Direct Vision of Deities at Bhimashankar
*Bhaja nara satat Gurunatha re…*
- भज नरा सतत गुरुनाथा रे। धृ।
- विश्वविनायक विघ्नविनाशक- चित्सुखदायक दाता रे…१
- साधन खटपट कांही नलगे — ठेवी चरणीं माथा रे…२
- बहुविध स्वरूपें विश्वीं नटला — नटवर अनाद्यनंता रे…३
- नयन तुझें रे स्वरूप पाहो — कर्णचि ऐको गीता रे…४
- चुंबकापरी ओढुनि घेइल — तुझ्याच चंचल चित्ता रे…५
- व्यंकटनाथा गाता ध्याता — हरशिल सारी चिता रे…६
Whichever feeling a person carries when approaching Narendranath Maharaj, that very transformation occurs in his life. Through bhajans he narrates the life and power of Vyankatnath Maharaj, giving seekers direct experiential understanding. The mantra of Vyankatnath Maharaj contains his entire personality and spiritual force, and this same essence is experienced by people through Narendranath Maharaj. Even after attaining the highest state, Narendranath Maharaj performs his Guru’s bhajan daily with humility, just like a simple disciple.
Guru Purnima and the Experience at Bhimashankar
During Guru Purnima in Pune, a lunar eclipse was approaching, and everyone decided to travel to Bhimashankar for japa, sadhana, and havan. A room was arranged; there was complete darkness except for the fire. Narendranath Maharaj performed the havan in Nath tradition. Narayan took a photograph with his finger covering the flash; the picture was expected to be blank. But when developed, a clear image of a deity’s face appeared in the fire, leaving everyone stunned.
A Rare Appearance of the Sun at Bhimashankar
The next morning, they decided to perform aahnik in the temple premises. Priests denied permission inside the sanctum due to crowding and assigned a corner of the hall. The sky was fully covered with monsoon clouds. A priest remarked that Bhimashankar lies deep in a valley and the sun cannot be seen for months. As soon as half a mala of the Siddha Mantra was completed, the sky opened, bright golden sunlight flooded the hall, and everyone witnessed the sun directly. Priests were astonished; it was an extremely rare occurrence.
Devotees Drawn to the Guru’s Presence
After aahnik, aarti began. When the aarti of Ganesh, Devi, and Mahadev finished and the aarti of Dattatreya and Vyankatnath began, all devotees waiting in line for Bhimashankar’s darshan turned around and stood for this aarti instead. Afterward, everyone rushed to receive teerth-prasad from Narendranath Maharaj. Many devotees left the temple without taking Bhimashankar’s darshan, feeling that witnessing this aarti was itself divine darshan. The spiritual power of the Guru became unmistakably evident.
Repeated Manifestations and the Guru’s Grace
Many people have received direct divine visions in the presence of Narendranath Maharaj. The son-in-law of Nagnath Shastri, a Krishna Yajurveda *ghanapathi* scholar, also experienced a direct manifestation of Lord Shiva, exactly as Narendranath Maharaj had foretold. Though he never formally studied the Vedas, Narendranath Maharaj provides experiential realization of Vedic mantras, resolves astrological afflictions, guides karmic remedies, and performs spiritual interventions that dissolve difficulties. All of this functions through Guru’s grace alone.
Sometimes, while helping others, he absorbs their karmic or planetary suffering, causing strain to his own body. Nath scriptures explain that such acts are natural for one performing Guru-karma. Narendranath Maharaj has also designed many unique and powerful ritual methods, the results of which have been witnessed by countless devotees.