Meher Baba's Life & Travels
( PRAYAGRAJ), UTTAR PRADESH STATE
BEHERAM H.
IRANI PADRI
DRIVER GUSTADJI
HANSOTIA
TRIP TO
BARODA
August 1924
On the 2nd of August, Meher Baba departed Bombay by train for Madras and then after a couple of days they departed by train to Ooty in the Nilgiri Hills in Southern India. 4 men Mandali - Beheramji Irani, Padri Driver, Gustadji Hansotia and Baily Irani, travelled with him until they returned to Madras. Here, Baily left and returned to Poona and the group continued to Calcutta in the north-east on the 9th August by train, spending a few days there.
On the 12th of August, they commenced their journey by train for Hardwar in the north of India at the foothills of the Himalayas. After visiting Rishikesh nearby, they decided to head to Central India mostly by train.
The next morning 15th August, at 6am, they went to the nearby railway station to wash themselves, because it was too dirty where they were staying. After washing up and having tea, Baba was still not eating. They began their walk towards Lakhsar ( Laskar ).
Baba was not doing very well, but they continued, but with a heavy kit and a hot sun, they only achieved 10 miles. On arrival at Pathri Railway station, they camped in a meadow. Later on meeting some sadhus, Baba bowed down to them and gave advice. Padri removed a thorn deeply lodged in one of the sadhu's leg and bandaged it.
LM p.671-5
RD p.359-362
SADASHIV PATEL HORMUZD VAJIFDAR
August continued ...
The next morning, 16th August, Baba was still not well; he had no sleep, but he still led the walk, leaving at 5:45am. After 4 miles, a long haired Muslim man approached Baba, and shook his hand before continuing. Baba said he was a 'Abdul', a spiritual agent for Baba's spiritual work. It then started to rain and they took shelter in a cabin near the tracks. They had breakfast, and when the rain stopped, they continued their walk.
Baba broke his fast after he had some hot chutney which he consumed to eliminate his dysentery. They reached Lakhsar at 1pm. After their 9 mile walk, they washed themselves at a public well, ate lunch at a Hindu restaurant and then rested at waiting room of the Railway station. Later they sought accommodation at a nearby Hindu resting place, but the stench of nearby gutters forced them to return to the Station, where they were allowed to stay for 2 days.
The next day, 17th August, Sadashiv Patel was telegrammed to meet them in Benares. Baba spent his time in the town looking for sadhus, bowing, etc. Vajifdar arrived at 4am on the 18th. They were all in agreement to end the foot journey and take the train for Moradabad at 1:30pm, arriving there at 6pm. It was estimated that Baba had bowed down to 5,000 pilgrims in the previous weeks.
In this town, Baba went looking for more sadhus. They met a 'mast'
- God intoxicated man, who had not moved from his seated position for 4 years, defecating where he sat. They tried to
bath him but he refused.
They then departed for Bhopal the next day, 19th August, changing at Lucknow. Padri was sent to Benares to meet with Sadashiv, and from there he was to proceed to Baroda, where they would all join up.
* Laksa to Moradabad - 141 kms / 88 miles ( rail )
LM p.671-5
RD p.359-362
* Hardwar to Pathri : 13 kms / 8 miles ( road - walked )
* Pathri to Laksar : 14 kms / 9 miles ( road - walked )
August continued ...
They then departed for Bhopal the next day, 19th August, changing at Lucknow. Padri was sent to Benares to meet with Sadashiv, and from there he was to proceed to Baroda, where they would all join up.
* Laksa to Moradabad - 141 kms / 88 miles ( rail )
August continued ...
Baba and the remaining men, changed trains at Jhansi and arrived in Bhopal on 20th Aug. in the afternoon, Baba again went to look for sadhus. Adi arrived from Ahmednager and pleaded with Baba to end his wandering and to come back to Meherabad. That night they left for Ratlam, Beheramji was sent ahead to Baroda (Vadodara) to make arrangements.
LM p.671-5
RD p.359-362
Note : The above paragraph mentions 3 distinct rail sections between Lucknow & Ratlam. The following list mentions these rail sections of this journey.
* Lucknow to Jhansi : 312 kms / 194 miles ( rail )
* Jhansi to Bhopal : 292 kms / 141 miles ( rail )
* Bhopal to Ratlam : 285 kms / 177 miles ( rail )
The full details of this trip around India can be read on Chapter 7 of Meher Baba's life.
Click on the button below to visit that web page.