ChaptersChapter 5Page 567

Chapter 5: The Silence Begins

1925Page 567 of 5,444
Surrounded by his women disciples, he would relax and sing bhajans with them or request that they tell him humorous stories. Gulmai's daughters, Piroja and Dolly, would come to visit with their mother, and Dolly was later to join the women at Meherabad.
An interesting incident once occurred between Mehera and Upasni Maharaj. Before Mehera settled in Meher Baba's ashram, she had lived for some time in Maharaj's ashram at Sakori. One day in 1922, a Brahmin woman visited Sakori and presented a plain gold ring to the Master. Maharaj did not want it and told the lady, "I wear only gunny sacks. No clothes adorn my body. How will this golden ring beautify me, an ugly old man?" However, the lady was so insistent that Maharaj told her to put it on his toe.
Later, Upasni Maharaj's devotees were sure the Master would give the ring to one of his women disciples, and each was naturally wishing she would be the recipient. As the ladies of the ashram took Maharaj's darshan, hoping in their hearts the Master would present the ring to them, he gave the ring to Mehera, telling her, "Wear this ring and be careful not to lose it." She wore it from that day on for the rest of her life.
One day in 1925, accompanied by Gustadji, Baba came to the Post Office verandah and, taking his seat on the wooden tea crate, sent word to the women that whosoever possessed a ring should send it to him through Gustadji. Gustadji approached Mehera, but she was unable to remove the ring that Upasni Maharaj had given her from her finger. Big Khorshed was wearing a wedding ring, but she did not wish to part with it and refused to give it to Gustadji. With great difficulty Mehera was finally able to extract the ring and handed it to Gustadji.
Soon after, Baba brought back the ring that Maharaj had given to Mehera and presented her with another heart-shaped gold ring, on which was engraved one word: MEHER. Baba put both rings around one of the fingers of her left hand and told her never to take them off. "The Pure One's fate was sealed!" Age declared. " Meher was carved forever on Mehera's heart."
Mehera was destined to become the Master's chief woman disciple.
One day on the Post Office verandah, Baba told her the story of Radha and Krishna and said, "As Krishna's love was for Radha, so is my love for you. You love me as Radha loved Krishna."
A few days later, Baba declared before all the women mandali, "Mehera is my Radha. Her love is unique. She is most special to me."
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