Harthar Namdar was unusual, for he was both salik- and majzoob-like.1 A highly advanced mast, supposedly then over 105 years old, he was usually found naked, sitting aloof under a tree.
Rahmin Saheb, an elderly well-known mast whom Baba had contacted before, would wander about the lanes and meadows of the village of Tulamul.
Choudhari Lath was a high jalali mast who wore many layers of clothes, even in the hottest months. He was difficult to contact because of his irascible disposition, and Baidul was even beaten on the back by him. He was also said to beat any woman who dared to come near him. He was a difficult, fiery mast, but a good one according to Baba.
Meanwhile Mani fell ill with malaria. Some days, she would have a high fever and some days none at all. On the days when she had a fever, she would eat only soup, and on the other days, her appetite was normal. Rano would inform the hotelkeeper what to prepare, as the Eastern women were kept secluded and could not see, much less talk directly to, any man. The hotel staff was confused over the constant change of diet, thinking: "One day only soup ... the next day a full banquet?!"
After a week, on 9 September Baba left Srinagar, with the women, Baidul, and Chanji, and arrived in Rawalpindi at 7:00 P.M. After having tea, they took the overnight Peshawar Express train back to Lahore, where they arrived the following morning at 5:30 A.M.
The next day, Saturday, 11 September 1943, Baba, Baidul and Chanji left Lahore in the evening and arrived at Rawalpindi. Baba and Baidul went to buy a good pair of hiking shoes for their upcoming walking journey to Jasgiran. Chanji remained behind at the station to look after the luggage. Kaka also came to Rawalpindi from Srinagar with a mast, who Chanji was to keep watch over.2 Baba then left with Baidul and Kaka on the midnight passenger train (which was two hours late) for Haripur, via Taxila.
Baba wished to contact a great mast in the small village of Jasgiran, which was about 20 miles from Haripur and was 2,500 feet above sea level. The only way to reach it was on mules, ponies or by foot along the stony track. The trip was one of the most hazardous and memorable of all the mast journeys Meher Baba made.
Footnotes
- 1.Harthar Namdar was known as a mahant (head of a Hindu sect) and the head of an ashram where many of his disciples lived.
- 2.It is unclear from Chanji's diary whether he took the mast to Lahore or somewhere else, before returning to Rawalpindi.