Soon after this incident, the journey to Kovvur was resumed. Koduri Krishna Rao was the host in Kovvur, but instead of going to his home, Baba went straight to Ramalingeshwara Rao's home, where his daughter's wedding was being celebrated. Koduri came there begging Baba's forgiveness for not arranging the buses properly. Baba forgave him and then went to his home, where a group of poor people were being fed.
At 3:30 P.M., darshan was held at a second board high school, where almost 5,000 people had congregated. Baba touched the baskets of fruit with instructions for them to be distributed as prasad from him.
Baba kept Koduri Krishna Rao at a distance, though he was responsible for arranging all the events. Baba appeared not to be in a good mood, yet this was his way of drawing Koduri closer to him. By keeping him far away, Baba drew him near. It was Koduri who several years later established a center called Mehersthan (Meher's Abode) in Kovvur.
Nittimi Dharmarao, 45, their host at Rajahmundry, had come to Kovvur with his Ford car. He had been a devoted follower of Sai Baba and Upasni Maharaj, and had met Baba at the November 1952 meetings in Meherabad. At 4:30 P.M. Dharmarao drove Baba to Dowlaiswaram, where a large function was scheduled. Only Eruch, Meherjee, Nariman and Sastri accompanied Baba.
Koduri had arranged for the mandali and other members of Baba's group to proceed to Dowlaiswaram (in East Godavri) by boat across the Godavri River. At sunset Baba's car crossed the dam at Dowlaiswaram. Baba gestured for the car to stop. He got out and, facing west, dipped his hands and feet into the river.
Dharmarao had reserved the Nava Bharati Gurukul, a student hostel of a boarding school, in Rajahmundry for Baba's stay. When Baba arrived after the darshan program in Dowlaiswaram, the mandali were not present. They were still waiting on the banks of the Godavri, since there were no buses available to bring them. Baba became furious with Dhanapathy, Dharmarao and Arjana Rao.
Sitting under a tree in the hostel's compound, he repeated, "I told you not to play with fire! I am canceling the entire program and going back to Bombay."
Dhanapathy burst out weeping and Baba forgave him, but he canceled the enactment of a play that night.
On the morning of the 23rd, Baba called Dhanapathy, Dharmarao, Sastri, Arjana Rao and Editha Sathiraju to witness a special event.1 Baba laid his head on the feet of 56 persons as "representatives" of the 56 God-realized souls on Earth. The Repentance Prayer was read by Dhake at the end of the ceremony.
Footnotes
- 1.Editha Sathiraju had first heard of Meher Baba in 1939 and attended the November 1952 meeting in Meherabad.