"A God-conscious Master never does anything without some purpose," Age observed, "and all enjoyed the humor of this peculiar situation. The greatest penance one can do is to dance to every whim of the Master. It is the highest type of devotion. As Baba so often emphasized, that which is given and received in a moment's company of the Master cannot be gained even by thousands of years of austerities and penance."1
On 7 March 1923, after almost three months of strict containment in the premises of Manzil-e-Meem, Baba went for a short outing to Munshiji's house on Charni Road with Adi, Behramji, Gustadji, Ramjoo and Vajifdar. Sayyed Saheb was staying there and had been feeling depressed for some time. To cheer him up, Baba drove to Munshiji's and returned after a few hours. When he returned, he found three messengers from Upasni Maharaj waiting for him.
Three of the Sadguru's main disciples — Yeshwant Rao, Gopal Rao and Trimbak — had been sent by Upasni Maharaj to induce Baba to return to Sakori with them. Baba refused and all their efforts to persuade him were in vain. In the end they pleaded with him, "If you do not accompany us, Durgabai herself will be sent to bring you!" Still, Baba would not budge, and the three disappointed disciples had to return to Sakori the next day without him.
Upasni Maharaj had instructed them, "Somehow bring Merwan to Sakori, or else he will soon stop eating even his one meal a day!" The three men had tried their best to prevail upon him, even weeping and beseeching him with folded hands, but Baba remained adamant. This was an invisible tug-of-war between the two Masters, but, at the same time, it was also a medium of their Universal work for establishing Meher Baba's Avatarhood in the world. After some days, Maharaj sent his close woman disciple Durgabai to Manzil-e-Meem. But, despite her pleas, she also was unable to persuade Baba to come to Sakori.
The pandal that had been erected for Baba's birthday celebration had not yet been dismantled and, on Friday, 9 March, it was again decorated to celebrate the engagement of Rustom and Piroja [Freiny].2 Family members and dignitaries began arriving in the early morning, attired in their finest clothes, and the Manzil took on a festive appearance. Two hundred tables with white tablecloths were elaborately arranged for the serving of a sumptuous feast prepared by a caterer.
Footnotes
- 1.Sai Baba once explained that he contacted his spiritual agents on the inner planes during his lendi ceremony.
- 2.Baba changed Daulatmai's daughter's name from Piroja to Freiny to avoid confusion with Rustom's sister Piroja.