The work lasted until 19 December. Satisfied, Baba had Baidul take the mast back to Thana.
Because of inclement weather, Baba asked Padri to dismantle the two cabins on the hill, and within a week reassemble them into a single unit below at Meherazad. Padri did as ordered, and in two days the job was completed. The cabin was then surrounded on all sides by bamboo matting, and Gustadji, Baidul, Pendu and Eruch were ordered to stay within the enclosure. The four companions were forbidden from seeing the other men at Meherazad, who were likewise prohibited from stepping inside the enclosed area.
As a "link" to the work Baba would be doing down the hill, the servant-companions remained on the hill until all the arrangements were completed on the 14th of December, when they also relocated to Meherazad. That same day, a maulvi (Muslim priest) from Ahmednagar was called at 8:00 A.M. to read selections from the Koran before Baba for half an hour. Ramjoo was told to remain nearby during the reading. Adi Sr. and Don too had come.
After the completion of the reading, Baba made a curious remark.
He said, "I could only concentrate on what was being read for five minutes. The rest of the time my mind was filled with thoughts — relevant, irrelevant, high, low, good and bad."
On Saturday, 15 December 1951, Baba retired to the now joined cabins at Meherazad; but before going into seclusion, at about 8:30 A.M. the customary prayers were offered. Pictures of Zoroaster, Krishna, Buddha, Jesus and Babajan, and also the models of the five religions, were placed on a table. There being no picture of Prophet Muhammad (which is forbidden in Islam), a framed paper was brought on which were written the revered names: Allah, Muhammad, Fatima, Hasan and Hussain.1 When the prayer of a particular religion was recited, the picture of its Avatar or the list of revered names was kept in front.
Before starting the prayers, Baba admonished, "You all should take part in the prayers wholeheartedly. If you do not do so, you are likely to misunderstand and have bad thoughts, which will adversely affect my work."
Present for the ceremony were Adi Sr., Baidul, Don, Eruch, Gustadji, Kaikobad, Kaka, Krishna, Nilu, Pendu, Padri, Ramjoo and Vishnu. The prayers began at nine o'clock that morning. First, Kaikobad prayed from the Avesta, as Baba wrapped the kusti (Zoroastrian sacred thread) around his waist.
Footnotes
- 1.Allah means the Most High; Fatima was Muhammad's daughter; Hasan and Hussain were Muhammad's grandsons. Ram's picture was not included, but he was remembered through the alabaster model of a temple.