Baba's gaadi was placed alongside the cabin, under the overhanging top. The hand grinding mill was affixed beside the table, where Baba, along with his brother Jalbhai, would grind grain each day.
Baba had been writing his book in the Jhopdi since mid-July. Although he wrote in the mornings, after his supervisory duties were over, he would sometimes retire to the Jhopdi and continue his writing during the day, with the door closed. Baba did not reveal what he was writing in his book or allow anyone to read its contents at that time.
On Sunday, 11 October 1925, after Angal Pleader's usual Puranic recitation in the morning, Baba and the mandali were treated to tea and sweets in the afternoon in the village, and then participated in the annual dinner held in honor of the saint Buaji Bua's death anniversary. When Baba returned from Arangaon, he left the Jhopdi and began spending the night in "the cupboard" of the Table Cabin. From that day on, he wrote continually inside that cramped space.
When Baba moved into the Table Cabin he began fasting, declaring that he would remain only on water and weak tea without milk for an indefinite period. He forbade all to come near his new abode and said he would no longer be able to spare time for sports or games.
On 16 October, a list of 40 to 50 mandali members was drawn up, and Baba ordered them to fast for 24 hours on water and weak tea.
Diwali, the festival of lights, was celebrated the next day. In the morning Baba distributed sweets to the students and mandali, thus breaking their fast with this prasad. Baba gave the children fireworks (sparklers and firecrackers) that Gulmai had brought.
While the Master wore a thin sadra, the women and the men mandali gave him a ceremonial bath, each one pouring a small container of warm water over him.1 Those who had come for Baba's darshan also had the rare privilege of washing his feet, and a considerable amount of money was spent on perfumes and fragrant soaps. A band played as each one bathed Baba's feet. Although the ceremonial bath was a joy for those pouring the water, it was an agony for Baba who nevertheless underwent the ordeal to please his lovers. After the bath, puja and arti ceremonies were performed and selections of the Puranas were read.
Footnotes
- 1.They had also given Baba a similar bath on Dassera, on 27 September 1925.