This caused further displeasure on Baba's part.
When they finally reached the dak bungalow of a mosque two miles from town, which was where they were to stay, Baba remarked, "My mood has been spoiled. Now I don't want to remain here. We should go back."
As per Baba's instructions, Pendu had sent Aloba and Gadekar to direct the car, but by mistake they were waiting on the wrong side. Pendu explained the situation to Baba, but because Baba was upset, he instructed Pendu to pile the baggage back in a truck they had hired. Bundles of millet tied in new pieces of cloth that had been brought for distribution among the poor were reloaded onto the truck. But after some time, Baba calmed down and, forgiving all, asked that the truck be unloaded again, which was done.
Adi and Waman drove back to Ahmednagar.
On Saturday, 13 December 1952 for four hours, from 7:00 to 11:00 A.M., Baba walked about Khuldabad and sat inside the dargahs (Muslim shrines) of three Qutubs, Hazrat Zarzari Zar Baksh, Burhanuddin, and Sayyed Jainuddin Shirazi (the grave of the king Aurangzeb is here) and the tombs of two other walis (Muslim saints).1
Before this, Baba asked the mandali, "Why should a real lover of God visit particular places? What need is there for him to do so when God is everywhere?"
He himself supplied the answer: "The reason is that certain types of lovers prefer certain places to reach God. Particular places appeal most to them in order to approach God."
On his return from visiting the shrines, Baba cautioned Kumar, who had recently arrived, "When you go back to Manjri Mafi, don't visit dargahs and samadhis [Hindu saints' tombs] after seeing that I have done it here! Don't try to imitate me, but always do as I say. By visiting their shrines, I have made these holy ones witnesses to whatever I do and say these days."
Every evening in Khuldabad, Baba sat with the mandali for an hour, listening to their stories about men of God. Generally, these were narrated by Kumar, Dhake, Ramjoo and Sadashiv Patil. While reminiscing about such great saints, Baba would praise their love for their Masters. He would also tell some of the mandali to pray on his behalf according to their religion and would then bow down to them. Before praying, the mandali had to wash their feet so that Baba could put his head on their feet after the prayer.
"Don't try to think about the why and wherefore of my work," Baba advised them. "Do as I ask you to do. When I lay my head on your feet, just imagine that you are mere stones."
Footnotes
- 1.Aurangzeb was the son of Shah Jahan (who had the Taj Mahal erected) and Emperor in India (1657–1707). He was a very orthodox Muslim but underwent a profound spiritual conversion through the influence of a mast named Sar.