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Mother, Have Patience for Some Days


Neeb Karori Baba MaharajjiPitamber Pant, the husband of Shrimati Munni Devi, was in the Indian army and lived at Sipahidhara, Nainital.

Some years after his marriage he was sent to Germany during the Second World War.

He did not return for many years, even after the war ended. His name was published in the missing-in-action lists and not in the list of those killed, for there was no definite proof of his death.

Some women suggested to Munni that she should fast on Mondays and worship Lord Shiva, which she did every week.

More years passed with no word from her husband, and people began to suggest that she remove her jewelry and ornaments, as was the custom for Indian widows.

One winter Munni Devi went to stay with her father in Lucknow. She was on her way to Mankameshwar Mahadev temple with a woman friend when she saw a big, bulky sadhu lying on the bank of the Gomti River.

When he saw Munni Devi, he called her to him with a gesture of his hand, but she hesitated to go towards him. He sent his devotee to fetch her. When she approached and bowed before him, he asked, "Where are you going? To worship? Sit down. Where is your husband? Her short reply to the last question was that she did not know. Baba said, "In the army? Didn't receive a letter? It will come."

Munni said that Baba's words made her feel confident that her husband was alive. She felt happy and overwhelmed and started to cry. Consoling her, Baba quoted from the Ramayana, "Mother, have patience for some days. Ram will come with monkeys." He also said, "Do not worry. His letter will come and he will come."

On her return home Munni Devi narrated the whole incident to her father. He said that the baba was Baba Neebkarori and that whatever he said would definitely happen.

After some time she received a letter from her husband, and shortly thereafter he turned up. Pitamber Pant had been a prisoner of war. One day a sentry came to him of his own accord and said that he would give him an opportunity to escape and to be ready for it. After escaping and facing many difficulties, he finally reached home.