He became so jealous and upset that he threatened self-immolation! Baba sent Pendu to Nagpur to bring Babadas to Amraoti, where Baba severely reprimanded him and then directed him to stay with him during the tour.
A middle-aged female saint named Tai Maharaj lived in Amraoti. She had a large following, and she invited Baba to her temple. Baba went there on Tuesday, 23 December 1952 and, in the presence of over 500 of her followers, she received Baba with tears in her eyes. She declared to all present, "The Avatar has come to me!"
Throughout the half hour of darshan, Tai Maharaj remained seated near Baba's feet and would not leave him. After the program, she requested that Baba enter the temple, which he did. A statue of Lord Krishna was profusely decorated inside, and Tai Maharaj gazed at it and then at Baba.
Pointing to the statue, Baba told her, "I am there!"
On his return, Baba remarked, "I appreciate the spirit of Tai Maharaj. There are many saints but she is a real one who totally forgets herself. She is so simple and humble. As for myself, I prefer vagabonds to hypocritical saints [persons who pretend to be saintly]!"
A third public darshan in Amraoti was held at Vidarbha University that day, where the principal, professors and others accorded Baba a splendid reception. Baba toured the campus and met everyone. The principal, Mr. Nerulla, was a devotee of Ramakrishna of Calcutta, whom he considered to be the Avatar.
Baba explained to him, "Do you think it is all meaningless and senseless when I declare with authority that I am the Avatar? Ramakrishna was a rare type of Sadguru. He was the Herald of the Avataric age. So go on loving him and one day you will find me in him."
"How many more births will I have to take before God-realization?" Nerulla asked Baba.
"I am very pleased with your question, which reveals well the patience of your heart. Many come to me and demand immediate Realization. Now that you have asked me, I will tell you: You will see me in the form of Ramakrishna at the time of death."
That evening Baba had been invited to Dr. Patwardhan's leper colony, five miles from Amraoti. He was taken around the asylum, and he sat with the patients in their tiny prayer hall for some time. Baba spoke through his alphabet board, laying special stress on the following points: