15. Illness : A play of Divine Power

Expressing the eternal divine joy of being one with the all-pervasive Shri Hari, Anadimuktas manifest in human form by the independent exercise of the Divine will. Displaying all human characteristics, these souls in a state of one-ness with God manifest constantly for the happiness and redemption of devotees. They arrive to fulfill the divine desire to distribute God's love among men. As Shreeji Maharaj acts through His manifest Anadimuktas service to them is service to Maharaj. To worship Anadimukta is to worship the Lord; they are indivisible. To win their pleasure is to win God's pleasure. Sometimes such God realized souls exhibit signs of illness to allow their devotees to serve them and earn merit 'punya' and 'krupa'.

They exhibit signs of irrevocable destiny which works through many lives on account of the accumulated sins committed by "jiva'-person to establish righteousness. However, the Mukta who is enjoying the integral bliss emanating from 'Maharaj' is above and beyond the pain or suffering. The display of illness is just to remind the beloved devotees of the nature of body which is subject to decay and death. It is part of his divine mission of paving a way to 'Dhama' through 'Moksha' for the devotees. It is an exhibition of the super human powers, we tend to forget.

As a student, Muktaraj had embraced pneumonia in Surat which was not dropped until he arrived at Patan. When the devotees prayed him to recover, he used his 'atmasatta' free will and bade good bye to the disease. Once, in Ahmedabad also he had assumed typhoid for a very long time and then he had cured himself by the exercise of his free will. He would show the signs of malaria and other ailments for some time and surprise the doctors by removing all the symptoms of the disease without taking any medicine. The doctors immediately recognized the 'dweller' in the body and worshipped him as the one who practised 'yoga' - the 'Anadimukta. On January 27, 1991 Muktaraj had shown the signs of heart trouble. He spent fifteen days in a hospital to allow the devotees to attend on him. By exhibiting this 'illusion' of illness, and by allowing the devotees to serve him, he reduced the negative aspects of their 'prarabdha' - fate and brought them closer to God. While Muktaraj was in hospital, other patients with cardiac troubles were automatically cured by his presence! When the doctors examined Muktaraj and found no sign of cardiac problem, they exclaimed: "impossible.'' A person who could control and direct even the supernatural elements had no difficulty in increasing or decreasing the intensity of a disease. It was simply a display of divine power. A Muslim patient had witnessed Muktaraj's body emitting light in the hospital. He could not control his joy and remarked: "He is Allah!'' Muktaraj had to exert his speech organs in teaching his class, addressing the congregations, and talking to the devotees. His vocal-chords were badly affected by constant talking. Sometimes his sore throat would not permit him to speak clearly. But he would ignore his bad throat and speak, and speak clearly and even loudly wherever he wanted to address a large gathering. He had tremendous will power and the magic of self-suggestion. He had limitless physical, mental and spiritual resources which he used by the exercise of his divine will. Free from ego, free from pride, awakened in the knowledge of the atman, Muktaraj could invite and dismiss illness by independent exercise of his will for the benefit of the devotees.