After a brief visit to Nasik, Baba returned to Meherabad on 11 November, whereupon Buasaheb complained about the four cave workers.
Baba lambasted them, "Why did you eat the sweets without my permission? No one here, except Buasaheb, is faithful!"
But Jalbhai saved them from a terrible scolding. He admitted eating the laddoos and, since he was their supervisor, they could not be wholly blamed. Baba forgave all with a warning not to do it again.
Baba was pleased to know that the work on the cave was finished, and a tin sheet roof was installed overhead. The cave was eight feet deep and a Persian carpet was spread over the earthen floor. A canvas was hung across the entrance, and the ground opposite the cave was leveled for the mandali to gather during Baba's seclusion. Baba named it the Panchvati Cave and secluded himself in it on Saturday, 15 November 1930.1 Before entering seclusion, Baba held a darshan program for poor people only and many were fed. Late that afternoon, Baba was taken to the cave. Sitting on the ground in front of it, all chanted for one hour the simple prayer dictated by Baba of the names of God: Hari, Paramatma, Allah, Ahuramazda, God, Yezdan, Hu.
Baba ordered this prayer to be sung along with his arti each evening at sunset until he ended this seclusion. The mandali were permitted to bow down at Baba's feet for darshan after the arti.
While Baba was in strict seclusion in the Panchvati Cave, Pleader was isolated in the Post Office building. One day Pleader looked up and saw a long black cobra hanging from the ceiling. He had orders not to leave the room, nor could he shout for help, since he was also maintaining silence. Although terrified, there was nothing he could do but stare up at the snake and remember Baba even more.
A considerable amount of time passed (and it was even said that the cobra drank some of Pleader's milk). Finally, when Sidhu came to bring the next ration of milk, Pleader pointed toward the ceiling. Sidhu stumbled backward when he saw the size of the snake. He was so scared that for a few moments he could not utter a word. Then he began shouting. Pendu and Chhagan came running to help.
The cobra was curled in the corner of the rafters and it was difficult to lure it down in order to kill it.
Footnotes
- 1.Panchvati (Five Banyan Trees) is a famous place of pilgrimage in Nasik, associated with Lord Ram, who stayed there during his twelve-year exile. Babajan had also stayed there, prior to settling in Poona.