When Hoshang Bharucha had visited Meherazad the previous October, he had asked Baba the names and locations of the then living Perfect Masters. Baba had told him to remind him about it during the sahavas program. Hoshang brought up the subject as Baba was leaving on the 24th. The next morning, Hoshang was handed a sealed envelope. He was told not to open it until he returned home. In it, Baba revealed that one of the five Perfect Masters was in South India, one in North India, one in the middle of the country, one in Pakistan and one in Syria.
"The one in Syria is a Muslim," Baba stated. "The one in Pakistani Punjab is also a Muslim. The one in the Punjab in India is a combined Muslim and Hindu, like Sai Baba. The one in old [the former] Madhya Pradesh is a Hindu, and the one in South India is also a Hindu."1
Baba had given permission for those attending the sahavas to decorate the camp for his 64th birthday. They did the best they could with the limited time available on the 24th. Near the road, a large gateway was improvised. The meeting pandal was specially decorated. On the dais, the Arangaon lovers provided a boat-shaped seat covered with flowers, and a decorated umbrella over Baba's seat glistened with tiny electric lights. Some of the women drew colored chalk designs on the ground in front of Baba's cabin and strung festoons and buntings. An arch was raised with " WELCOME" written on it in decorative lettering. Flowerpots lined both sides of an improvised road that led straight to the meeting pandal from the main road. With arches, flags and streamers hung everywhere, Meherabad took on a festive appearance.
Beginning early in the morning of Tuesday, 25 February 1958, the men and women at the sahavas began meditating, and singing devotional songs and the arti — illuminating Meherabad with the light of Wine. To take Baba to the pandal, an open convertible car had been procured for the occasion and was also decorated in the shape of a boat. It was driven by Laxman Malvade of Arangaon. The entire sahavas group walked about half a mile up the Ahmednagar road to receive Baba. The Arangaon villagers formed into a long procession of singing and dancing. The Arangaon lovers had returned from Toka with the sacred river water, and the entire atmosphere reverberated with hearty shouts of Baba's Jai!
Meanwhile, at Meherazad that morning, Baba had not cleared his bowels. After driving some distance in the car, Baba indicated to Eruch that he had to use the toilet. "Should we stop at Adi's [Khushru Quarters] on the way?" Eruch asked.
"No," Baba gestured. "Just hurry and drive straight to Meherabad."
Again on the way, Baba indicated he had to go to the toilet urgently. "We can stop at Akbar Press," Eruch suggested.
Footnotes
- 1.Later, when Hoshang wrote to Baba asking if he could visit the five Perfect Masters, Baba told him not to. There was no need, Baba explained, as while the Avatar is in the body, the Perfect Masters are "non-functioning."