As person after person filed by, the program went on continually from eight in the morning until six in the evening, and more than 10,000 people received Baba's prasad in those ten hours. Twenty-five of the men mandali kept the crowd in line and some lovers also helped.1 After each poor man or woman had taken darshan, his or her hand was dipped in dye and stained red to prevent repetition. Sometimes in their enthusiasm, the mass of poor people would break out of their rows and the mandali were hard-pressed to maintain order. Surf was forming in the Ocean, stirring some of the drops to rise up in exaltation!
At one point, a mad rush erupted and disorder was about to break out. But Baba's silent warning brought the crowd to their senses and calm was restored. This was the chance for the poor to receive the God-Man's prasad and have his personal touch, and some waiting in line must have thought that Baba would stop the distribution and they would miss their turn. But he did not, and went on giving bundle after bundle to each, hour after tiring hour.
As the darshan progressed into the middle of the afternoon, someone asked Baba if his back hurt from leaning over and touching the feet of so many people and handing out prasad.
Baba indicated, "My back aches so much it doesn't ache at all!"
Smiling wearily, he added, "The whole evolutionary scheme is passing through my spine today. This is the first time I am touching the feet of those who come to pay me reverence. I salute the divinity in them, as they salute the divinity in me."
Later, Baba remarked to the Western group, "I give and I receive. As Baba, I gave; as those wretched, I received."
Thus, the emptying of the Tavern continued, as round after round was poured. The sight made even the thirstless parched! Eyes that seldom cried, filled with tears in an outburst of weeping. Hearts that were hardened cold by the world rushed forward to bathe the Master's feet with their tears!
There was a continuous flow of love from Meher Baba, and the seekers longed to drown in his ocean. Forgetting their homes, jobs and families, the lovers were merged in a rapture of bliss. For days afterward, they wished for nothing more than to seclude themselves in a quiet place and enjoy that lingering feeling.
Footnotes
- 1.Satya Mang, the former thief, was in charge of security during the birthday program.