FIRST PHYSICAL CONTACT WITH BABA

 
It was in the year 1955 that I first came to Meherabad and saw Meher Baba physically. I was standing in the long queue of lovers waiting for the arrival of Baba at about 7 a.m. for the Sahawas Programme. I was not a Baba-lover then. Everyone in the queue was holding a garland in his hand to be offered to Baba when he would pass by the queue. I was the lone exception who did not buy any garland to be offered to Baba like the others as I was much against the Avatarhood of Baba. Though I had no objection in considering him to be a Mahatma or a Saint, yet I was not inclined to accept him as an Avatar like Rama and Krishna.

Dr. Kanakadandi Suryanarayana was standing by my side. He had earlier asked me to buy a garland, but I refused to do so. I was also curious to know about the method of Baba's communication since he was observing silence — having given up the use of both written and spoken words. While I was thus deeply absorbed in my own curiosity, Baba's car arrived and stopped at the main gate on the road near the "Dhuni." All eyes were on Baba as he got down from the car and stood looking at the lovers. He was wearing a pink coat. His face was emitting golden rays. I was amazed to see two most brilliant star-like eyes twinkling on his face. For a moment, I was totally lost in the radiant beauty of Baba, the like of which was never seen before by me.

Baba was slowly and majestically passing by the queue moving towards me and those at the other end. It then struck my mind that I must also have a garland to be offered to Baba when he would come to me. But the problem was now to leave the queue and get the garland. Luckily, I could see a small flower shop nearby underneath a tree that was just a stone's throw away from the place where I stood in the queue. I thought it would take at least five minutes for Baba to come near me because I saw Baba receiving garlands in his hands from his lovers. Eruch Bhai was following Baba and was interpreting Baba's gestures.

Just when I turned my face towards the flower shop and was about to take a leap to fetch one garland, I felt someone's touch on my shoulders from behind and as I looked back, I was utterly surprised to see Baba holding my shoulders and looking into my heart. I was so much overwhelmed with Baba's divine beauty that I became almost speechless. At the same time I was repenting in my heart of hearts for not being able to offer a garland to Baba. Just at that very moment, Baba gestured to me saying, "I am the Ancient One. I know everything. Tell me honestly why you were looking to the other side while God Himself was approaching towards you." I became nervous and replied to Baba saying, "No, Baba. It's nothing like that. I only wanted to buy a garland for you."

However, Baba did not leave me at that point and questioned me seriously, "But why did you not buy the garland before coming to the queue as the others had done?"

I had no answer. I was put in an awkward position. I was upset. How to tell Baba that all the time I was thinking against him. I was dumb and not knowing what to say. Yet, I thought for a moment, "If this person Baba is really God — Antaryamin — how nice would it be on his part to leave me thus without further interrogation?" And lo, just where my thought ended, Baba picked up saying, "Well, I forgive you. Don't worry." A few seconds after that, drawing my attention to the few garlands that were still hanging on his hand, Baba said, "Look at these garlands. These flowers will fade away. They are bound to be destroyed sooner or later ..... But, I want you to be My Living Garland."

I could not follow what Baba actually meant by saying "Living Garland" and I was simply staring at Baba with vacant eyes. Baba then held both my hands into His hands and took them round his neck and said, "Now do you understand?" I found myself practically hanging round the bosom of Baba as a child suspending itself in the embrace of its mother.

Giving a soft slap on my cheek Baba pointed to my suspended body and said, "Yes. This is the living garland. But I want you to become a Real Living Garland."

Baba finally gestured to me saying, "I know everything. Love Me and I will help you."