MY FIRST DARSHAN OF GOD INCARNATE

 
30 August 1949 was not only the most blessed moment of my present life but it also marked the culmination of all the blessed moments of all my previous lives and of the long vista of my evolutionary sojourn, for on that day I saw God Himself on the earth in the form of Avatar Meher Baba.

At 7 a.m. Baba arrived and entered the cabin adjacent to the Dhuni. At 7:30 a.m. we were called into the cabin to meet Baba. Baba had told that He would give us only five minutes but He gave us thirty-four minutes in His presence. Baba was seated upon a cushion on the floor and we were allowed to sit near Him. I found myself intoxicated by His Divine Glance and Divine effulgence.

Baba spelt thus on His Alphabet Board, "People call Me the Lord of the Universe, but I am the servant of the Universe. I am the Washer-Man come to cleanse the dirt of Humanity.... You all are very fortunate to be here at this moment when I am about to enter My New Life.... Now I give you three orders for you all to follow from the 15th October 1949 for one year.

"Deliberate carefully on them and then communicate your decision to me about them. I will not at all be displeased if you do not accept any one or all of these orders. But once you promise me to obey one or two or all of these orders, then you must not break them. For this reason think very well before you give your word to Me. My orders are: — (1) Do not touch money. (2) Do not touch women. (3) Observe fast for 24 hours on any fixed day every week."

I promised Baba to obey hundred percent the first and third orders, and for the second order for not touching women I told Him that I would sincerely try my utmost to comply with it but I do not give You promise for it. Baba listened to our answers attentively....

In those days no visitor was permitted by Baba's orders to stay at Meherabad for more than twelve hours. So we were taken away from the ashram to the Ahmednagar railway station by car. From thence we returned to our respective destinations.

This first darshan of God — Baba initiated me into a new life and also bathed my heart in a new light. The flame of Baba's love was intensely kindled within me and before it all the world and its mundane activities appeared absolutely petty and unreal to me. Burning in that fire of love I sent a wire to Baba from Rewa praying for His Darshan again. But on the 25th September it was telegraphically communicated to me that Darshan was not possible. Along with this message was conveyed to me and my family, Baba's 'Love'.