On Monday, 19 January 1953, a mass darshan program took place at 8:30 A.M. opposite Dhanapathy's residence, where a huge pavilion had been raised. The customary message of Baba's bowing down and explanation about the Fiery Life was read out. Moving lectures were then delivered by the Meher Committee, the local Bar Association and the Gandhi Seva body, welcoming Baba to their town. The message from Baba on "Spiritual Freedom" was read out by Dhake and translated into Telugu by Kutumba Sastri. Then darshan commenced. Until 1:00 P.M., Baba gave darshan and handed prasad to almost 10,000 men and women. It resumed at 2:30 P.M. and went on and on until late that evening. About 20,000 had the good fortune of receiving Baba's touch that day. Bhaskara Raju sang bhajans continuously during the function, and in between Baba would give out certain explanations and messages.
Next morning, Baba paid visits to the homes of his lovers in Tadepalligudem.1 At every home, Gadekar performed the arti in Marathi. At Bansilal's home, his wife begged Baba for the gift of a son. At Suryachandra's, the couple had arranged chanting of the ancient Vedas to welcome the Avatar of the Age.
Baba went to the Dhanapathys' house for lunch. Dhanapathy's young granddaughters danced for Baba, and Baba kissed and played with them.
A yogi from Pondicherry named Shuddhananda Bharati, 55, came to Dhanapathy's for Baba's darshan. Many years before, Bharati had met Sai Baba, who had given him a candy, saying, "Your Beloved will possess you soon. Keep silent and centered on the Self. Sweet [blessed] is the heart which is linked with the Sweetest [God]."
Upasni Maharaj had once told Shuddhanand, "The Beloved of your life will one day embrace you." And a high saint of Hubli had said, "You will meet a silent Master." Now, after meeting other spiritually illumined beings such as Ramana Maharshi and Aurobindo, at last he faced Meher Baba, and immediately recognized him as "the Saint of saints, the Mahatma of mahatmas, the goal of my long pilgrimage."
Baba met him very lovingly, and Shuddhanand Bharati bowed his head at Baba's feet. Baba gave him a message titled "Inner Humility Is Strength, Outer Humility Is Weakness."
While the little girls were dancing before Baba, he stated: "The first Song I sang, the first Dance I danced have eternally bound me. In spite of my best efforts, I am unable to free myself.
Footnotes
- 1.Places visited included the residences of: Bapiraju Tatavarti, Bommireddy Ramalingeswara Rao, Dr. V. Ramdas, J. Venkateswara Rao, Koka Chelapathi Rao, Manchala Venkanna, Seth Bansilal, P. Suryachandra Rao and the Sai Baba and Upasni Maharaj mandals (groups).