In Chapter 46 of the *Shri Guru Charitra*, it is described how Lord Dattatreya appeared in eight different forms at the same time to accept the Diwali worship of eight devotees. This event is not merely a miracle but reveals a deeper spiritual science. Siddha Muni continued the story for Namdharak and said, “Namdharak, you are truly fortunate. Your deep longing to hear the Guru’s story pleases me. Simply listening to the *Shri Guru Charitra* brings blessings—children, prosperity, and spiritual merit. The next event I narrate is so pure that even a great sinner becomes purified by hearing it.”
When Shri Guru was residing in Ganagapur, the festival of Diwali arrived. Seven close disciples came and requested, “Guruji, on this auspicious day, please come to our homes.” Each disciple wanted the Guru’s presence at his own house. Shri Guru said lovingly, “All of you are equally dear to me. How can I be at all your homes on the same day? Decide among yourselves and let me know.” But none agreed, and each insisted on receiving the Guru. Seeing their devotion and attachment, Shri Guru used divine compassion. He called each disciple aside and whispered, “I will come to your home, but do not tell the others. Go back peacefully.” Thus each disciple returned happily, believing the Guru would come to him alone.
The devotees at the Ganagapur Math became worried upon hearing that Guru might go out of town. “Swami, how will we celebrate Diwali without your presence?” they asked. Shri Guru reassured them, saying, “Do not worry. I will be here in the Math.”
On Diwali day, Shri Guru bathed and then, through his yogic power, manifested seven additional forms while one primary form remained in the Math. One form stayed at the Math and seven other forms visited the homes of the seven disciples. Each disciple performed Guru’s worship, offered food, clothes, and service, believing the Guru was exclusively with him. At the same time, devotees in Ganagapur celebrated Diwali with the Guru in the Math.
On Kartik Purnima, all seven disciples came to the Math for Deeparadhana. Each proudly declared, “Guru came only to my house on Diwali!” They even showed the garments they had offered. The people of Ganagapur said, “That is impossible. Guru was here with us the entire time.” Confusion spread until the truth became clear: Shri Guru had taken eight forms simultaneously. Recognizing him as the embodiment of Brahma, Vishnu, and Mahesh, all devotees bowed and said, “O Lord, You who take infinite forms, how can we ever understand Your greatness?”
A similar event occurred with the great Nath yogi Vyankatnath Maharaj, the 15th Nath in the ancient Nath lineage. During one Diwali, several disciples insisted that Maharaj celebrate the festival at their homes. Maharaj said, “I can go to only one house.” But none agreed. Finally, he privately told each, “I will come to your home—do not tell others.” Each disciple left joyfully.
Later, when they met, each claimed, “Maharaj came to my house! I performed his worship! I bathed him! I offered him food!” This seemed impossible until Maharaj himself described accurate details of each home. Only then did the disciples realize that Maharaj had manifested at all four homes simultaneously.
Renowned scientist Dr. Vijay Bhatkar has stated that such phenomena are not imaginary or superstitious. He explained that advanced yogis can manifest multiple bodies at the same time and that modern quantum physics acknowledges the possibility of such multi-location events. These are not miracles but deeper spiritual sciences understood by yogis like Vyankatnath Maharaj. Maharaj later took samadhi on Mahashivaratri in 1993, exactly as he had foretold eighteen years earlier.