SHRI NATHJI & THE HARDENED AGNOSTIC
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From the memoirs of my Father HH Shri Bhola Nathji (1902-1992) who was also lovingly called HH Shri Nathji, and who was a Great Spiritual Luminary of his time.
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In the Picture (to the left) there is a photograph of HH Shri Nathji taken in 1929 when he was about 27 years old, and (to the right) a photograph of the hardened agnostic Mr. R.R. Khanna, M.Sc., the then Registrar of the Lucknow University in Northern India, regarded as one of the best centres of learning in India during the days of the British Raj.
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HH Shri Nathji, who had tamed many a tiger of agnosticism and intellectualism, at a very young age, was about to be confronted by one of the greatest intellectuals and agnostics of his time, Khanna, who was a haughty and arrogant scientist. It was said of him that,as the Registrar of the University, he would even keep Britishers waiting outside his office for hours.
As a matter of fact people called him a 101% Englishman, going one step ahead of the British. He would spend his free time in clubs and ballroom dances and led a typical life of "Eat , Drink and be Merry."
He scoffed at religion and holy men saying:
"These people do not enjoy the things of the material world hoping to enjoy the fruits of Eternal Happiness in the world to come! How pathetic these people are! If there is nothing ahead, they lose the best of this world as well as the world to come!"
The year was 1929 and the place was Mussoorie, a hill station in the Himalayas of Northern India. Khanna was there on his summer vacation.
A Muslim friend of his, Professor Wali Mohammad, told Khanna of HH Shri Nathji, who was also in Mussoorie at the time, and tried to persuade Khanna to meet Shri Nathji.
Khanna said: "Yes, I have seen him walking on the Mall. He is very attractive, very young, and very handsome, and there is always a group of admirers around him. But I am not interested in meeting him. What can he give me? I have been to very old and learned sages in the country and they haven't been able to convince me! I know more about religion than do these holy men! And all it has done is turned me into an agnostic!"
Professor Wali Muhammad said: "I, as a Muslim, have great devotion for Shri Nathji. He goes beyond religion. You are a Hindu, and surely will find something in him.
"All right-- if he cannot give you anything, then, tell me, what will he take from you?"
Khanna was persuaded to meet Shri Nathji and both, he, and the Professor went to see Shri Nathji.
Khanna entered into Shri Nathji's presence in an arrogant manner, removing only his hat, and saying: "I am Khanna!"
Shri Nathji smiled and said: "In the Punjabi language, Khanna also has the meaning of 'being half'! 'Khanni Roti' is half a piece of bread!"
Shri Nathji continued:
"Khannaji! You admit you are half. May God make you complete!"
Thereafter a Divine Glow came over Shri Nathji's face as the outpourings of his heart went out in a shower of Divine Grace towards Khanna in a Divine flow of words that appeared to come from another world.
When Shri Nathji had finished, there was Khanna sitting before him-- with tears streaming down his eyes!!
As Khanna and his professor friend came out of the room, the professor said: "Didn't I tell you Shri Nathji is a very enlightened soul?"
Khanna said: "You told me nothing! An Enlightened Soul is one who was not enlightened at some time. But Nathji is different.He was enlightened from the time he came into the world! He is Ever- Enlightened!
"He is the personification of all that religions preach, he is the personification of Divine Love, he is the personification of all the saints, sages, saviours and avatars that came into this world. To me, He is God Himself!"
Thereafter, when Khanna returned to Lucknow University, the people of the city were stunned at the change in the man. What strange power could have changed a haughty, arrogant, agnostic into such a humble, and devoted believer in a few minutes!!
Khanna became greatly devoted to Shri Nathji and remained devoted to him for over 30 years till the end of his life, declaring to everyone that HH Shri Nathji was none other than God come down in human form once again.
When Khanna died, it was with HH Shri Nathji's photo clasped to his bosom.
====================================================
From the memoirs of my Father HH Shri Bhola Nathji (1902-1992) who was also lovingly called HH Shri Nathji, and who was a Great Spiritual Luminary of his time.
===================================================
In the Picture (to the left) there is a photograph of HH Shri Nathji taken in 1929 when he was about 27 years old, and (to the right) a photograph of the hardened agnostic Mr. R.R. Khanna, M.Sc., the then Registrar of the Lucknow University in Northern India, regarded as one of the best centres of learning in India during the days of the British Raj.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HH Shri Nathji, who had tamed many a tiger of agnosticism and intellectualism, at a very young age, was about to be confronted by one of the greatest intellectuals and agnostics of his time, Khanna, who was a haughty and arrogant scientist. It was said of him that,as the Registrar of the University, he would even keep Britishers waiting outside his office for hours.
As a matter of fact people called him a 101% Englishman, going one step ahead of the British. He would spend his free time in clubs and ballroom dances and led a typical life of "Eat , Drink and be Merry."
He scoffed at religion and holy men saying:
"These people do not enjoy the things of the material world hoping to enjoy the fruits of Eternal Happiness in the world to come! How pathetic these people are! If there is nothing ahead, they lose the best of this world as well as the world to come!"
The year was 1929 and the place was Mussoorie, a hill station in the Himalayas of Northern India. Khanna was there on his summer vacation.
A Muslim friend of his, Professor Wali Mohammad, told Khanna of HH Shri Nathji, who was also in Mussoorie at the time, and tried to persuade Khanna to meet Shri Nathji.
Khanna said: "Yes, I have seen him walking on the Mall. He is very attractive, very young, and very handsome, and there is always a group of admirers around him. But I am not interested in meeting him. What can he give me? I have been to very old and learned sages in the country and they haven't been able to convince me! I know more about religion than do these holy men! And all it has done is turned me into an agnostic!"
Professor Wali Muhammad said: "I, as a Muslim, have great devotion for Shri Nathji. He goes beyond religion. You are a Hindu, and surely will find something in him.
"All right-- if he cannot give you anything, then, tell me, what will he take from you?"
Khanna was persuaded to meet Shri Nathji and both, he, and the Professor went to see Shri Nathji.
Khanna entered into Shri Nathji's presence in an arrogant manner, removing only his hat, and saying: "I am Khanna!"
Shri Nathji smiled and said: "In the Punjabi language, Khanna also has the meaning of 'being half'! 'Khanni Roti' is half a piece of bread!"
Shri Nathji continued:
"Khannaji! You admit you are half. May God make you complete!"
Thereafter a Divine Glow came over Shri Nathji's face as the outpourings of his heart went out in a shower of Divine Grace towards Khanna in a Divine flow of words that appeared to come from another world.
When Shri Nathji had finished, there was Khanna sitting before him-- with tears streaming down his eyes!!
As Khanna and his professor friend came out of the room, the professor said: "Didn't I tell you Shri Nathji is a very enlightened soul?"
Khanna said: "You told me nothing! An Enlightened Soul is one who was not enlightened at some time. But Nathji is different.He was enlightened from the time he came into the world! He is Ever- Enlightened!
"He is the personification of all that religions preach, he is the personification of Divine Love, he is the personification of all the saints, sages, saviours and avatars that came into this world. To me, He is God Himself!"
Thereafter, when Khanna returned to Lucknow University, the people of the city were stunned at the change in the man. What strange power could have changed a haughty, arrogant, agnostic into such a humble, and devoted believer in a few minutes!!
Khanna became greatly devoted to Shri Nathji and remained devoted to him for over 30 years till the end of his life, declaring to everyone that HH Shri Nathji was none other than God come down in human form once again.
When Khanna died, it was with HH Shri Nathji's photo clasped to his bosom.
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