Photo of Maharaja Tukojirao Holkar

Maharajadhiraja Raj Rajeshwar Sawai Shri Tukojirao III Holkar XIII Bahadur was the Maharaja Holkar of Indore , son and successor of Shivajirao Holkar who abdicated in his favor on January 31 1903. He reigned under a regency council initially. He was sworn in with all the powers on 6th November 1911 at the age of 21. That same year he attended the coronation of George V of England in London .He founded the Order of Merit of Holkar (February 1914 ) and the Order of Ahilya Holkar (22 November 1920 ).He was knighted in the Order of the Star on January 1 1918.He abdicated in favor of his only son Yashwantrao Holkar II on 26 February 1926 .

Maharaja Tukojirao Holkar, listened to Shri Nathji’s sermon at Railto Theatre Mussoorie. Were he said to Nathji “Such peace can be obtained only from you.” He had first met Shri Nathji in Dehradun in the late 1930’s. He used to visit Shri Nathji when ever he came to Mussoorie. Once the secretary of the Maharaja said to Shri Nathji that the Maharaja is greatly worried and desired peace of mind. Shri Nathji said to the Maharaja, have you come to beg for peace or have you come here to take it for a price. To this the proud Maharaja said that he was a real customer who would buy with earnestness. Shri Nathji said what is the price you are willing to pay for peace. The Maharaja said that at this time he is so much in need of peace that he can even offer his state of Indore to Nathji. Shri Nathji said if the state of Indore is the price for peace of mind then why can’t you get peace of mind in your state of Indore? If a customer goes to a shop he offers a price that is greater then the value of of the thing he buys. How can you buy something which has less value then the think which you wish to buy. Then the Maharaja understood his mistake and said that he has come to beg and not to buy. This eventful meeting of Maharaja Indore with Shri Nathji is mentioned in the Mahagranth - God Incarnate on page 333 – 334 were we can read his story in detail.

Shri Nath ji remembered the Maharaja and once when He was passing through Indore, he personally went to the palace to meet the Maharaja. It is also important to note that, Maharaja Tukojirao Holkar had infect abdicated his kingship in favour of his only son Yashwantrao Holkar II on 26 February 1926. So he actually ruled for a period of just 15 years. This was something quite unusual among Indian royalty were in, the king remains a king for his all his like and a new king is enthroned only after the death of the former king. So when he met Shri Nathji in late 1930’s he was still called the Maharaja of Indore, because of the very fact that he was still a living ruler, even though he had abdicated his rule in favour of his son. So perhaps the Maharaja was indeed so devoid of peace that he left his throne in hope to free himself of the loads of a king and thus attain peace. But he didn’t attained peace till he listened to the sermons of Shri Nathji. Conceivably it seems that he did attained some peace later as he lived for a very long time. He died in Paris on May 21 of 1978 at a grand old age of 88 years.

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Priya Nath Mehta -  Beautiful forey into history of HH Shri Nathji! Blessings and Congratulations!!