In 1955 Shri Nathji undertook
the long journey from Mussorie to Bombay in His Standard Car. This was Shri Nathji’s
longest car journey in India. Thus I have coined it – Shrinathji’s Grand Indian
Road Trip. His longest car journey ever was when he toured Western Europe with
Pran Nathji and Mahamateshwariji. He first went to Delhi and from there was
ready for the long journey to Mumbai. This 800 mile journey to Bombay was a
long and tedious one, across dusty roads and wastelands and forests.
People were only too
anxious to explain the route at length, and would salute him as he passed on.
Sometimes Shri Nathji would extend his arm out of the window of the car to pat
the man on his shoulder, or even to give him a tip if he were very poor.
This appeared to be
the main reason for the extended car trip of Shri Nathji, to give his Divine
Grace to as many people as possible, to give a glimpse of himself to strangers
on the road, who he stopped for directions. During this road trip, Shri Nathji
drank whatever water was available from any tap anywhere, or whatever food that
came from any quarters.
Despite such a
delicate digestive system, Shri Nathji managed to eat whatever was available
during the journey. Mateshwari could scarce keep to her diabetic diet and had
to eat the potatoes, which appeared to be the staple diet along with poories,
wherever they went.
It was the first time
that Shri Nathji, Mateshwari, and the children were travelling with only a
driver in the car. In earlier journeys some devotee had always been present in
the car to serve as an attendant. And Shri Nathji had continued to speak to the
devotee for the entire extent of the journey, voicing spiritual revelations of
the highest order.
Now that no devotee
was present, Shri Nathji had the time to occasionally tell a joke or two to the
children or to keep them amused with stories. Most of the time, however, Shri
Nathji would fall asleep in his seat and wake up only when the car had reached
the outskirts of some town. Shri Nathji would sit up in his seat and carefully
observe how the driver would overtake cars or trucks on the road. He would try
to discourage the driver from overtaking. At times he would even ask the driver
to blow the horn to clear the road of camels, sheep, cows or stray dogs. If the
driver appeared to be driving too fast Shri Nathji would always ask him to slow
down. He would ask the driver to scrupulously keep the car to the left hand
side of the road in accordance with the law. Whenever there were signboards
that said, “Keep to the Left”, Shri Nathji would read them out loud to remind
the driver.
The route route which
Shri Nathji took to travel from Delhi to Bombay is shown in the map above. Shri
Nathji took two national Highways. From Delhi to Agra, He traveled by His
famous Grand Trank Road, which till Agra in known as NH – 1. From Agra Shri
Nathji turned right to towards Gwalior on the famous Agra - Mumbai Higway which
is known as NH – 3.
Shri Nathji stopped
for the night at Mathura. He had to find a safe place for Mateshwari and the
children for the night. The manner in which Shri Nathji found lodging places for
the night was nothing short of miraculous.
Shri Nathji would
always ask for the Government Dak Bungalows in every city, which were usually
reserved for the PWD government staff. However, the moment they saw Shri Nathji
they offered him the place for the night.I have given a photo of a typical government guest house/Dak Banga in India in the 1950's
No one in the world
could ever refuse anything that Shri Nathji asked for. Shri Nathji always
blessed the staff and chowkidars of the PWD rest houses as he took leave of
them. Those who were lucky enough to understand him, bowed before him at once.
It was a measure of
Shri Nathji's divinity that all of humanity was forced by its inner instinct to
bow before him. Whether the bow took the shape of a full prostration or
kneeling, or whether it was just a stooping of the shoulders, depended upon the
state of enlightenment of the person before him.
From Mathura Shri
Nathji crossed Agra and Gwalior and reached the town of Shivpuri. Shivpuri area
is famous for its jungle and is heavily forested even now.
Shivpuri is an
ancient town and a sacred place. It was formerly known as Sipri. Its dense
forests were the hunting grounds of the Mughal emperors. Emperor Akbar captured
herds of elephants for his stables from here, while returning from Mandu in
year 1564. It was the summer capital and hunting lodge of the Scindia rulers of
Gwalior. George Castle was built here in 1911 by the Jiyaji Rao Scindia for
tiger shooting by King George V during his visit to India. The forests of
Shivpuri now the Madhav National Park.
Shri Nathji stayed at
a hotel at Shivpuri because the local Dak Bungalow was full. This too had a
divine plan. He met several persons at the hotel who were in need of his
blessings and who received an inner enlightenment from him. Though Shri Nathji
never met them again, yet his blessings were to remain with them forever.
Then Shri Nathji went
to Indore were He wish to give His Darshan to the Maharaja of Indore who was
greatly devoted to Him. As Shri Nathji’s car entered the city of Indore, Shri
Nathji enquired from the people where Maharaja Indore’s Palace was located, and
the people directed him to Shiv Vilas Palace where the Maharaj was residing at
the time.
As Shri Nathji’s car
entered the city of Indore, Shri Nathji enquired from the people where Maharaja
Indore’s Palace was located, and the people directed him to Shiv Vilas Palace
where the Maharaj was residing at the time.
Shri Nathji's car
entered the large palace gates and then drove into the majestic portico, where
the guards asked for his name and business. Shri Nathji told them he had come
to see the Maharaja. The guards took a look at Shri Nathji and sensed the
presence of some Great Personality whom they could not comprehend. Something
told them that he was possibly a greater Maharaja than their own. Little did
they know that he was not an ordinary Maharaja but rather the Emperor of the
world, Shahenshaah Rue Zameen, disguised as Ghulam Rue Zameen, the servant of
the earth.
Maharaja Indore and
his Maharani came down the stairs of their portico and received Shri Nathji.
They touched his feet and led him into their drawing room. The Maharaja and the
Maharani insisted that Shri Nathji and his family stay with them for a few
days. Shri Nathji told them he was en route to Bombay, but agreed to stay for
lunch. 
After leaving Indore
Shri Nathji passed through the city of Mhow, Then Shri Nathji went on to
Dhulia. This was a major stop on the route as it was th intersection of two
major Highways, the Agra – Mumbai
highway, NH6 and Great Eastern Highway, NH6,
Shri NAthji’s devotee, Narayan Lal was a wealthy and influential man of
Dhulia and had spread Shri Nathji's name amongst his friends and relatives. He
had often prayed to Shri Nathji to come and grace the city of Dhulia and to
stay at his home.
However, Shri Nathji
did not stay at Dhulia for even a single day. Nor did he even so much as inform
Narayan Lal of his presence in the city. He did not wish Narayan Lal to think
that he had come to seek any favours from him, now that he had given him a new
life. A photo of NH6 between Dhulia to Nasik is given above.
Shri Nathji spent one
night in Nasik in a hotel where he and the family were able to bathe and change
after the hectic drive of over a week on the dusty roads.
The owner of the
hotel got a mere glimpse of Shri Nathji's divinity and nothing more. Shri
Nathji gave him his blessings as well as the rent for the hotel room.
Nasik is located in
the Western Ghats, on the western edge of the Deccan peninsula on the banks of
the Godavari. Nasik is known for its picturesque surroundings and pleasant
climate.
Nashik is one of the
world's holiest Hindu cities. Kumbh Mela is held here once in 12 years along
with Ujjain, Allahabad and Haridwar in India. Lord Rama along with Lakshmana
and Sita spent 4 months of his exile here. At the same place Lord Laxman, by
the blessing of Lord Rama, cut off the nose of Surpanakha and thus this place
was named as "Nasik"(From Sanskrit word 'Nasika') Sita, was also
abducted by Ravana. A photo of Ram Ghat at Godavari in Nasik is given here. From Nasik.Shri Nathji proceed on the final lap of his
journey to Bombay.
Shri Nathji blessed
the city and populace of Dhulia silently from his seat in the car, and
continued onwards in his journey to Bombay
Shri Nathji returned
back to Mussorie from Mumbai by the same route.
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