MIRACLE AT VARAD
An incident took place in Varad, a village near Surat. An association of devotees have gathered to worship Lord Krishna in Varad on religious day of Agiyarash. All the devotees were deeply griped in Bhajan during that night. Lord Krishna's idol was kept among Bhajan Mandli. To their surprise one Avadhut having long locks of hair like Shiva Jata came among them very silently. It really seemed that Avadhut has exploded his huge Jata to collect all the miseries of the people. His face was enlighten with the power of Yoga, Jyot in his eyes and inherited spirituality. A healthy with good body and height with divine power and light. Avadhut was looking like a true heavenly personality. Bhajan Mandli devotees were thrilled by the vibration power of the Avadhut. They all stood up to pay their homages to Avadhut and requested him to join in Bhajan. Again, Bhajan started with more emphasized action in presence of Avadhut. After sometime, there was sudden question by one of the devotees. He explained that why Lord Krishna never joins them with the effective sound of flute (Morli). The Avadhut saw the eagerness of devotees and replied him with smile "OK" all of you may close your eyes and pray at Lord Krishna I am sure that his majesty will hear your prayer being made from the bottom of heart and Lord Krishna will tune the "Flute Naad".
Accordingly all the devotees closed their eyes and started their prayer "Oh! Krishna Morlidhar we have come to hear the naad of Morli, Oh! God please flute thy Morli."
What happened! All were totally and fully involved in the musical effect of Morli. Super natural tune had Spellbound all the devotees and all forgot their existence.
After couple of hours, the ceased and devotees have opened their eyes. What did they see! Avadhut had disappeared.
All the devotees were surprised and Laxmandas was one of them. He thought that they were lucky to hear the effective and touching musical effect of Lord Krishna's flute with the blessing of Avadhut who has disappeared to their surprise. Laxmandas said, "Good gracious". I was lucky to witness unimaginable Joy i.e. happiness from within Laxmandasji Maharaj was highly impressed by this miracle incident and decided to be disciple of Avadhut.
Laxmandas left the Varad village by the very same moment without anything with him. He decided at the back of his mind that he will sacrifice his life to serve his master Avadhut. But it was an attempt like Shri Rama who wondered in search of Sitaji in the forest. It was a great misery to all that who was Avadhut? Where he had gone? Laxmandas wondered for pretty a long period in search of his beloved master.
Avadhut was a Saint practicing meditation and Yoga, so it was easy to him to appear and disappear as and when he would like to do so. Accordingly, Avadhut was again in Vatodar (Vadodara), then he started his journey to Padra, Umreth, Khambhat, Radhu an ultimately put-up at Nadiad.
Even during those days, Nadiad was surrounded with lakes. There were two lakes on the South side of Nadiad. Oondeval and Malay. It was desert land with few farms between these lakes. Poojabhai Shamaldas Patel whose forefather was Lakha Patel, had a farm in this area. Today this area is known as Lakhawad in Nadiad, Poojabhai was working as a military man in Peshwa's State at Surat. Poojabhai's farm known as Dungikui was rich with the trees of Rayan. Avadhut the son of nature, preferred to stay in the cave of a huge very ancient Rayan tree, away from all the illusion and wordly matter. This was the most suitable place for Mediation and Yoga and he was remaining in Samadhi for the most of his time. His wants and needs were removed totally. It is only with the knowledge of spirit that the faculty of want is annihilated forever. Occasionally, he was visiting nearby village for his food. Soon after getting enough food to satisfy his hunger, he was returning back to his cave. A village man came in the cave of the tree and asked Avadhut, "Where are you coming from Maharaj? May I know your name and caste?" Avadhut laughed towards the short site of the villager and his silly questions. Avadhut replied, "My dear brother, I have come from the House of a God and a Sadhu is free from caste and creed. Even a name is also useless to Sadhu because it create ego and illusion in the human being. But for the sake of convenience you may call me Santram. Then Avadhut closed his eyes and went into the deep mediation.
What a marvelous union of two ideal personality. Sant and Ram which makes Santram. Sant sacrifices himself for the benefit of mankind and Ram, Mahabrahm, Supreme Controller of the nature's creation is the worldly name.
Santram having virtues of both the names was mediating in the cave of huge Rayan tree. He was far away from the intricacy of the world.
One such incident took place that the whole Nadiad was surprised with the glorious power of Mahatma.
One day afternoon few farm labors had come to work in their fields. All of them bow down their head to the Saint in the cave and they forgot the Saint as they all were gripped in their routine work.
As usual one labor came to fetch water from Dungajui (Well). It was his duty to provide drinking water to all the labors working in the field. When he fetched water from the Dungikui, heard a request from Avadhut saying that "Brother, Maharaj would like to take bath, so you may keep the rope to fetch water". However, the labor did not take notice of Avadhut's request and went away with the rope and bucket.
After a long time when he came back to fetch from the Kui, he was astonished to see that Avadhut was taking his bath with his Kamandal as water had come up from the Kui. The Kui was overflowing with water and Avadhut could easily bath with his Kamandal.
It was a wonderful miracle in the eyes of the labor, who left his bucket, rope and ran to his companion to inform about the same. All most all of them rushed to the Kui and bow down their heads to get the blessing of such a super nature saintly person Avadhut.
People from Nadiad and surrounded village came to know the miracle within no time. People were impressed by the miracle and they were coming for Darshan in big crowds everyday. People started to keep their offerings near the cave. They invited Avadhut for dinner and Bhajan. Sometimes he was accepting the invitation but when he was in deep meditation could not hear them at all. But now people were sure that Avadhut was a wonderful heavenly person (Super human).