Hearing this, Shivananda struggled to get up from his bed, but as he was unable to do so, he shouted loudly, "I bow down to the Ancient One!"
Baba reassured him, "Don't worry. It is because you are dear to me that I have come to you today."
He again admonished the secretary and followers, "You should stick to Swami Shivananda with all your heart."
On his departure, the inmates of the ashram burst out, "Sadguru Meher Baba ki jai!"
It was a touching scene, depicting Meher Baba's divine authority, his divine love and conduct; and it also demonstrated the humility of Swami Shivananda. It was Baba's love for him that had brought him to his ashram and made him massage his legs, kiss him, behave forgivingly toward him and at the same time make him imbibe the essence of truth and honesty.
On the verandah outside, refreshments were served and the secretary informed Baba that it was Shivananda's wish that Baba partake of them. Baba picked up some dried fruits and gave them to the secretary as his prasad. He then touched all the food on the table with instructions to distribute it among the ashram inmates. Baba then left.
Along the way Baba remarked to the mandali, "I am deeply touched with Shivananda's love, and wish him a complete recovery."
Baba sent Eruch again to Shivananda to inform him that his name would be omitted from the message about the false rumor that was to be printed and widely circulated. Eruch conveyed this to the ashram the next day. While Baba stayed in Rishikesh for his work of contacting masts and sadhus, he continually inquired about Shivananda's health. Some days later, Shivananda recovered from his condition — proof positive of Baba's love for him.
On Monday morning 2 March 1953, at seven o'clock, Baba set out to contact masts, saints and sadhus throughout Rishikesh. Baba desired that the mandali should touch the feet of those whom he indicated; otherwise, he said, they were to offer obeisance only, with folded hands. Baba first contacted Swami Brahmji, and then an advanced soul known as Swami Brahma Prakash and motioned to the mandali to bow down to him, before Baba contacted him.
After contacting a few sadhus, he reached the area near the flow of the Sheshdhara River, called Shesh Dhara , to contact Swami Ram Krishna.