Early Experience of Dr. U.C. Khambholja

Khambholja was a medical student in the year 1912 AD at Ahmedabad. He was 18 years old then. Born in a Brahmin family, he had some liking for religion in his childhood; but as he grew up he lost faith in religion. During college career, his mind became unsettled and he did not pay attention to his studies. He used to discuss regarding future course of his life with his dissection companion Vyas. Khambholja’s cousin passed the examination “Sanatana Dharma” conducted by Dr.Anni Besant and got as a prize the book containing the life and letters of Haranath in Gujarati. The book mentions number of miracles done by Haranath and His letters, which were full of love for His devotees. Khambholja was very much impressed by the book. He took out the picture of Haranath from the book and placed it in the cupboard and started praying. He also started taking the Name of Krishna. Of course his motive for repeating the Name was success in his examination.

A desire arose in him to see Haranath. But His address was not given in the book. He discussed about this with his friend Vyas who also expressed his desire to see Haranath. They decided that they would leave the place one Sunday in search of Haranath. On the appointed date, Khambholja left the hostel and was passing by the college building when the ward servant informed him that there was a letter for him. The letter was from Haranath written in Sanskrit. It advised Khambholja not to approach Him but to pursue his studies. On reading the letter the mind of Khambholja became steady. He proceeded towards the house of Vyas to inform him about the letter and desist from their resolve to search Haranath. On the way he met Vyas coming on a cycle to meet him. The two proceeded to the house of Vyas. When Vyas opened the door of his house, he found a letter lying there. This letter was also from Haranath written in Sanskrit advising him not to go to Him but to pursue his studies. They came to the decision to obey the instructions given in the letter.

Khambholja was already married at that time. His wife was staying with his parents in his native place while he was residing in the hostel. He gave the photo of Haranath to his wife and asked her to worship it, which she started doing with reverence. At that time cholera broke out in her place and she became a victim. Receiving the news from his parents, Khambholja hastened to his town and found her in a precarious condition. He told her that Haranath would certainly cure her and asked her to remember His Name. That night he attended on her. The diarrhoea and vomiting subsided a little. In the morning she informed him, “I am now cured completely. The saint in the photo appeared before me last night and applied some powder to my body and since then I have become all right.”

**Collected the story from the book : “Haranath – The Deliverer of Mankind” by Sri Haragopal Sepuri (Chennai)