Don't repeat the prayer while it is being read. Just concentrate on me and be silent. We will now repeat the prayer on Parvardigar — the One God who resides equally in all.
Taking off the garland round his neck, Baba stood up from his chair on the dais and folded his hands in supplication for the recitation of the Master's Prayer and the Prayer of Repentance, and the whole sahavas group also stood. Kutumba Sastri said both prayers in Telugu, and Burjor Mehta in Gujarati, and during the Prayer of Repentance, Baba gently slapped his cheeks as a sign of contrition. Baba then said:
Now I want you all to go out and ease yourself, have a wash, or answer the call of nature, or have a smoke, or do what you like for five minutes and come back. This embracing will take nearly four hours, and there is enough time for every person to have his or her chance. No one will be omitted. Be free, feel easy and quite comfortable when you embrace me. Your mind should not be on other things, but instead be focused on giving love to me and taking love from me. Those of you in the back rows, there is plenty of time, and you can all go and come back after a while.
You have to remember the origin of this sahavas. During the last sahavas in November 1955, when you men were here, it was the men who requested sahavas for the women. I agreed. Later I fixed places for such sahavas, but they were canceled. Accordingly, I have agreed to the women coming for this sahavas. All of you men remember that you owe this sahavas to the women. Therefore, I want the women to meet me and embrace me first.
The Poona bhajan group sang the arti. Afterwards, Baba washed his hands and touched his feet, and then touched his forehead and again put the garland around his neck. Baba looked serious, as if absorbed in some important work. His fingers were working rapidly.
The women's darshan begun at 10:30 A.M., and the first to approach Baba was Gulmai, his Spiritual Mother.
A woman from Scotland had come and was permitted to stay in Meherabad for two days. She seemed distressed when she came to Baba and told him something with tears in her eyes. Baba consoled her, but also stated that this was not the time to bring up such matters.