Upasni Maharaj had different ways. Sai Baba was in the habit of smoking a chillum and asking for money, while Upasni Maharaj would sit in a small temple. For three years, he did not taste a morsel of food. There were scorpions below his seat, and the room was full of dust. When he returned to normal consciousness, people began going to him. Those who offered him money, he would drive away. But, thereafter, if someone gave him money without his asking, he would accept it. I am aware of his habits because I was there with him. From that money, temples and structures were built, and Upasni Nagar came into being. Maharaj was in the habit of sitting on a heap of rubbish, and before that he stayed with the [toilet] sweeper community.
After Upasni Nagar came into existence, the Hindus began coming there, and the atmosphere turned Hindu with separate kitchens [for different castes], et cetera. But there was unity within, which I felt in Maharaj. Day and night, I was with him, for days and months together. At the time, there were a few Hindus who begrudged my close connection with Maharaj. Durgabai was there. She loved Maharaj and me also. Once Maharaj gathered around himself all his mandali when I was there. He told them, "I have given over my 'treasure' and the key to it to Merwan. You have been following me all these years. Now love Merwan and follow him. My [treasure] chest is now empty."
I want you all to pay close attention to this, so that you will be able to grasp the ways and practices of the Perfect Masters. All these five Masters are here now. They are here and not dead. How could they die? They are hearing whatever I am telling you now, as I speak through all five of them. They are present here.
One night I was with Maharaj in a room where there was a small chimney. Suddenly, Maharaj declared, "Merwan, you are the Avatar!"
Afterward, the atmosphere in Sakori changed totally.1 The Hindus created caste differences. Durgabai began staying elsewhere. Maharaj occasionally began speaking against me. Complications arose, and the Hindu atmosphere became predominant and influential. Before dropping his body, Maharaj met me, and we two were together. But that is a different episode.
Now listen about Babajan. I will explain about her in a few words.
Footnotes
- 1.Baba was referring to his meeting with Upasni Maharaj at Dahigaon on 17 October 1941.