Sometime during the first half of year 1991, Guruji was not keeping too well and shishyas used to visit him almost every day. That year Guru Purnima, fell on 26th of July. Guruji called our seniormost Gurubhai, Shri R.C. Malhotraji and directed him to organize Guru Purnima celebrations at Gurgaon and named some shishyas who would perform the function along with him. My reaction was that it is a parv where shishyas perform puja of their revered Guru and when Guruji is not there, then why are we being directed to Gurgaon! To this Guruji remarked, “then who will take care of the thousands of persons who have been coming to Gurgaon Sthan for so many years? Henceforth, people will see me in your form only (Malhotra Bhapaji and the Shishyas he specified)”.

‘Coming events cast their shadow before’; and the prophetic tone of the second sentence uttered by Guruji. kept haunting our minds. However, as directed, we proceeded to Gurgaon on 26th morning (26.07.1991) and reported to him the next day after performing the duty assigned to us. His physical condition was deteriorating and we passed an anxious night. Next morning (on 28.07.1991), his breathing became irregular. Before any medical aid could be arranged, at about 3.00/3.15 P.M., his body stopped moving. But as he often used to go into ‘dhyaan’ when he would stop breathing and his body would become motionless for hours together, we waited for quite some time. However. he did not move. The light had gone. By the evening, Doordarshan also announced “GURUJI OF GURGAON IS NO MORE”. The atmosphere at the Sthan was gloomy and all the shishyas were overcome with grief. There were incessant calls from all over the country and across seven seas from anxious devotees, desperate to confirm the news. My first reaction was

Wohi jageh hai, wohi manzar, wohi Guru ka makaam;
Raunak hai, roshni bhi hai, par aftaab nahin.

Khel khila kar chale jana, hai nahin ishq ka dastoor;
Kis- se poochhen ge rahe wafa, manzile jana ke liye.

Next day, on 29th of July 1991, before the last journey started for Najafgarh, hundreds of devotees had gathered to have last darshan of their Guru whom they had adored and looked upon as their Messiah. Quite some time back, Pujya Guruji had selected the place at Najafgarh (close to Sai Babaji’s Mandir) which he said would be his resting place. (He had earlier instructed one of his shishyas, looking after the construction work, to construct Guru-Ka-Chabutra at Neelkanth Dham where devotees could pay their obeisance (maatha tekna) and perform Guru Puja). As his material body, bedecked with flowers, was placed in an open vehicle, the shishyas, sewadaars and devotees cried. Even the sky could not control itself; it was overcast with clouds and showered tears throughout the journey. Finally at about 4.00/4.15 P.M. Guruji’s material body was laid to rest at his selected place and consigned to flames. The place was later named as ‘Smadhi Sthal’, Neelkanth Dham. My inner voice said:

Jism ki maut, koi maut nahin hoti hai;
Jism jal jane se Guru-tatva nahin jal jata hai.

When the soul leaves the material body, the composition of five tatvas (earth, water, air, fire and ether) disintegrates and merges into their respective sources in the Brahmand. The ‘atma-tatva’ either becomes one with ‘Param-tatva’ or awaits next birth, depending upon one’s karmas and sanskaars. But the Sadgurus are visible representatives of God Almighty and go back to Him after accomplishing the mission assigned to them.

But in reality, Guruji has not gone; he is just invisible, and has become omni-present. He continues to be as gracious as ever. Time and again, he has made us realize that he is around and we have felt his presence. There are evidences from a few senior shishyas of having Guruji’s darshan in their ‘dhyaan-mudra’ or susupti-awastha and receiving certain instructions. To have His darshan and communicate with him depends upon a) the individual’s spiritual level, b) how much have we risen above the sensuous desires and how clear, pious and receptive our mind is, and c) the degree of burning desire the shishya has for His darshan and communication with him. With His grace, I have had quite a few opportunities to have his darshan and received His instructions with full awareness that he is no longer in a human body. The object of mentioning this here is to encourage others to make a sincere effort in this direction and enjoy that state of bliss.

Pujya Guruji’s ‘Nirwan Diwas’ is celebrated with great reverence every year a day after the Guru Purnima at Smadhi Sthal, ‘Neelkanth Dham’, Najafgarh, New Delhi. A powerful spiritual ambience pervades Neelkanth and Pujya Guruji’s presence can be felt there, if one concentrates.

Shishyas from all over the country and thousands of devotees come from morning till late in the evening to pay their homage to Pujya Guruji at the Smadhi Sthal and receive blessings from senior shishyas. Every year, on Nirwan Diwas, around 35,000 to 40,000 devotees visit Smadhi Sthal – the congregation keeps multipling every successive year. Elaborate arrangements are made for distribution of prasad which everyone happily partakes and carries it home also.

Due to the prevailing pandemic, Nirwan Diwas will not be celebrated at the sthans.