The Divine Signal Given to Madhavanath by Lord Balaji

Is it even believable that Lord Vishnu Himself might appear on Earth in human form to guide a living Guru? Can a deity and a human being have direct interaction? Can God influence decisions that seem to come from human minds? These thoughts may sound unbelievable — but the truth is that divine planning is always present. We only need to observe events carefully to understand it.

Even today, God and the living Sadguru, who works on Earth, do interact directly. Such exchange continues, though it is invisible to common eyes.

Before leaving Chitrakoot, Madhavanath Maharaj told some disciples that he would soon depart. He assured them about their future. Then one night, wearing only the clothes on his body, he suddenly left Chitrakoot. While leaving, he openly said that because of the selfish behaviour of earlier followers, the loss of the sacred Peeth at Karvir-Chitrakoot, and the misuse of its spiritual power for personal gain, he would never again step foot in Chitrakoot. He declared: “From now on, Nath tradition will never again function from this land. Wherever I stand, there I will build a new temple. From there the future Nath work will continue.”

Just like that, the sacred destiny of the ancient land changed in a moment.

Lord Balaji (Vishnu) had once sent Vitthalnath Maharaj — after his two-and-a-half decades of spiritual practice — to Chitrakoot to care for the Nath lineage. But now, Madhavanath closed that chapter completely. He kept only the ancient sacred objects safe, promising: “When the time comes, we will come through the sky, take all the sacred items in one night, and no one will know.” This power belongs only to the Nath Yogis.

After leaving, one thought remained: he should go to Girnar for Balaji’s darshan, and Balaji Himself would guide the next steps.

Like the Navnath Yogis, Madhavanath carried no belongings, built no permanent residence, and lived as a wanderer. The whole universe was his home. Whatever was needed appeared at the right moment due to his yogic power.

According to Nath tradition, whenever a Nath Yogi enters any temple, the deity of that temple appears in living form to meet him. This is an ancient command given by Lord Krishna.

Vitthalnath Maharaj, the Paramguru of Madhavanath, was once sent by Balaji from Girnar to Chitrakoot for Nath work. Remembering this, Madhavanath began walking — barefoot and without food or shelter — all the way from Chitrakoot to Girnar.

He could have reached instantly through yogic travel, but he chose not to. Yogis never use their powers for convenience or selfish reasons. He was not going to meet a stone idol; he was going to meet Balaji Himself.

After many days of walking, helping people, and wandering through villages, Madhavanath finally reached Girnar. As he climbed toward the temple, an extraordinary event took place.

When he reached the eleventh step below the temple, a radiant divine being suddenly appeared behind him. The being sat on a white horse, dressed in shining white clothes. He came directly before Madhavanath, opened his cloth bag, and handed him a Panchayatana set along with a Prabhavali.

He said: “Bacchā, Balaji or Datt — both are one and the same. Establish this.”

Then the divine figure vanished instantly.

This was none other than Balaji Himself. Balaji is Vishnu. Vishnu appears as Dattatreya. Thus, “Balaji and Datt are one” is absolutely true.

Balaji personally placed the sacred idol into Madhavanath’s hands and gave the command for the next phase of Nath work. This was not imagination. It was direct divine interaction.

No long conversation took place. The exchange happened through subtle signs — as it always does between gods and realised Gurus.

This divine meeting confirmed three truths:

1. Madhavanath’s departure from Chitrakoot was approved by Balaji. 2. The new spiritual centre had to be established elsewhere. 3. Balaji Himself guided the shift of the Nath tradition.

Madhavanath resumed his wandering, fully trusting the inner guidance that flowed continuously from the Divine. God always speaks through the inner voice, but only a refined seeker can recognise that language.

Following the inner guidance, Madhavanath first visited the Jyotirlinga of Grishneshwar. Then, while searching further, he arrived at Devgaon Rangari. There he saw a dirty dumping spot. Yet the moment he looked at it, his inner being recognised something profound.

“This,” he said, “is our temple.”

Earlier, while leaving Chitrakoot, he had said: “If I stand upon a rock, I will build a temple there.” And now, upon seeing the location at Devgaon, that inner certainty returned.

Thus, the signals from Balaji, combined with the inner revelation, identified Devgaon Rangari as the new seat of the Nath tradition.

Since the Nath Sampradaya is governed by Lord Dattatreya — who is Vishnu — and Balaji is also Vishnu, it becomes clear that the command for relocating the Nath centre came directly from the Divine.

From Chitrakoot to Devgaon is nearly 900 kilometres. Yet Madhavanath had to find it step by step, guided purely by divine intuition. This shows beyond doubt that the shift of the Nath centre to Devgaon was a cosmic plan.

Thus, the ancient seat of Chitrakoot was replaced, and the new Nath spiritual headquarters was destined to rise at Devgaon Rangari.

What happened there, and how Devgaon grew into the new Karvir-like centre, will be explained in the final chapter.