THE GROUND AND HIS FEET PARTING COMPANY

 
Once a Fakir from Ajmer appeared before Hazrat Babajan and said that he had a request to make. When ordered to utter it, the fakir continued, "I had in mind a pilgrimage to Baghdad. For that matter I had been to the shrine of Khwaja Saheb of Ajmer. From there I have been ordered to submit my request to Hazrat Babajan who would see to the fulfilment thereof. And here I am. Kindly provide me with funds enough to meet the expenses of food and travel so that I may start early."

For two days the fakir was in Babajan's Darbar (presence). The third day being winter it was piercing cold early in the morning, Babajan, being in playful mood indulged in a very humorous spree.

She addressed the fakir, "You want to go to Baghdad, isn't it? Very well, you will be in Baghdad, I will send you there in a jiffy. Go on to the road and stand erect. When I order you to fly, you should begin flying in the air. Do you understand?"

The fakir believed in what Babajan said, and knew that it was easy for saints to transport human beings thousands of miles away even physically. Accordingly, he took up his stand by the roadside, opposite to Babajan's seat, expectant every moment to rise in the air at the words of Babajan for an aerial flight to Baghdad.

When he stood there a few seconds, Babajan rasped out the words, "Oorh," i.e. "Fly." The fakir was just where he was, the ground and his feet parting company a few inches only when he himself attempted a little jumping on hearing Babajan's word, "Oorh." At the initial failure the fakir looked dismayed, and turned towards Babajan. The poor fellow did as he was told, and hoped any minute the earth would part company with his feet.

After a time Babajan asked him to come away and said, "My good man, you wish to fly to Baghdad without wings, without money? Whoever suggested you this trick? Do you sincerely desire to go to Baghdad?"

On receiving an affirmative reply, Babajan called out to some unknown entity, "Is there anyone around? Yes, brother, see that this man reaches Baghdad."

Within ten minutes after the utterance of the words, a gentleman from Gujrat came up, and after rendering obeisance, tenders a purse to Babajan, containing rupees three hundred in cash. Babajan immediately earmarked the amount with a view to safeguarding it from the attacks of other mendicants by saying, "This belongs to Baghdadwala."

Thus speaking she threw the purse to the fakir from Ajmer, and asked him to depart. He left immediately singing Babajan's praises.