In 1866, when Bholanath was about 13 years old, he accidentally stepped upon the dog sitting at the foot of the stairs. The dog instantly bit him. It was a mad dog and its poison soon spread throughout the body causing excruciating pain. The pain became intolerable so much so that Bholanath started crying. No treatment proved to be of any avail and finally everybody lost hope of Bholanaths life.Bholanath, having despaired of his life, one evening started treading towards the bank of the Ganga (Gangaghat) with a view to put an end to his life there, as his end now seemed certain. But the Almighty had some other plans for Bholanath. On reaching the bank he saw a Sannyasi taking his bath in the river Ganga. He was struck with wonder to see that a column of water would rise up when the Sanyasi would emerge from the water and would go down with his dip under the water and curiously the phenomenon was repeated with every dip.The Sanyasi spotted Bholanath and called out to him in a deep sweet voice saying, "My dear child, why are you so upset with the excruciating pain? Just wait a minute. I will cure you of this in no time." And so, saying, he got out of the water and came to the boy on the bank and placed his hand on the boys head. Bholanath felt as if a slab of ice had been placed on his burning head. He experienced great relief; all the unbearable pain vanished and hope of life revived in him once again.Thereafter the Sanyasi pulled out a herb from the shrubs on the bank and gave it to Bholanath to chew and told him that the whole poison of the mad-dog-bite will be now expelled from his body with his urine and he will become perfectly fit and healthy once again. He also assured him of a long life and told him that he will, in due course of time, become a famous Yogi. Thereafter he told him to return home.Bholanath felt great reverence and gratefulnesss towards the Sanyasi. The thought of taking initiation from the Sanyasi and living with him, the one who had bestowed a new life on him, came to his mind. Apprehensively, Bholanath expressed his intense desire before his reverent mother. Surprisingly the mother gave him permission to go with the Sanyasi.The Sanyasi taught one Yogasan (yogic posture) to Bholanath and gave him a bij-mantra. He also told him that he was not his Guru. For the present he should stay at home, practice the asan and mantra. These will purify his mind and body. In due time, he shall come and take him to his Guru. By and by two years passed yet there was no trace of the Sanyasi.Bholanath used to visit a shop in Burdwan market for purchasing day-to-day requirements. One day he heard a story about a strange Sanyasi and this revived his old memory. He longed to go and see the Sanyasi and he obtained his mothers permission and went to Bandul with his friend Haripada.On reaching their destination they met the Sanyasi in the morning. Bholanath reverently made obeisance and his friend Haripada did the same. Bholanath requested the Sanyasi to take him along with him this time as promised earlier. On enquiry Bholanath explained to the Sanyasi that Haripada was an intimate friend of his and he too was very earnest to stay with and under the guidance of the Sanyasi who was no other than the great Siddha Yogi Swami Nimanand Paramahansa of the secret Gyanganj Yogashram in Tibet.He asked them both to come to him in the evening. It is only through the Almightys extreme grace and compassion that one out of a million succeed in their goal of self-realization which these two youths, Bholanath and Haripada, set for themselves that day.
All set for the great journey to Gyanganj, the Sanyasi asked them to confirm if they were still keen to accompany him which they did without the slightest hesitation. He once again emphatically reiterated to them all the pit-falls, difficulties and sufferings likely to be encountered on the way. Thereupon, Swami Nimanand tied cloth bandages on the eyes of each so that they could not see anything. Holding one on either side by each hand, he let them over forested hills and plains by air route. The two felt as if they were walking on a smooth silken carpet. By morning the first lap of the journey was covered.
Their bandages were removed and they found themselves on top of a barren hillock on which stood a grand temple, surrounded by hill ranges on all its four sides. They realized that they had reached some place far away from Bengal. On enquiry they found that they were at the temple of VindhyaVasini Devi temple & there was nearby AshtaBhuja Devi temple in Vindhyachal town in the district of Mirzapur in Uttar Pradesh state of India.This occurrence enhanced their esteem and respect for Swami Nimanand many folds. The Sanyasi then asked the two boys to stay there free from fear as no wild beast would harm them and not to lose heart till his return to take them on to the Ashram. So, saying he suddenly vanished before their very eyes. A week passed before the Sanyasi arrived again to take them. He disclosed his name to them as Swami Nimanand Paramhamsa. As before, he tied bandages over their eyes and took them both with him to an Ashram situated amongst a cluster of hills about twenty kilometres away from Vindyachal, where some saints were residing.He left the two children at this Ashram and himself went away to some other place. He returned after another five days and this time took the children with him by the air route. On reaching the destination the bandages were taken off their eyes. They found that it was morning and they had reached a charming celestial place on a plain surrounded on all sides by snow covered high hill ranges, calm, majestic and peaceful.On enquiry, they were told by Swami Nimanand, "This is the normally inaccessible and secret Yogashram situated in the midst of the mid-Asian highlands, Tibet, known by the name of Gyanganj Yogashram. After a stay of nine to ten days at the Ashram, Bholanath and Haripada were both presented by Swami Nimanand before His Reverent Holiness Shri Mahatapa, for initiation. Shri Mahatapa first transmitted spiritual energy into each one of them by placing his hand on their heads and thereafter gave Bij-mantra to each of them. Both of them thus became Guru Bandhus of Swami Nimanand, who was an earlier disciple of Mahatapa Maharaj.
