Chapter 36: Interested In Remaining Disinterested
1961Page 4,739 of 5,444
To have bath water sent from 75 miles away seemed something peculiar to Age. But then it reasoned that this was all part of Beloved Baba's work. By creating this condition, he was, among other things, contacting those individuals along the "water-supply-chain" and giving them an opportunity to remember him as they performed this service.1
Eruch also once prepared a special paste made from flour, shaving cream and milk, and he, Pendu and Kaka applied it to Baba's body and gave him a bath.
At the mandali's urging, Baba took a short walk and a car ride on 19 February, when Ramjoo and Adi Sr. again visited. Padri and Don were called on the 22nd to advise Goher about Baba's treatment.
Baba's 67th birthday was celebrated with great éclat at different Centers throughout India on Saturday, 25 February 1961, but at Meherazad, it was observed quietly and simply as usual. The men and women mandali would get up very early and bathe. At 5:00 A.M. — the women standing before him in his bedroom and the men from their side — all would shout "Avatar Meher Baba ki jai!" seven times. Mehera would garland Baba, who would then embrace each of the women one by one as the record Happy Birthday To You! was played on the phonograph. At the breakfast table, Mani would read out all the good-wishes, telegrams, letters and cards received from his lovers. Baba would also dish out a sweet dish (rawa) which Naja had specially made for the occasion.
The servant boys would decorate mandali hall and vicinity, and Baba would then come to the men mandali and give each one of them his embrace. Francis would recite the birthday poem he had written, and Bhau would read one of his poems. Eruch would read out telegrams and cards of congratulations in English, and Bhau read those in Hindi. (Baba had permitted his lovers to send a telegram, card or greeting for his birthday, even though the correspondence ban was still in effect.) Thus the whole day would pass, and it took a few days to read out all the birthday cards and messages.
In response to the greetings received that day, Baba gave this message: "Convey my love-blessings to all who are close to me in my love on this day."
In later years, when anyone chanced to be in Meherazad on Baba's birthday, they were struck by the utter simplicity prevailing, as there was nothing like the celebrations going on at every other place on that day.
Baba would tell them: "To see my glory, go to Hamirpur or Andhra; there you will find it!"
Footnotes
- 1.When Elcha Mistry visited Bindra House during this period and learned of Baba's request for water from Poona, he remarked that it was not a good sign. It turned out to be a prescient observation when, six months later, there was a tremendous flood in Poona.