FOOLS OF GOD

 
The quaint town of Mattura seems in harmony with ancient pastoral times. As we approached the place along the river where Krishna played with His "gopis," a youngish man wearing what is called a fool's cap sat on the steps playing his flute. So sweetly he played that one was attracted to this "court jester," and the ancient "song of Krishna" which he was rendering is one of the most beautiful in India....

The moment this man noticed Baba, he stopped his playing and in a voice loud enough for those with Baba to hear said, "Here comes the Flute Player," which is the other name for Krishna.

All the time we went about the small town, this mendicant followed Baba or ran ahead. How he smiled at Baba! Just around the bend of the street we would hear his flute sounds. It was like a haunting melody. He didn't want money, he didn't want anything and when he passed several people smiled, thinking him to be a "fool" with his dancing steps and flute.

Towards the end he seemed to become almost ecstatic and our guide, thinking he was annoying us, tried to drive him away with a stick. Upon this, Baba immediately protected him and gave the guide to understand He liked it. Baba told us that this was the man for whom He had come. There are "fools of God" who often take this guise so the world will pass them by, in order to accomplish freely their own work.

Baba embraced him and stroked his cheek and gave him two coins. Just before returning to the bus, extraordinary greetings or signals went on between Baba and this mendicant.... As Baba drove off in the bus, we saw him dancing on tip-toe, like the Pied Piper of Hamlin and waving his flute in a most rapturous manner. Some old hard-faced priests standing near the temple looked at him scornfully and then the contagion of joy was so great that even they too smiled.