Who Ram Baba is has already been explained in an earlier article. When we reached Gangotri, we stayed there overnight and decided that the next day we would proceed to Gomukh. The onward path was extremely difficult. Gomukh is thirteen kilometers from Gangotri. Horses were arranged, and the journey continued.
The path to Gomukh is extremely dangerous. It increases awareness of mortality because death seems visibly close at every step. A narrow trail of barely five to ten feet exists: on one side are towering mountains, and on the other, a deep valley with the roaring Bhagirathi River flowing below. The same path is used by horses, pilgrims, palanquins, and porters. Wild sambar deer roam the slopes, and stones often tumble down due to their movement. Weather can cause sudden landslides.
The horses walk not along the mountainside but along the very edge of the valley, making the ride even more frightening. Walking on foot is equally difficult due to steep climbs, sharp descents, and twisting pathways that cause severe cramps. At the age of 65, Narendra Nath Maharaj was undertaking this intense journey.
We left for Gomukh at 10 AM. By 5 PM, we reached Bhojbasa, the stop just before Gomukh. The OTDC rest house was the only available accommodation, but due to heavy crowding, no rooms were available. Returning to Gangotri was impossible. The temperature was below 10°C, and it often snowed at night. Where to stay and what to do became a serious concern.
By God's grace, a local sadhu voluntarily approached us and arranged shelter in a storeroom where bedding and blankets were kept. After refreshing ourselves, we decided to perform the evening upasana at the riverbank. Everyone sat separately on different rocks and began their practice. A sadhu near a distant hut was observing everything.
Halfway through the upasana, something unusual occurred: the flow of the river suddenly changed. A splash of icy water rose from the flowing Ganga and sprinkled directly onto the heads and eyes of each person sitting on separate rocks. This astonished the watching sadhu.
Earlier at Konark, the sea had risen and touched Maharaj’s feet, making half his body wet. But here, the water was glacial — freezing cold. If everyone had become drenched, survival would have been impossible. Sensing this, Narendra Nath Maharaj prayed:
*“O Mother Ganga, if we become completely wet, we will not survive the cold. Grant your blessing, but keep us safe.”*
And so, only a few drops reached our eyes and heads — a divine sign, a blessing, and reassurance.
After upasana, we ate dinner and prepared for sleep. The temperature had dropped drastically. Even with four layers of warm clothing, the cold was unbearable. Yet the room provided to us was unusually warm due to the thick bedding stored there.
After some time, the sadhu entered the room, bowed to Maharaj, and said:
*“Maharajji, I am Ram Baba, disciple of Lal Baba. I have lived in Gomukh for 45 years. For eight months, when no person is allowed to stay here, I remain alone in my cave. When my Guru was alive, all the gods used to reside here. After human movement increased, the deities moved deeper toward Nandanvan. Since then, I have not had darshan of the gods. But according to my Guru’s prophecy, if I come with you to Gomukh tomorrow, I will again receive darshan of all the gods — through your grace. I want to accompany you.”*
Narendra Nath Maharaj replied:
*“You are mistaken. We are city-dwellers. We like money. We are attached to women and cannot live without them. I do not understand what you are saying.”*
Ram Baba responded:
*“Maharajji, I have recognized you. My Guru has told me everything about you. You belong to the Nath Panth. By your Guru’s will, you perform a great mission of the Nath tradition.”*
To divert him, Maharaj said: *“We will leave at 5 AM.”* Ram Baba replied: *“I will be ready at 4 AM.”*
At midnight we suddenly felt breathless and rushed outside. Ram Baba was standing there holding a plant that looked like Shatavari. He said:
*“This is Ganga Tulsi. It acts like oxygen. Keep it under your blanket. You will breathe easily.”*
We followed his advice and immediately slept peacefully.
In the morning, when the door opened, Ram Baba was already outside: *“I have been waiting since 4 AM.”*
A horseman arrived saying all horses had run away during the night. Maharaj said: *“We cannot walk. If horses are arranged, we can go.”* Ram Baba personally arranged horses for all of us.
We began the ride toward Gomukh — 3 km from Bhojbasa. Ram Baba walked on foot. Narendra Nath Maharaj thought: *“We will reach quickly, take darshan, and return. We will meet Ram Baba on the way back.”* But to our surprise, Ram Baba reached half an hour before us.
After some distance, everyone sat on a large rock for upasana. Ram Baba sat right behind Maharaj. The moment upasana ended, Ram Baba got up, bowed fully at Maharaj’s feet, and said:
*“Forty years ago, we saw Mahadev, Ganeshji, Durga Mata and many divine beings. Today, exactly the same darshan occurred again. Everything my Guru told me has come true. Because I came with you, I received direct divine darshan. My Guru has given me this blessing through you.”*
He again prostrated fully. We then returned to our shelter.