There seemed to be some purpose in all these successive events. Shri Prabhu wanted to see that these spiritual pillars were liberated from their mortal coils prior to his departure from the scene. Shri Prabhu himself was not constrained by the gross body. He had realised his Self. Therefore, there was no need for him to be liberated from the shackles of the body.

He was a Jeevanmukta, liberated even when alive. He had won over both birth and death. He was beyond the dualities of Life, having been aware of his essential nature. Nothing that was not his Self was of any concern to him. He lived like the lotus leaf, unconcerned by the effect of the senses on his body or on the mind.

Yet he was controlled by the same Lord who had created him. His knowing the Lord was his knowing the forces which controlled him. So, when he realised that the time had come for him to shed his mortal coil and merge in the Infinite, he considered seriously the future course to be laid down for the mission to continue, which was as important as the manner in which he would discard the gross body. Since people were already shell-shocked with the passing away of Mother Bayadevi, Brothers Hanumant and Nrisimha and Devi Venkamma, Shri Prabhu was reluctant to confide in his devotees, the time of his own departure. He took only three or four persons into his confidence, they who were closely associated with the Sampradaya and who understood the significance of his Avatar. Even though they were shocked with what Shri Prabhu had to confide in them, being spiritually advanced, they accepted the fact as ordained by the Lord himself.

The news was kept in utmost confidence and all the required work was carried out with a smile on the face but with remorse in the heart. Shri Prabhu realised the difficulties through which he was making them pass. What was to happen to him would also happen to them when the time came. In that way he was preparing them to live with death as their nearest companion. He would advise them, “You think that once I take Samadhi everything will end and I will no more be available to you. What you will miss is the sight of my Gross body, but my Self, the spirit within, will ever remain with you to guide you without your realising that fact. There will not be any breach in your spiritual path. Remember that decay and destruction of the gross body is certain. When every breath has already been numbered and assigned what is the purpose of grieving?”

Shri Prabhu’s words were soothing, yet each one dreaded the moment to come. They wished that the Sun would not rise and another day would not be born but the Sun does rise every day and the day is born thereby. Like the Sun, Shri Prabhu was going through his ordained tasks unconcerned.

One day, a small boil was noticed on Shri Prabhu’s back. He would jocularly remind his associates that Yama’s message has been received. For the others, it was a grim reminder of the fateful day. Shri Prabhu consoled them, “It is good that my work here is now coming to an end. You will all be able to carry the mission further by the Energy which I will be leaving behind. What’s the use of remaining alive in this worthless body when the work is complete?”. He supervised the place where he was to take Samadhi. The pit was dug in all secrecy and no one in Maniknagar could get even a breath of it.

Soon the auspicious month of Margashirsha arrived. Did Shri Krishna not declare in Bhagavad Gita (X.35) that “of the months, I am Margashirsha”? Blissfully unaware of the impending calamity that was to fall on Maniknagar, the people were getting ready to celebrate the annual Shri Datta Jayanti festivities. People from great distances were pouring in every day. Somehow that year was considered auspicious for Muslims also. Consequently, Shri Prabhu’s Muslim devotees also came in thousands.

As time passed, Shri Prabhu’s health was deteriorating steadily. The small boil was getting bigger and more painful. Yet, Shri Prabhu’s face bore no trace of the pain and it was blissful and tranquil as ever. On the tenth day of Margashirsha, Shri Prabhu decided to summon the Darbar, so that people could have his final Darshan. All arrangements were made for Shri Prabhu to sit in as comfortable a position as was possible. The occasion was to become so spiritually surcharged that Shri Prabhu as well as the close associates forgot for the time being the impending disaster.

The next day was Ekadashi, the eleventh day of the month. For Hindus it is one of the most auspicious days. It is the day when Sage Durvasa, elder brother of Shri Dattatreya won over his anger and received the Grace of Shri Vishnu. Incidentally this is also the day on which, thousands of years ago Shri Krishna delivered the message of Bhagavad Gita to Arjun. This day is observed as Gita Jayanti. This 29th day of the month of November 1865 was the day on which Shri Prabhu had decided to take Samadhi and merge his Self with the Supreme Self.

There were, however, some final deeds to be done by Shri Prabhu. He had not taken Sanyas as prescribed in the Shastras. In fact he had already reached the stage which was beyond the four stages, Ashramas. He was a Jeevanmukta, Avadhoota, Paramhamsa. All the same, the right thing should be done before one takes the final step. So he got himself initiated in Sanyas Ashrama. He then called the two sons of his brother Nrisimha and blessed them. He garlanded the elder son Manohar and covered him with the shawl which was used by him. Thus the line of succession to the Gadi was laid down for all to know. Covering Manohar with the shawl was not just a symbol of affection but also of authoritative transfer of the Eternal Energy of Shri Manik Prabhu Maharaj to this young child who was wise and pure like Shri Dakshinamurti. Thus the Guru-Parampara of Shri Manik Prabhu Sampradaya was established for all time to come.

Having done this Shri Prabhu started walking towards the hut where the pit was dug. With his face glowing with extraordinary spiritual splendour, Shri Prabhu took each step. It was like the space merging within the space leaving no trace whatsoever. For Shri Prabhu the occasion was joyous for it was like going back to the origin from where he had started. He sat in the pit in Padmasana, forcing his Kundalini to rise and reach the Brahmarandhra. The pit was closed slowly by the close associates, in a mood that was surcharged with spiritual fervour. What does one feel when one passes through such a course?

Taittiriya Upanishad (III.10.5) gives us a glimpse of the experience of the traveller. “Let one contemplate That as adoration; then his desires pay adoration to Him. Let one contemplate That as Supreme, he becomes possessed of That Supreme. He who is here in the person and he who is yonder in the Sun, he is one. He who knows this, on departing from this world, reaching on to that Self which consists of food, reaching on to that Self which consists of life, reaching on to that Self which consists of mind, reaching on to that Self which consists of understanding, reaching on to that Self which consists of bliss, goes up and down these worlds eating food he desires, assuming the form he desires. He sits singing the chant: Oh Wonderful, Oh Wonderful, Oh Wonderful”.

In this Upanishadic hymn some of the important words merit reappraisal. The first one is ‘pretya’, “asmallokat pretya”, crossing over from this world. The word ‘pretya’ is translated, ‘after the death of the body’; it is made up of ‘pra’ + ‘itya’ = ‘pretya’. ‘Pra’ is giving up, crossing over and ‘itya’ is going away. Thus the Self which decides to merge in Samadhi in the equanimous mind gives up its attachment with its body or crosses over from the sheaths of the body, of the breath etc. When the Self is dwelling in the body, it can with determined will, raise the Kundalini Power from Mooladhar to Brahmarandhra.

The news of Shri Prabhu having taken Samadhi was kept secret till Pournima, lest the grieving crowds might vitiate the solemn and serene occasion, in their ignorance of the significance of the event. When they came to the Gadi for Shri Prabhu’s Darshan as usual, before they departed from Maniknagar, they were shocked to hear the news. They rushed to the hut in uncontrollable grief. Close devotees and associates had to pacify the crowd.

When Shri Sadguru Manik Prabhu Maharaj attained Samadhi, devotees were in despair. It is a great paradox of life that even though people say that they have faith in the words of the Guru, when he is seen with these gross eyes, the same devotees tend to be sceptical when the Guru is no more visible to them nor are his words audible to the human ears. Shri Prabhu had assured time and again, his continued presence in Maniknagar. However, the faith of devotees often appears brittle, when the object of veneration is removed from sight. People are so accustomed to lean on the wooden staff that even when they are told that they can dispense with it they are reluctant to have confidence in those assurances as well as in their own self. This does not mean that one should not draw strength and sustenance from some powerful energy but to assume that the Energy will itself take us to salvation is fooling ourselves. While it gives momentum in the first instance, further steps on the travel have to be taken by the aspirant himself.

Knowing human folly, the compassionate Guru does take steps to provide for his devotees an object of veneration and a medium for communication who takes his place after him. Shri Manohar Manik Prabhu was the designated medium of Shri Manik Prabhu.