Godavri Mai personally served food to Baba in Jiji's room (which had been kept for Baba's use) and lovingly persuaded him to eat. Later in the afternoon, she also made him sit on the swing in her room while she and the other kanyas swung it and sang. Baba's glance cast rays of Light in every direction and his face was glorious to behold. Often, when among his lovers, a sudden change would come over Baba and his physiognomy would become brilliant. From his infinite heart the flow of love would begin, and everyone present felt as if they were merged in it. For days afterwards, they would be oblivious to the world, their homes and families, and remain drowned in this tangible flow of Wine.
Toward the close mandali, however, Baba's behavior was quite different. They would experience his pain, his helplessness and his strictness. For them, the "weather" was always filled with thunderbolts! Therefore, observing such a wonderful change in Baba on such occasions, they too were enthralled by his loving ways, and it was like soothing balm for their wounds.
After lunch, a meeting of the Andhra lovers was held, during which Koduri Krishna Rao expressed his desire to commission a statue of Baba for Kovvur.
Baba remarked to him, "Install me in your heart! What will you gain by having a statue built?"
Koduri replied, "The statue will serve as a medium to keep you in my heart. Physically I am away from you, so for me the statue will be a representation of you. By gazing at it I will ever keep you in my heart. Besides, it is not for me alone. For innumerable others, it will be a medium of remembrance of you. From it we will have the inspiration to love you more."
"If you want to put up a statue with this object in mind, I have no objection," Baba replied, "but your hearts should find me in it. I will reside therein — but as long as your hearts are not eager to seek me there, the statue will be merely a resemblance in stone or metal."
All the Andhra lovers wanted the statue built and Baba graciously permitted it.1
And in Sakori on that day, a large framed photograph of Baba was installed near Upasni Maharaj's Samadhi.
Baba remained in Sakori until 4:00 P.M. After that, with heavy hearts, all bid him farewell. This was to be Meher Baba's last visit to Sakori. Amidst acclamations of his Jai, and drowning all in the river of his love, Baba departed for Meherazad, arriving at 5:40 P.M. Soon after their return, Francis Goldney left for Bombay to pick up his automobile, which he had had shipped to India.
Footnotes
- 1.A bronze statue was later built and installed at Mehersthan in Kovvur, on the banks of the Godavri River.