Nag Mahashay never initiated anyone, but he was an awakener of souls, and his life was a source of inspiration to many people. Like his Master, he spoke only about God, and he would often remind the devotees: “God first, and then the world” and “A man has a right to demand money from his employer in the evening if he worked the whole day; similarly, if a man calls on God all through his life, he can force God to give him a vision or realization.” If anyone addressed him as “guru,” he would knock his head on the ground and say: “I am an insignificant person. What do I know? All of you come here to bless me with the dust of your holy feet. In this age the monastic disciples of Sri Ramakrishna are the real gurus.”
Sharat Chandra Chakrabarty was a great devotee of Nag Mahashay and later wrote his biography. One day he begged Nag Mahashay to initiate him, but he refused. Seeing Sharat Babu’s disappointment, Nag Mahashay said: “Don’t lose heart. Lord Shiva Himself will be your guru.” Binodini Mitra, the daughter of Nag Mahashay’s cousin and another of his biographers, related in her book how that blessing was fulfilled:
It was May 1897. Swami Vivekananda was staying at the Alambazar monastery after returning from the West. Sharat Babu went to see Swamiji and found him resting in his room. He sat down to wait for Swamiji to get up, but all of a sudden he saw that Lord Shiva was lying where Swamiji had been. He could not believe his own eyes at first, but as he stared at the figure he could not doubt what he saw. He then remembered the boon Nag Mahashay had given him. Swamiji later initiated him. (Source: They Lived with God)