After shri Maharaj went away, Sri Brahmananda Maharaj became very active, traveling and visiting the devotees of the surrounding places, and started the construction of Shri Rama Mandir. He arranged Nama-sapthaha which was well attended by the people from different places.
In Gadag, there was a person named Phadke, a devotee of Sri Brahmananda Maharaj. Occasionally, Sri Brahmanand used to stay over-night in Sri Phadke’s house, when he visited Gadag. One day, Sri Phadke asked Sri Brahmanand Maharaj to initiate the Taraka Manthra to him. Sri Brahmanand told him to go to Gondavale and be initiated directly by Sri Brahmachaithanya Maharaj. Sri Phadke insisted that it was enough for him if Sri Brahmanand maharaj initiated the manthra, but Sri Brahmanand Maharaj refused.
Then, Sri Phadke told him that if Sri Brahmachaithanya Maharaj was as powerful as he was described, can he himself come there and initiate him? Sri Brahmanand Maharaj told him that there is nothing impossible for Sri Brahmachaithanya Maharaj. He asked Sri Phadke to do pooja to Sri Gurupadaka daily, and to chant Ram-nam with devotion. He asked him to fast on every Thursday.
After about two months, Sri Brahmanand Maharaj visited his house. The family was very happy and requested him to take his midday meal with them. Sri Brahmanand told him, that as it was a Thursday, he will fast from the morning and take food in the night only. So, he asked them to prepare the food for the night, when he will come back for the night-meal. So, the entire family decided to skip the food in the afternoon, and await Sri Brahmanand Maharaj. At about 6 p.m. Sri Brahmanand Maharaj came there, and asked Sri Phadke to take a bath. Meanwhile, he arranged for a Guru Peetha (a seat arranged for a holy person), and pooja articles. As soon as Sri Phadke returned after taking a bath, Sri Brahanand started doing Bhajans accompanied by the entire family. Suddenly there was a knock on the door, and when the door was opened, they were all surprised and happy to see Sri Brahmachaithanya Maharaj entering their house. Sri Maharaj sat on the Gurupeetha which was ready, and Sri Phadke washed the divine feet of Maharaj, and did the Arathi.
Sri Maharaj lovingly initiated Sri Phadke with the taraka Manthra. Afterwards they all ate food there. A room was arranged with Bed for Sri Maharaj. When Sri Maharaj went to Bed, Sri Phadke was pressing his legs till he slept. Sri Brahmanand Maharaj slept in a separate room.
Early in the morning, Sri Phadke was awaiting Sri Maharaj to wake up and come out of the room. But as the sun-rise approached, he got suspicious and went inside to find Sri Maharaj not there. So, he went to the room where Sri Brahmanand was sleeping, and there also he did not find Sri Brahmanand. He was stunned, and became very un-happy. He searched in the houses of other devotees of Gadag, for the saints, but not a trace of them anywhere. He started fasting with devotion, and the second morning, Sri Brahmanand Maharaj came to him and consoled him stating that when the Ashta Siddhis were always ready to serve Him, it is not difficult for Sri Maharaj to satisfy the desire of such a devotee like Sri Phadke. Sri Brahmanand Maharaj stayed with him for a few hours, took food in their house in the afternoon and went away advising them to do namasmaran.
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