Baba asked Meherjee to read out the clippings from different newspapers about Jal Kerawalla.
Baba stated, "Jal obeyed me 100 percent without any complaint and with absolute faith. Indeed, such obedience and faith is rare."
Baba listened to a few records of the late maestro Abdul Karim Khan, but did not look pleased while they were played, and was only happy when he heard his selected ghazals. He recalled some incidents [in Manzil-e-Meem] which revealed the herculean bodily strength he possessed previously.
"I had such strength," he stated, "That when a fiery mood possessed me, people used to hide, even in the bathrooms. And look at me now! The septum of my nose is broken, my feet are swollen. I cannot walk well. The same strength is now expressed in bearing suffering. What a change!"
Before Baba left for Meherazad in the evening, Sadashiv Patil was instructed to visit Alandi (about 20 miles from Poona) the following morning, and offer his respects on Baba's behalf at the tomb of the Perfect Master Dnyaneshwar.
On Wednesday, 5 November 1952, Baba returned to Meherabad in the morning.
He remarked, "Today is a very important day for me. Be sincere and serious about the duties entrusted to you, whether these are in the Agra Kuti [Jhopdi] or elsewhere."
He then prepared for the prayers by the five "priests." A copy of each holy book had been placed on a table to his left. Eruch stood nearby to assist him. First, Baba sat on a cushion on the floor, applied a red dot to his forehead in the manner of orthodox Hindus, tied a silk cord around his waist and lit a prayer lamp which had seven wicks. At 8:30 A.M. Kalemama began the morning's program by reciting a Sanskrit couplet by Valmiki praising Ram, followed by a selection from the Dnyaneshwari.1 When he finished Baba bowed down to him.
At nine o'clock Baba stood near Kaikobad (who represented a Zoroastrian), tied the sacred thread around his waist and put on a black Parsi cap. Kaikobad then read from the Avesta for half an hour. Baba asked him to repeat the 101 Names of God also. At the end, Baba gave the cap he wore to Pleader and the kusti to Kaikobad, and bowed down to him, as he did to each of those who read.
Ramjoo was next. First he offered namaz, as Baba bowed quietly with his head touching the floor. Ramjoo then read from the Koran until 10:00 A.M.
Footnotes
- 1.Valmiki, the author of the Ramayana (the life of Ram), is considered among the greatest of Indian poets. He was a hermit who built a shelter in the jungle for Sita when she was banished by Ram.