A new madness was spreading; people became mad for God and for the wonderful company of the incarcerated Master.
Day by day the numbers increased, creating a problem for the asylum officials. At first, as mentioned, they erected a separate gateway leading to the tree where Tajuddin would be seated. Then the crowds became too large to manage and the government officials of Nagpur issued entry tickets only to a fixed number, but this system failed. The fragrance of Tajuddin's wine spread throughout India, driving people mad to see him. The officials of both the city and the asylum were at a loss as to how to handle the situation. Finally, the police were directed to control the crowds.
Tajuddin Baba was becoming the leading spiritual figure in the area. Among those who came for his darshan was a Muslim girl who had the same name as his mother — Mariambi. This girl came to Tajuddin with an inner thirst so great that it could drink the wineshop dry! Mariambi came for the Master's real darshan, with the desire to lose everything at his feet.
When Mariambi approached Tajuddin, he took her arm and broke her glass bangles with a stone. This external act freed her from all external bindings and attachments in the world. The Master then embraced her, and she inwardly detached herself from the world. She belonged wholly to Tajuddin Baba. "I have been waiting for you, my dear, for the past twelve years," he told her, "and at last you have come."
It was at this moment that Mariambi became spiritually connected with Tajuddin for the rest of her life. After this profound contact, she visited Tajuddin daily in the asylum. Later when he was freed, she was destined to be at his side always. In Mariambi's company Tajuddin would appear extremely happy. He loved this girl especially; he poured the entire wineshop into her cup! She was among his chosen circle.
It was under the personal instruction of Hazrat Chisti that Mariambi had gone to Tajuddin.1 Chisti had told her, "It is at Tajuddin's feet, not mine, that you should surrender everything." When she did, she gained Everything!
Once while Tajuddin was in the asylum, a woman was brought to him who was suffering intensely, it was thought from possession by a spirit. Tajuddin eyed her, then spat in her face, shouting, "Why are you so bold and insolent with fakirs?"
Footnotes
- 1.Mariambi is regarded as a saint by the Mohammedan community. Her samadhi is still worshiped in the town of Vaki, not far from Vaki Shariff, where Tajuddin established his headquarters.