True spiritual mastery is achieved through complete self-emptying and devotion.
"Becoming the sandals worn on the Master's feet"
Avatar Meher Baba Ki Jai
Meheru Sawak Damania (nΓ©e Jessawala)
Eruch's younger sister; cooked Baba's meals and cared for hospital patients
Profession
Homemaker; cooked Baba's meals
Meheru Jessawala was the younger sister of Eruch Jessawala, one of Meher Baba's closest mandali. From 1938 she lived for some years among the women around Baba, together with her mother Gaimai and her sister Manu. After her marriage to Savak Damania in 1945 she lived at Khushru Quarters in Ahmednagar, and from there she cooked many of Baba's meals.
In May 1937 Baba spoke with Gaimai and her sister Shirin Damania about the engagement of their children. Sometime later, most likely in June 1937, the engagement ceremony was held at Akbar Press in Ahmednagar. Baba betrothed Eruch to his cousin Khorshed Damania and, at the same time, engaged Meheru to Khorshed's brother, Savak. Baba garlanded the couples and applied kumkum to their foreheads, and they exchanged rings before him.
On 1 August 1938 Eruch brought the family from Nagpur to Ahmednagar to join Baba's ashram, and Gaimai stayed with the women mandali in the P.W.D. bungalow along with her daughters Meheru and Manu. Meheru, then 18, was among the women who left Meherabad Hill with Baba in the Blue Bus on 8 December 1938, and she helped cook during the Blue Bus travels. In 1939 she was one of the women living with Baba at the Links bungalow in Bangalore, and in 1942 the Jessawala women were again with Baba's group at Lonavla and Meherabad.
On 28 May 1945 Meheru, 24, married Savak Damania, 33, at Akbar Press, in a double ceremony with Eruch and Khorshed. Baba and the Meherabad mandali went to the weddings, and as Baba's lovers from Bombay, Poona and Ahmednagar gathered, the ceremony turned into a darshan. Afterwards, in a separate room, Baba gave private interviews to a few persons, including the two newly married couples.
The couple lived at Khushru Quarters. When Baba returned to Meherabad in August 1947, Adi Sr. drove there twice a day to take Baba up and down the hill and brought meals for Baba that Meheru had prepared; later that year she sent Baba's food to Pimpalgaon every day with Adi Sr., until 19 November 1947. In 1950, while Baba was away, she went from Khushru Quarters to Meherazad every week to keep the property clean. In November 1951, when Baba stayed on Tembi Hill near Meherazad, the food for the men staying with him on the hill was sent once a day from Ahmednagar. Meheru prepared it and sent it with a boy named Ramchandra. Baba had ordered her to send only two items per day, which she did; however, these two dishes contained a mixture of several other eatables! In early 1952, after Baba's operation, she was asked to prepare mutton soup to speed his recovery and send it from Khushru Quarters.
Meheru had not been well for months and underwent a gallbladder operation; later she was diagnosed with cancer. On 15 February 1953, on his way to Poona, Baba stopped at the Salvation Army's Evangeline Booth Hospital in Ahmednagar to visit her. He comforted her and reminded her to remember him and repeat his name. The last time Baba saw her, he remarked, "You have worked hard but soon you will have rest."
Meheru died of pancreatic cancer at Khushru Quarters on 28 September 1953, at the age of 33 (Lord Meher gives 32). On her deathbed her final words were: "Tell Baba that my journey has come to an end. Salutations to him." Adi Sr. informed Baba by telegram. After receiving it, Baba sent Eruch and others to see a movie; Eruch appeared not in the least affected by the news and was his usual self, as if nothing had happened. In November 1955 Baba named her among those who had uttered his name before breathing their last.
Born in Nagpur, India, to Bhyramshaw (Pappa) and Gaimai Jessawala (MeherBabaTravels gives 7 August 1920)
Most likely in June 1937, at Akbar Press, Baba engaged her to Savak Damania at the same ceremony in which Eruch was betrothed to Khorshed; Baba garlanded the couples and they exchanged rings before him
On 1 August 1938 the family came from Nagpur to join Baba's ashram, and she stayed with her mother and sister among the women mandali; from 8 December 1938, at 18, she traveled with Baba's women in the Blue Bus and helped cook
Married Savak Damania on 28 May 1945 at Akbar Press, in a double ceremony with Eruch and Khorshed that turned into a darshan
Living at Khushru Quarters, she prepared Baba's meals, which Adi Sr. brought to Meherabad and later, every day, to Pimpalgaon
During Baba's stay on Tembi Hill near Meherazad in November 1951, she cooked the food sent once a day and kept to Baba's order of only two items
On 15 February 1953, after her gallbladder operation, Baba visited her at Evangeline Booth Hospital in Ahmednagar and reminded her to remember him and repeat his name; she was later diagnosed with cancer
Died of pancreatic cancer at Khushru Quarters on 28 September 1953, aged 33 (Lord Meher gives 32); her last words were a message to Baba
βYou have worked hard but soon you will have rest.
β Said the last time Baba saw Meheru, before her death from cancer in September 1953.
In November 1951 Baba stayed on Tembi Hill near Meherazad, and the food for the men staying with him on the hill was sent once a day from Ahmednagar. Meheru prepared it and sent it with a boy named Ramchandra. Baba had ordered her to send only two items per day, which she did; but the two dishes contained a mixture of several other eatables.
On 15 February 1953, on his way to Poona, Baba stopped at the Evangeline Booth Hospital in Ahmednagar to visit Meheru, who had recently undergone a gallbladder operation. He comforted her and reminded her to remember him and repeat his name. She died later that year, and in November 1955 Baba named her among those who had uttered his name in their last moments.
When the telegram from Adi Sr. about Meheru's death reached Baba, he sent Eruch and others to see a movie. Eruch appeared not in the least affected by the news; he was his usual self, as if nothing had happened.