Masaji, Gustadji, Ghani and Bhau Cheema (a Meher Ashram boy) were also residents of the Rahuri ashram, as was Tyebali. The remaining men mandali, consisting of Adi Sr., Chhagan, Kalemama, Kalingad, Padri, Pendu, Sidhu and Vishnu, stayed at Meherabad, while the women mandali were living on the hill.
Discussions on creating a trust were ongoing, and on 6 August, Baba stressed the importance to his four "pillars" of Meherabad — Adi Sr., Pendu, Padri and Vishnu — to carefully review the draft of the clauses of the proposed trust document. He also emphasized the need for economizing on expenses.
On 15 August 1936, Meher Baba executed a trust deed in Nasik creating the Meher Mandali Maintenance Trust. A board of trustees was appointed to see to the management of the Nasik, Rahuri and Meherabad ashrams, and to ensure maintenance of individuals and families dependent upon Meher Baba. The idea in creating a trust was initially to free Baba from overseeing the details of the ashrams' daily affairs so he could concentrate on his work with the mad and masts in Rahuri. But Baba still kept a close watch over all the activities and personally intervened when necessary.1
There were eight original trustees: Adi Sr., Kaka, Padri, Pendu, Ramjoo, Sarosh, Vishnu and Norina. Adi was the president of the board, Pendu and Norina vice-presidents and Vishnu the secretary. The trustees were to hold a meeting the first week of every month; their first was held on Sunday, 16 August, in Nasik.
Baba had agreed to be present for the engagement ceremony between two young devotees from Navsari: Minoo Desai (Mansari's brother) and his cousin, Bapai, 27. They came to Nasik for the ceremony, which was performed on the 16th. Baba himself put the ring on Bapai's finger, as she wept. Age was touched by Baba's gesture: "The Creator of the universe, besides his Universal work, is attentive to each of his lovers. To create thirst for Truth, he personally attends to every individual and collective matter."
Footnotes
- 1.Another reason for forming the trust was because of persons such as K. J. Dastur who wrote to Meher Baba asking for money. With the creation of the trust, Baba could reply that all financial matters were out of his hands.