There in that dark room, Nigunandji struck 40 matches, and in the light of those flames gazed at Baba's magnificent face and countenance. Examining Baba's every feature closely, the mast's own features filled with joy and ecstasy. Baba was pleased with the contact.
Baba also contacted Mangalgiri Maharaj , who was known to be 104 years old. He was an extremely thin yogi whose body was bent over toward the ground. During that day in Uttar Kashi, Baba contacted other advanced sadhus and seekers — a total of sixteen pilgrims of the Path.
The following day, Sunday, 11 April 1948, Baba went to the village of Tilot, where he contacted Vishnu Datt Digambar , an elderly mast in his eighties, but he also appeared untouched by time.
Among all the contacts in Uttar Kashi, he was the best, and Baba remarked about him, "He is three things in one — a mast, a saint and a child."
This very high mast was completely naked and had been silent for many years. Vishnu Datt Digambar used to beg for his food at five particular houses, reminiscent of Sai Baba, who also begged at five houses. When Baba left, the mast bid farewell to Baba with kisses.1
Devgiri Maharaj, the man with his followers whom Baba had noticed on the train from Benares, arrived in Uttar Kashi on the 12th. Baba went to see him in the Vishwanath Temple. This was the last contact Baba made in Uttar Kashi. Significantly, he had started and ended his work with this adept pilgrim of the mental planes. Baba had contacted 25 sadhus and 35 masts or advanced souls in those three days.
Before leaving, Baba bought a black and brown female Mastiff puppy. Baba named it Gol-Gol which roughly translates as "Roly-Poly." Throughout the return journey to Ahmednagar, Baba himself would look after and feed the puppy.2
Starting back on foot from Uttar Kashi on the morning of the 13th, Baba and his five companions spent the next three days retracing the route they had taken on the way in. The heat was more intense than before, and after a few days of trekking, Baba developed chafing around the groin which made walking painful. But he kept up, walking bowlegged.3 Noticing Baba's discomfort, Chhagan, who was familiar with ayurvedic medicine, said that if they applied a paste of chickpea flour, the rash would subside.
Footnotes
- 1.In later years, Baba named Vishnu Dutt Digambar as one of the seven advanced souls Baba called his "beloved children."
- 2.The dog's name was shortened to Gulu and then to Bhooty, as she had white paws. (Bhooty later gave birth to one of Baba's favorite dogs, Mastan.)
- 3.Although Meher Baba was 54 years old at that time, he still walked at an incredibly fast pace.