After Vyankatesh Nath Maharaj began his spiritual work, disciples and devotees gathered every year at Devgaon Rangari for the annual celebration. Nearly a hundred people were present one year when tensions between Hindus and Muslims were extremely high. The region was under Razak rule, and local administration in Aurangabad district followed the will of the Muslim authorities. Devgaon Rangari was a small village, and during the gathering the local police chief arrived with another officer. He approached Maharaj and declared: “All the Hindus gathered here will be arrested. So many Hindus assembling means there must be anti-government activity. We are taking them into custody.” Maharaj replied calmly, “These people are here only for the festival. Do not trouble any of them. If you think I have done something wrong, arrest me—but do not touch my devotees.”
The officer, filled with malice, ordered, “Handcuff him and take him away.” Maharaj said gently, “I will come on my own. Do not handcuff me.” But the officer insisted. Once outside, he commanded, “Tie him with a rope and drag him to the station. Take him through the village so everyone sees.” Since most of the village population was Muslim, he wanted to impress them and instill fear among the Hindus. Maharaj was tied behind a jeep and dragged through the village. All witnessed this shocking act. At the station, the officer believed he had humiliated a dangerous Hindu leader and weakened Hindu influence.
Maharaj said softly, “I have committed no crime. Release me; it will be better for you.” Blinded by ego, the officer ordered that Maharaj be thrown into the lock-up cage. Maharaj warned, “Think carefully. If you do this, it will be disastrous for you.” The officer shoved him inside and began abusing him. Then Maharaj said quietly, “Within two hours, your wife will die. After she dies, reflect and release me—otherwise greater harm will come.”
Soon a message arrived: “Your wife has suddenly fallen ill.” The officer ignored it. Another message followed: “She has died.” Shocked, he rushed home and saw that she had vomited blood and passed away. Terrified, he returned to the station—only to find the building surrounded by Muslim villagers carrying sticks and rods. They shouted: “He is a fakir! He is Allah’s man! Release him or we will kill you!” Overwhelmed, the officer finally freed Maharaj. Maharaj simply said, “Remember Allah.” The Muslim villagers lifted Maharaj with reverence and took him home. Out of devotion, they sat outside his house and performed namaz before him.
The villagers asked, “What will happen to that officer?” Maharaj replied, “Soon higher officers will come and arrest him. His end will be terrible.” Two days later, senior officers from Aurangabad arrived. After investigation, they declared that he must receive the same punishment he gave Maharaj. They tied him behind a jeep and dragged him across the village. In the very first round he fell, and his body smashed against stones until he died instantly. The officers then visited Maharaj, saying, “When we learned that you are a fakir and Muslims honour you as one close to Allah, we understood why Allah guided us to punish him as he punished you.”
After this event, the villagers’ devotion to Maharaj deepened. Muslims began bringing their problems to him. For days they even left their mosque and offered namaz outside his home. Maharaj instructed them, “Do not do this. Follow your own tradition. Pray in your mosque. You will still receive guidance.” They obeyed.
One early morning, a Muslim man rushed to Maharaj: “My wife’s throat is swollen; she cannot breathe. Please save her.” Maharaj visited their house with a torch and said, “Make her gargle with warm water. I will come in the morning.” The next morning, he came with a long silver wire. A tiny fish bone had lodged in her throat during dinner. With the wire, Maharaj removed the bone gently, and she was instantly relieved. Her husband exclaimed, “You are Allah Himself!”
Such was the compassion of the saint. In the life of a true yogi, such events arise naturally—and in Kali Yuga, misuse of power and ego bring terrible consequences. To trouble a Nath yogi is to invite one’s own destruction.