She was the Emperor. She was sitting under a neem tree. I had the original Experience of my being the Ancient One when she kissed me on the forehead. Sai Baba would ask for money. Upasni Maharaj would accept it when it was offered by one's own free will. Babajan never asked for it. If anyone gave it to her, she would chase him away! People of every religion believed in her — Hindus, Muslims, Christians and Zoroastrians.
Now about Narayan Maharaj. He was of short stature. He would wear costly gems and dress in silk. Although not directly asking for money, he would signify it in an indirect way which people would understand and give to him. A Hindu atmosphere prevailed near him. Sai Baba had no regular ashram. Babajan's ashram was her seat beneath the neem tree, and Narayan Maharaj had a Hindu populace with him at Kedgaon.
Now about Tajuddin Baba. You have no idea who he was. I know who he is. He was taj [the crown]! He was not inclined to ask for money and would not care if anyone gave it to him. He would spend it on those who were with him. Hindus, Muslims, Parsis and Christians worshiped him, and even today, an all-religion atmosphere prevails there.
I am here on account of the Five Sadgurus. The attributes of all five, which I am describing, are in me. They depend on three things — money, the ashram and the communal feeling around them. I am dealing with all three together.
Baba suddenly asked the entire group present to stand and then sit down again. He explained, "I asked you to do this for two reasons. Firstly, by way of paying your respects to the Five Masters, and secondly, as an opportunity required by some of you to stand up and stretch your legs!"
Baba then spoke about himself:
In the beginning, I stayed in a small hut on the outskirts of Poona. From there, I started for Bombay on foot with 40 of my Hindu, Muslim and Parsi believers. I had no money. I told Rustom if he loaned me some, he would be benefited. Whenever I asked for money, I had to explain things and would then take from him.
In Bombay, we resided in Dadar at Manzil-e-Meem. Some of the mandali were with me there — Sadashiv, Buasaheb, Masaji, Rustom, Adi, Pendu, Sarosh, Gustadji, Vishnu and so forth.