The woman had become wealthy in her profession and was renowned for her exquisite singing voice. Once a jealous enemy deceived her into eating some paan (betel leaf) dosed with poison, and although Anjani did not die, she lost the sweetness of her voice. For months she sought a cure, but to no avail. Finally, she began consulting yogis and gurus, but they, too, could not cure her.
One guru suggested she visit a sadhu who was seated alongside a road; he was Narayan, who was staying in Bombay at the time.
The woman approached him and pleaded, "I have been told you have the power to restore my voice."
"Why should I?" the sadhu asked.
"So that I might sing again," Anjani responded.
"So you can sing, ah! To whom will you sing? If I restore your voice will you sing for me?"
"Of course," Anjani answered sincerely. "I will do whatever you wish."
"Well, go ahead and sing!" Narayan replied.
With these words the woman began to sing, much to her own amazement. After this occurrence, Anjani Bai left her profession and devoted all her wealth to serving Narayan's needs. He was treated and acted like a rich maharaja instead of a poor fakir.
Once when Maharaj was in Bombay, a man from the circus was brought by a devoted follower to meet him. He brought along a performing chimpanzee who delighted all with his antics. When it was time to go, however, the chimp refused to budge from Maharaj's feet. All coaxing and temptations of bananas and biscuits failed to move the animal. The car was parked outside and all were waiting, wondering how to induce the chimp into the car. Finally, Maharaj patted it on the head and said, " Jao , beta [Go, my child]" and the chimp leapt up and ran straight into the car.
Narayan Maharaj — literally meaning God the King — was a jamali type of Master; he was gentle, kind, childlike and seldom abusive. His disciples claimed that his physical appearance did not change for nearly 30 years — he had "perennial youth." Although extremely short in stature, his lean body had beautiful definition and subtlety like a yogi's. He was regally attired in velvet and silk clothes with gold embroidery and diamond buttons. He often wore rings and other jewelry and was at times chauffeured about in a Rolls-Royce.