When Mani handed him the piece of paper with the names of Zoroaster, Ram, Krishna, Buddha, Jesus and Muhammad, Baba put it in his pocket as he walked down the steps leading underground.
On the harsh, cold morning of Monday, 5 December 1949, Baba walked back to the underground rooms in the subterranean passages of the Sarnath ruins with all the men, except for Kaka and Vishnu (who went two days later). Each man had been instructed to wear a langoti (loincloth) under his clothes. Once inside, Baba instructed the companions to remove their clothes except for the langoti. Almost completely naked, every man shivered in the bitter cold. Each companion was handed a copy of the prayer to be offered. Sitting down on the steps, Baba directed each to read the prayer silently in his mind for fifteen minutes when he signaled to begin.
The ancient surroundings, where Gautama the Buddha had conferred diksha (initiation) to his disciples, were peaceful and still. Ironically, in the place where Buddha consecrated his life and the lives of his disciples, Baba was praying with his companions to snap the Master-disciple connection!
Sitting on the steps, all gazed at Baba, who smilingly signaled them to begin silently repeating the following prayer:
“”God, give me strength to follow the conditions 100 percent.
God, help me to speak the truth, and not to tell a lie under any circumstances.
God, help me to control anger, and to keep away from lustful and greedy desires.
God, help me to be just, fair, honest and kind toward my companions, and toward those who come into contact with me.
After fifteen minutes, Baba signaled to the companions to touch the prayer paper to their foreheads, put on their clothes and stand in a line. Baba was standing at one end of the passageway, and when the companions were ready, he directed them to approach him one by one and hand over the prayer paper. As he took it, he warmly shook hands with each. Baba's face burst into a brilliant glow exhibiting his complete satisfaction with the fulfillment of his work. Smiling, Baba and the companions ascended the steps and reached the door, where Baba asked Ghani to loudly repeat seven times, " Ho gaya !" — meaning finished or completed. When Ghani was repeating the two words, Baba himself joined in by raising his right hand each time. Baba advised the companions to carefully preserve the langoti they had on at the time of the prayer, not to use it again unless he directed, and to keep it separate with a special mark on it.
