Sai Baba was then 77 years old. Dressed in a white kafni, he had a white beard and a head of snow-white hair. He was seated in his mosque (Dwarkamai Masjid) and, pointing to Khodu, said, "I want to see that fellow only."
Khodu nervously walked up and bowed at Sai Baba's feet, and when he did the old fakir slapped him on the back so hard that it knocked the breath out of him. Khodu was startled, and then Sai Baba inquired, "Who is your friend? What does he want?"
"His name is Merwan ... Merwan Sheriar Irani. He is very devout and eagerly desires your darshan, holy one. Hazrat Babajan of Poona has told us about you."
"No, I won't allow him to come!" Sai Baba said.
Looking at Khodu, he continued, "Give me all your money!" Khodu did and then Sai Baba told him to leave.
Khodu left and reported to Merwan, who shook his head and said, "Let us just wait. I must see him and I will."
Later, Sai Baba was on his way to lendi (answering the call of nature) in a field, followed by a large procession that included a band playing music. The atmosphere was joyful though at the same time solemn with reverence. Contrary to what Khodu had said, Sai Baba now appeared to be in a very good mood. As Sai Baba was about to pass them, Merwan prostrated himself on the ground in front of Sai Baba's feet in sashtang namaskar .
Seeing Merwan lying before him on the ground, Sai Baba, in a deep voice, as if rising from the depths of the ocean, uttered one majestic word: "PARVARDIGAR!"
The ways of the Sadguru are wonderful indeed, but to the ignorant they are always unintelligible. Sai Baba's holy word bestowed infinite power upon Merwan; the moment Sai Baba spoke, Merwan became all-powerful.
Age observed, "When Khodu and Merwan had arrived in Shirdi, the air was still. There was no movement in the trees; the sky was gray and the atmosphere solemn. But when Sai Baba proclaimed 'Parvardigar,' a warm breeze arose and sunlight broke through the clouds. The branches of the trees began swaying, as if dancing in the presence of Almighty God and His reflection. Everything in nature and in the universe seemed in sudden harmony, as if affirming, 'Merwan is God!' "
Those who surrounded Sai Baba were astonished at the sudden change in his mood.