Baba came to Meherabad from Meherazad on the morning of 30 August, at seven o'clock, and called the four stalwarts of his cause in Hamirpur into his cabin, along with Babadas. Although Babadas and Sripat had told Keshav Nigam of Baba seven years before, this was Keshav's first actual meeting. He later recollected:
August 30, 1949, was not only the most blessed moment of my present life, but it also marked the culmination of all the blessed moments of all my previous lives, and the long vista of my evolutionary sojourn — for on that day I saw God Himself, on the Earth, in the form of Avatar Meher Baba ... The flame of Baba's love was intensely kindled within me, and before it, all the world and its mundane activities appeared absolutely petty and unreal.
Baba explained to the Hamirpur group: "People call me the Lord of the universe, but I am the servant of the universe. I am the washerman come to cleanse the dirt of humanity!
"You all are very fortunate to be here at this moment when I am about to enter my New Life. Now I will give you three orders for you all to follow from the 15th of October 1949 for one year. Think them over, and on returning to your homes, let me know what you decide. I will not at all be displeased if you do not accept any one or all of these orders. But once you promise me to obey one or two or all of these orders, then you must not break them. For this reason, think carefully before you give me your word.
"These are the orders: 1) Do not touch money. 2) Do not touch women. 3) Fast for 24 hours on any fixed day every week, taking only water and tea."
Regarding the darshan program, Baba said: "I agree to give darshan on one condition: If you make it your responsibility to see that no one coming for my darshan folds his hands before me [in obeisance] or touches my feet. Only then will I consent to give darshan."
This seemed impossible for them, but they assured Baba they would do their best to see that it did not happen.
Baba, however, was adamant, "I want your firm promise."
They could not give it, and so Baba advised, "Return to Hamirpur for the time being, and prepare people to receive me, making them aware of the conditions for my darshan. When they are fully ready, inform me, and I will come."
Baba asked them to have leaflets printed in Hindi about his conditions, and they departed. This was the beginning of setting fire to Hamirpur District, and Age was to witness how this spark became a blaze which engulfed the entire populace.