Maharaj's disciples, led by Namdeo Mahar and his wife, welcomed Merwan Seth to their humble huts. Afterwards, Merwan Seth and Sadashiv departed for Nagpur.
While in Nagpur, Merwan Seth explained to Sadashiv, "I am also connected with Tajuddin Baba. I want you to take three or four of Upasni's devotees with you to Vaki Shariff and meet Tajuddin. Take flowers and fruits with you. Give Tajuddin my salutations, although I cannot go." However, when Sadashiv and the group reached Tajuddin's headquarters, they found that the Master had departed just an hour before. Disappointed, they went back to Nagpur and explained this to Merwan Seth.
The next day Merwan Seth instructed Sadashiv, "You must meet Tajuddin. I am sending you again to Vaki Shariff, but this time, leave an hour earlier so you don't miss him." But again Tajuddin had just gone.
For four days Merwan Seth instructed them to go to Vaki Shariff and each time Sadashiv and the devotees of Upasni Maharaj missed Tajuddin Baba by minutes. Each day they were sent earlier and earlier, but each time Tajuddin had slipped away ahead of their arrival. Finally, Sadashiv complained to Merwan Seth of his unwillingness to go back again. It was a long tonga ride of eleven miles each way.
Merwan insisted, "Go for a fifth time and I assure you he will be there. Tajuddin will be waiting for you."
This time the Master was present. After Sadashiv and the others bowed to him, Tajuddin inquired, "For four days you have been put to much trouble, but today I was waiting for you to arrive. Do you know why I was not here?" Tajuddin then showed them a photograph of Merwan Seth, remarking, "This Heavenly Rose was calling me for the past four days, but he was also sending you to me! Today the Heavenly Rose did not call me, so I am now able to meet you."1
(Sadashiv recalled a similar incident regarding Tajuddin Baba that occurred a few years later after Meher Baba had set up his own ashram. Baba had sent his disciples Ghani, Vajifdar and Sadashiv to meet Tajuddin, and upon meeting the three men, Tajuddin gave each a photograph of Meher Baba, telling them, "Worship this photograph of Meher Baba." They then bowed down and said prayers before Baba's photograph in front of Tajuddin Baba. )2
Footnotes
- 1.When Tajuddin Baba told Sadashiv that Merwan Seth was "calling him" he did not mean that he and Merwan Seth had met physically. Tajuddin was not in Vaki Shariff because he would constantly travel about the area.
- 2.On occasion, Meher Baba would give a disciple or devotee a photograph of one of his Masters to meditate upon. Small Khorshed was given a photograph of Tajuddin Baba to meditate on; Gulmai had photographs of Babajan and Upasni Maharaj in her prayer room.