On Sunday, 2 May 1937, Baba sent two buses packed full of materials to Meherabad and enclosed this note to Pendu:
Two buses are herewith sent. Both of them contain material of my dismantled room, plus tattas and vasas [bamboo curtains]. Use the tattas and vasas and keep the material of my cabin separate and untouched by anybody. No more trips today.
On the 6th, I come with the mandali and mad. Arrange for meals and milk for the additional five mandali from the 6th. I will arrange for the mad and their guardians. All structures must be ready by the evening of the 5th.
Some of the mad were returned to their homes or local villages. The rest, including the masts, numbering thirteen persons, were then brought to Meherabad from Rahuri by Baba on 6 May. They were housed in lower Meherabad in an improvised structure which Baba had instructed be built in an open area south of his Jhopdi. A separate fenced compound was erected around the structures.
The Rahuri land had been leased for five years and the full amount had been paid in advance. But because of the landlord's unaccommodating attitude, Baba demolished and closed the ashram within nine months, and he did not ask for a refund of the amount when he shifted to Meherabad. The entire populace of Rahuri, as well as the local government officials, expressed their regret at the prospect of Baba's departure and offered to put pressure on Laxminarayan. But Baba advised against it.
Baba had assured the Marwari that he would have a son and, accordingly, his wife soon became pregnant. The man was full of happiness because of this, but he was never to see the face of his child. On 14 July 1937, he went on horseback to a nearby village. On the way back while crossing the river at Rahuri sudden monsoon flood waters overwhelmed him and carried him away. He was drowned. His body was found two miles away. Months later, his wife gave birth to a son.
Sampath Aiyangar's cousin, C. V. Ramanujacharlu, 65, had been in the Master's contact since Baba visited Madras for his birthday celebration in 1930. He had an ardent desire to join Baba and requested an interview.
Baba allowed him to see him at Rahuri on 11 April, and when he told Baba how much he would like to stay with him, Baba remarked, "You have come at a very good time. Come and join me at once. You will see and know who I am."
He returned to Madras, and, after settling his affairs, came to stay at Meherabad on 5 May, Baba nicknamed him Swamiji and assigned him duties in the mad ashram helping Pleader and Baidul. Maneck Ranji also assisted Baba in bathing the mad and masts when he visited on the 9th.