So Vishnu would only go to Baba once a day in the morning, unless telegrams were received, in which case he would go back. Sometimes Adi Sr. in Bangalore would write to Baba, but Baba would not open his letters.1
He would ask, "Why does Adi write when he knows that correspondence has stopped?"1
The only other resident besides Vishnu who was fortunate enough to see Baba during his seclusion was the young servant Kashya S. Kamble, 22, who would bring Baba the Times of India at 8:30 every morning. Baba, however, was always particular to ask Vishnu about each of the Meherabad men and women mandali's health, work, duties and activities.
Krishna was Baba's personal attendant and would take Baba his tea, food and water, but he never saw Baba at these times. Baba was not staying in one room, but moving about the compound of the mast ashram, giving a bath to the four masts and working in seclusion with Chatti Baba. Each time Krishna would step inside the compound, Baba would hide himself so as not to be seen. Baba remained quite aloof from the outside world, absorbed with working in seclusion with the masts.
Krishna was told to be "in" — meaning, to come inside the mast ashram — at the following times:
5:00 - 6:00 A.M. — Arrange Baba's bath and toilet. 7:00 A.M. — For five minutes only to bring tea and take away clothes for washing. 7:30 - 9:30 A.M. — Take away tea vessels, clean Baba's latrine, clean Chatti Baba's room and arrange Chatti Baba's bath and breakfast tea. Bring Baba's drinking water and take away stale vessels. Clean Baba's room. 2:00 P.M. — For five minutes to bring Baba's meal. 4:00 - 5:00 P.M. — Arrange Baba's bedding and take away meal vessels. Arrange meal for Chatti Baba. 6:00 P.M. — For ten minutes to bring Baba's tea and washed clothes. 6:30 P.M. — For fifteen minutes to take away tea vessels, and clean Baba's latrine and keep a lighted lantern.
Before entering seclusion, Baba divided the women into different groups of three. Members of one group were not to speak with members of another group. Kitty was to pass messages between them. The upper floor of the dormitory was divided into smaller cubicles for each group. Baba would visit the women's quarters once a week, every Thursday from 1:30 to 8:00 P.M. During the period of his seclusion, he had asked the women to chant the seven names of God each morning.
Footnotes
- 1.Later this restriction was eased, and Baba sent cables to Adi Sr. about his and the other Bangalore mandali's health.