Each expressed his personal view, but Baba explained to them, "You cannot know me as the Avatar on the basis of the Avatarhood of Ram, Krishna and others. You cannot know the Avatar by means of the intellect, either. But I tell you all that I am the Avatar, and that is sufficient basis for you.
"How lucky you are to be meeting me. Such an opportunity even the gods do not have!"
Katta Subba Rao spoke of his wish to establish a center in his garden, to which Baba consented. So Subba Rao called some local Hindu priests to sanctify the place by chanting Vedic hymns. Baba was made to sit in the garden as the so-called "great pundits" began their worship. Baba, magnanimous as ever, did not disappoint Subba Rao or criticize his beliefs, and on the contrary, seemed to enjoy it all. Until the rites were over, he patiently sat there, and then touched a stone on which his statue was to be built. It is traditional for something precious to be placed in the cornerstone, and Katta Subba Rao handed Baba a few pearls, which Baba placed under it.
Baba was to depart that evening, and so his lovers from Hamirpur, Nagpur, Saoner, Delhi and Dehra Dun were sent away that day. A meeting of Andhra workers was to take place, and Baba's presence was required.
So he informed those who were to depart, "I have no time; say goodbye quickly."
Kumar made everyone stand in a row, and when Baba came to see them off, according to Kumar's suggestion, the men gave him a smart military salute. Thus ended their farewell. Baba embraced Kumar and related to Kumar and Kishan Singh that he intended to stay for several months in Dehra Dun after the middle of February 1953, and he instructed them to rent two houses for him and the mandali.
At one point, Baba again reminded Bhau, "Remember my instructions [given in Nagpur]."
In the workers' meeting, differences among them over work in Meher Baba's name surfaced. Baba gave them full freedom to vent their feelings and iron out all strife. Those who did not know English were asked by Baba to express themselves in Telugu, which Kutumba Sastri would translate. But before anything was translated, Baba would know its meaning and dictate his reply. Once, he even corrected Sastri, saying he had not properly translated what was said.