But to obtain blessings from the priests, people pay large sums of money, and the priests utter some mumbo jumbo! The naïve people are satisfied with this custom, and it is they who are equally at fault for perpetuating such nonsense. Guests come, the priests give blessings, and all are treated to a sumptuous wedding feast. But within a short time, strife rears its head between the "happily-wedded" couple. What sort of tamasha [sham] is this? The priests establish rites and rituals in the name of religion to line their pockets and the real essence of the religion is wiped out.
It is not ceremonies, festivities, or so-called blessings that save one from tragic consequences, but one's own actions.
Baba then related, "Last night between 12:00 and 2:00 A.M., all of a sudden the left side of my body became stiff, and my circulation completely stopped as if I were paralyzed. With difficulty I managed to call Masaji, and he and Kaikhushru [Afseri] massaged my body, prepared tea and gave me other remedies for two hours. And even though it helped, my whole left side still feels very weak and is not quite normal."
Despite this, at nine o'clock that night, Baba took his usual nighttime stroll with the mandali, going about a mile and a half towards Ahmednagar, before turning back.
Pandoba forgot to inform the boys that 28 January was a holiday in honor of Hazrat Babajan's birthday, so the boys came to school as usual, but were sent home at noon. However, none of them, or anyone else from the village, turned up in the evening for the celebration. Baba was displeased with the lackluster atmosphere. He became so annoyed that his own birthday festivities exceeded those of his revered Master that he ordered the specially prepared vegetable dish to be thrown away! His order was reluctantly carried out, but later the mandali were called back and given dry bhakri, which Baba said they could eat with water.
After this meager meal, Baba reminisced about Arjun's devotional nature: "Just before every function, Arjun would labor all night on the arrangements. He was full of zeal and enthusiasm in seeing that everything was kept ready."
When Baba's melancholic mood passed, he forgave all and distributed sweets. Tea was served, gramophone records were played, some sang, and some played games.
On Tuesday, 1 February 1927, Baba did not eat and remained only on water.