The Wonder Saint of KashmirNand Babh the Omniscient | |
by Justice Janki Nath Bhat & Prithvi Nath Razdan (Mahanoori) | |
Edited by: Prof. Gopi Kishen Muju | |
HomeChapter II Chapter III Chapter IV Chapter V Chapter VI Chapter VII Chapter VIII Chapter IX Chapter X Chapter XI Chapter XII Chapter XIII Chapter XIV Chapter XV Chapter XVI |
Chapter I
My
Experiences
by Justice (Retd.) Janki Nath Bhat
I
shall briefly put down some of my experiences with Babh Ji. I will mention only a few,
otherwise this book will be too big a volume full of such information.
A tall figure clad in thick
clothes, resembling the dress of a police functionary, with a hat on head, long rubber
boots both in summer and winter, a rope tied with his body and held at the other end by
one or two of his disciple-companions and a big 'danda' in hand he could appear on odd
places sometimes muttering, sometimes talking to people enroute. Earlier some people
considered him almost insane, but when later people came to know of his eminence in the
spiritual world they would fall at his feet even on the road side, with utmost respect for
him.
When I saw him for the first
time I got somewhat scared and would try to avoid him. This experience repeated itself
more than once. I was staying in a rented house at Sathoo Barbarshah, Srinagar. He could
occasionally visit my landlady who was a widow and a very pious soul. Whenever he would
come to the house I would hide myself, but later I had the privilege of being one of his
near beloved proteges. On his second or third visit to the lady, he spread a 'waguv' a
grass mat (chattai) in the compound, which was considered to be a bad omen. The poor
landlady got worried about us. Just a few days later my wife fell seriously ill, and was
confined to bed for over six months. She recovered near about "Navreh". In came
babh Ji with three or four men and asked my wife if she had recovered and asked to serve
meals, which was ready because of the auspicious day, with her own hands. Thereafter the
distance between him and our family came to an end. He would stay at our place both in
Srinagar and at Jammu for weeks together and feel very happy and relieved. He only
exhorted me scores of times in writing also that I should not go hither or thither. 'I was
under his banner'. This also had a significance and deep meaning.
I had a weakness for spiritual
people. Our family would also visit another saint who was kind to us. My wife would feel
quite attracted to that holy man. This was not acceptable to Babhji. Babhji always advised
me in so many writings in his own hand as well as verbally that I was under his banner and
I should not go elsewhere. Due to my weakness for saints I once along with my wife went to
a highly placed Muslim friend of mine. He too had a Muslim saint at his place. The saint,
who had a squint eye, was shabbily dressed. As soon as we met him he asked my wife,
"Why have you displeased Nandbabh. Whatever we had was due to his blessings".
This remark of a saint who designated himself as Sub-Inspector in charge of Hazratbal
under Nandbab whom he described as the Defence Minister of India, greatly upset and amazed
us.
Here I would like to add one
more miracle of Nandbabh. Both my wife and me went to see the other saint at Anantnag
where he was staying. But our car, a new one, abruptly stopped near Badhamibagh
contonement and would not move. I suspected the disapproval of Babh for this visit. I
directed the driver to drive us back to our residence, the car went on smoothly without
any trouble. Next day my wife accompanied by another Mahatma went to the saint at
Anantnag. I did not go. In the evening Babhji and me met at a party where he was very
angry why my wife had gone to the saint.
Nandbabh was an eminent
omniscient. He could predict the future of individuals, families, groups, administrators.
Future was clear before his evolved spiritual eye and he would try to help others,
administrators, biggies and even governments.
Wherever he stayed the place
would be thronged by people from all religions and regions. He would view the audience
with a penetrating look and then reading the mind of every one present there come
out with parables, enigmatic aspirations and some times direct or indirect predictions
which would suit one or the other in the audience. He would seldom talk directly but would
go on dictating to anybody present containing answers to many mental queries of the
people sitting there.
Babh's spiritual assets were
inexhaustable and never diminishing. He would grant boons, favours from his spiritual
assets. He was considered the Defence Minister of India. Once he was staying with us at
Jammu where he had come by a taxi. After a few days he abruptly left for Delhi; enroute
the car ran on simple water when its petrol was exhausted (mentioned to me by the taxi
driver) and therefrom to Bombay. In Bombay he went to the International Airport. Indira
Gandhi had left for some foreign country by a plane which developed some trouble after
some time. The plane had to come back and land at Santa Cruz Airport. Babh was seated in a
chair all along till Mrs. Gandhi landed. Then she left by another plane. Babh left the
airport saying that his job was done.
He had named me Hari Singh and
if I did not visit him for some time he would send word through some common source
to complain to Hari Singh (i.e. me) that he had not seen Babh for quite some time and
should see him.
He predicted my elevation to
the Bench at least three years before I became a judge, in fact took me to the room which
I later occupied, telling me that that was my room.
Just a week before the death
of my mother, who died suddenly, he consoled my father that the inevitable has to happen
and he should reconcile. None could understand what he said.
Once Nandbabh was staying with
us at Srinagar. He asked my niece, then a college student, to sit before him on the bed.
Babh wept bitterly and used a language normally used at mourning ceremony. We could not
understand anything, but after three years my niece died at a young age of 21 years in a
far off place leaving behind her a 21 days old infant.
When I became an M.L.A. in
1962 after the declaration of results he immediately went to the Returning Officer's
(D.C.'s) office and sealed all the election files.
Once a serious delivery case
in the family was admitted in the nursing home at 5.a.m. Babh came at 10 a.m. and sat at
our place. He continued to sit till 4.30 p.m. when he asked me to take down that all
worries of Janki Nath Bhat were over and all was well. He kept me busy writing chits all
the day. Immediately after he left, a telephonic call from the nursing home informed me
about a safe delivery.
I once could not go to him for
two or three months. Meanwhile I contacted an eminent saint from outside the State. I had
further commitment with him. When I met the Babh later on he did not up approve of my
taking initiation from a foreigner and disclosed all that had taken place between that
saint and myself with dates. I was astonished.
A certain officer was
prosecuted, and he was, according to all possible calculations, to be convicted very soon.
I requested Babh to save him, stating that I had never asked for any favour except this.
Babh never replied nor looked at the official. Within two weeks the officer was acquitted,
against all expectations.
Babh was interested in a
highly placed government official who had been prosecuted on the charges of corruption. It
was a very serious case. I did not then know the Babh so much, but I was the counsel for
the official. Babh made me write pages after pages; all unintelligible for me, but at the
end made me write that Mr. so & so is honourably acquitted. The allegation against the
officer was that he had used Government marked material in the construction of an annex
(which according to all knowledgeable sources was correct). When the presiding officer
visited the spot, the annexe was demolished in his presence but the government marked
material was found nowhere resulting in an honourable acquittal of the officer against all
calculations and expectations.
Once we were coming back from
Haari Ganiwan a place which Babh frequently visited. Near the Wail bridge over Sindh
river, the road was blocked due to some electric wire having fallen on the road (a rare
phenomenon at such a place). All traffic came to a halt and our car too had to stop. The
highest officer of the Forest Department was also there. (I was then a judge of the High
Court). Babh was seated in the front seat. As soon as the officer saw Babh Ji he fell at
his feet and Babh ji muttered something about some construction. I was almost in charge of
that construction. I got the hint and made a request to the officer about timber for
Babh's residence at Nunar which was under construction. The construction had come to a
halt for want of timber. The officer said that his present job was due to Swami Ji and he
prom- fulfilled.
During the 1965 invasion on
Kashmir by Pakistan Nandbabh spent so many nights in the big compound of Shri Bal Kak
Dhar, a very important Kashmiri Pandit, and lit a fire all the time. One morning when I
went to see him he was muttering something which I could not follow but one thing he said
clearly was that Pakistani forces were going to capture Srinagar airport and he had to
spend nights to avoid any such thing happening. Later it transpired officially that the
Pakistani raiders had made all attempts to capture the Srinagar airport but failed. Again
during that time we were assembled at the residence if Shri K.N. Kaul a close disciple of
Babh Ji. Babh Ji too was present. We had performed a Hawan to ward off the invasion. A
Pakistani jet over the Valley and we grew panicky but Babh assured us nothing could happen
and on the insistence of Mrs. Kaul about our safety Babh remarked "Meine jo likh
diya ab kya ishtam likh doon" meaning "I have already written down, should
I give it on an affidavit."
Once my mother got seriously
ill at Jammu. I sent a letter to Babh Ji requesting him for his blessings. A reply in his
own hand said " Roag moma had, hale and hearty" ( meaning illness is
puzzle, (she) will be hale and hearty ) My mother recovered soon. Later when we called on
his Nunar residence he asked "How is Tekri Dedi now", naming my mother as
Tekri Dedi, who was with me. I said "Tekri Dedi is here to pay her respects to
you", and he smiled.
My son was to be married. On
the day of marriage when the Barat was about to leave thick clouds came over the sky and a
shower of rain as well. I got upset because the bride's side had arranged an open party
for my guests, including some VIPs, where they were to take their meals. But the rains did
not come. Later on I learnt from the bride's people that about the time of arrival of
Barat Babhji came there, looking at the sky said no rain should come as our Barat was
coming. Actually no rains came.
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Sunday, November 29, 2015
The Wonder Saint of Kashmir
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