ChaptersChapter 23Page 3,265

Chapter 23: Fiery Free Life

1953Page 3,265 of 5,444
That evening, at about five o'clock, the largest mass darshan program during the three months of Baba's Fiery Free Life took place at Ram Kothi (fairgrounds) in Eluru. A multitude, estimated at 60,000 people, had assembled. There was a sea of heads as far as the eye could see. Men and women formed into separate lines as the police tried to keep the crowd under control. Baba worked like a machine distributing prasad with both hands continuously until about 7:30 for as many as possible. Although there was an enormous crowd, the queues proceeded peacefully, and there were no disturbances.
Raisaheb Ramashankar of Hamirpur had been positioned next to Baba throughout the program. His job was to collect the various offerings (fruit, coconuts, sweets, flowers and gifts) brought by devotees before they went to Baba for prasad. But by the end of the day he was not to be seen. He was completely surrounded and submerged by the huge mound of offerings. Ramashankar was so overpowered by the day's experience that he did not know who he was anymore and had to be escorted away. Baba comforted him, but he was out of his senses with love, and it was almost a month before Ramashankar returned to normal.
On his return to Subba Rao's home after the darshan, Baba remarked, "The time has come when the Ocean of Love has to flood the rivers which have gone spiritually dry! When you see me giving darshan and prasad to thousands of people, it is neither mechanical nor meaningless. These are the means by which my love flows to humanity."
Throughout the Fiery Free Life darshan tour, Baba had complained about bodyaches and sleeplessness. He had not been able to sleep well at night since arriving in Tadepalligudem ten days before, as he had a cold as well as a sore throat.
When the group gathered before him on the morning of the 27th, he stated, "Babajan often used to say, 'A million holes are being drilled in my heart.' And last night, I had the same feeling.
"It seems that I will literally be consumed by my Fiery Free Life. In April, there is a great possibility of my dropping the body. During this month, wherever I go all the resident mandali will be with me. In March, I will reside either at Dehra Dun or Hyderabad. When I break my silence, the Ocean of Love will flood the 'rivers' which have become dry."
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