send me ahead," said the grandmother who was stooped with the burden of years, "to the other world!"
"Mataji!"
Shri Nathji said, "there is need for you in this world yet. You can
think of leaving when the need is over. It is not for man to determine
whether his work in the world is finished or not. It is for God to
determine this for him!"
The grandmother said to Shri Nathji: "We
wish you would find a suitable girl for Priya Nath–one that would have
all the qualities of Mahamateshwari!"
Shri Nathji’s mode of speech,
his mannerisms and behaviour before elderly ladies was very much like
that of a respectful, doting son. The old lady had tears in her eyes
when Shri Nathji left.
Pandit Ravishakar Shukla had six sons and three daughters. Of all his son's Shri Ambika Charan Shukla was most devoted to Shri Nathji. in 1974 once he was ill, and in bed. So he urged his son Shri Ramesh Chandra Shukla to go and secure the darshan of Shri Nathji, who was in Delhi at the time. The young man was an earnest seeker. He had read about Shri Nathji in Mrs. Bhutt’s book: "Mere Prabhu Darshan ki Anmol Ghariyaan"–"My precious moments of God Realisation."
He thirsted for Shri Nathji’s darshan. But, unfortunately, no means were available for him to reach Delhi. There was an all-India railway strike, and no trains were operating in the country.
Shri Ramesh Chandra Shukla offered a silent prayer to Shri Nathji. And that very day, he was informed that a special aircraft was waiting to take him and his family to Delhi. The plane had been sent by his uncle!
Shri Ramesh Chandra Shukla never forgot this incident. He arrived in Delhi, and prostrated before Shri Nathji. He saw the Divine Being in him and his soul was filled with an inner light. He took Shri Nathji to his uncle’s house in Delhi, where he and his Grandmother served Shri Nathji.
Many months later, Shri Ramesh Chandra Shukla wrote to Shri Nathji:
"I had a strong vision in which I saw a large ocean which appeared to have no shores. There was a ship on the ocean.
“You were the pilot of the ship. You were taking the ship across the ocean of life and death. On the other shore was salvation. The ocean was the Bhavsaagar–the ocean of life and death.
I, along with all the members of my family, were on board the ship. It was much too real a vision to not to come true. May your Kripa and Grace remain with me and my family forever!"
Shri Ramesh Chandra became a staunch devotee of Shri Nathji, though he never met him physically again. His conversion was no small occurrence. He often used to say:
"Whenever I visit sadhus and mahatmas and listen to their discourses, I come away with the feeling that I know more than they do. And if it comes to discussion, I can outdo them with my intellectual knowledge alone. But something within Shri Nathji’s personality gripped my soul. It was an inner realisation that came to me even before I met him. Mrs. Bhutt’s book convinced me he was Saakshaat Bhagwan–God Incarnate!"
His grandfather, Ravi Shankar Shukla, had known Shri Nathji in the early 1940’s. He had gone for Shri Nathji’s darshan to Lahore. Whenever Shri Nathji would visit the areas where Ravi Shankar Shukla resided, his son, Shri Ambika Charan Shukla, would hold the ropes along the decorated route and make way for Shri Nathji amongst the crowds.
Shri Nathji had been attracted by the man’s humility. When Shri Nathji was giving a sermon in Delhi, his brother, Uma Shankar Shukla, who had travelled a large distance for his darshan, stood outside the room in the verandah and listened unobtrusively to Shri Nathji, introducing himself only after the sermon was over.
