During this darshan programme , Gadge sat in front of Baba. Papa Jessawala comforts him.
Meher Baba used the word "saint" (sant in Hindi) primarily to refer to advanced souls on the mental (5th or 6th) planes. Sant Gadge Maharaj of Pandharpur
(died Dec. 21, 1956) was a well-known Hindu saint of Maharashtra. Meher Baba identified him as a sixth-plane saint.
"Gadge Maharaj...was one of the greatest saints alive in India, and ... was even considered to be a Sadguru by many devotees..." Lord Meher 12:4398
Sitting left of Meher Baba at Pandarpur, India in November 1954 is Sarosh Irani with Adi K Irani sitting behind him. Gadge is
standing left of him.
Meher Baba arriving at Maharaj's dharamshala in Pandharpur on 6th November 1954. (L-R) Pendu Irani, Gustadji Hansotia, Saint Gadge Maharaj & Meherjee Karkaria behind Baba. Photo taken by B. Panday. Courtesy of Lord Meher ; 1st Ed. Vol.13-14, p.4569.
7th November 1954 : Meher Baba at Namanand's dharamasala in Pandharpur, wth ( left of Baba ) Kaikadi Maharaj, Saint Gadge Maharaj, ?, & Sarosh Irani. Namanand standing right with beard. Photo taken by B.Panday. Courtesy of Lord Meher ; 1st Ed.V13-14-p4575
7th November 1954 : Meher Baba at Namanand's dharamasala in Pandharpur, wth Mrs.Kaikadi Maharaj ( left ), Kaikadi Maharaj ( behind Baba ) Namanand & Gustadji ( facing away ) & Saint Gadge Maharaj ( seated right of Baba ). Photo taken by B. Panday.
Courtesy of Lord Meher ; 1st Ed. Vol.13-14, p.4579.
1954 : Darshan programme in Ahmednagar - lunch break. Sarosh Irani ( standing ) talking to Meher Baba. Image courtesy of Lord Meher.
Lord Meher 1:190--
While at Deccan College, Merwan formed a dramatic troupe which rehearsed at his uncle Rustom's and aunt Piroja's house on Sachapir Street. The group staged two or
three public performances at a local theater with the proceeds donated to charity.
Merwan and his friends would sometimes attend kirtan performances – Hindu songs with narration about God or the gurus and saints. Gadge Maharaj was a Hindu
saint of the sixth plane, who in his youth wandered in India living off alms. He was later known as a "perfect saint" because not only did he teach the love of God but also performed
selfless service by managing a leper colony in Pandharpur, India. Once Merwan heard the great saint perform a kirtan in Poona. Although the humble saint was dressed in rags, Gadge Maharaj
radiated divine love, and all who attended were profoundly impressed.
September 1954, Ahmednagar, India : Meher Baba giving prasad to the passing crowd of followers, Maharaj standing next to Baba & instructing. Image courtesy of Lord Meher p.4429.
6TH NOVEMBER 1954, MILITARY BOARDING SCHOOL, PANDARPUR, INDIA
6th Nov. Saint Gadge Maharaj with Meher Baba at his Dharamshala in Pandharpur.
7TH NOVEMBER 1954, LEPER COLONY, PANDHARPUR, INDIA
LM p.4581
LM p.4582
Courtesy of "Memorable Moments with Meher Baba " by Faroukh Bastani - p.56-57
Saint Gadge Maharaj in Hindupedia
Awakener ; Vol.13 No.3 & 4
Baba giving a Mass Darshan at Pandhapur, 1954
( R - L ) Meher Baba , Gadge Maharaj, Sarosh Irani (tall man), Meherjee Karkaria ( side on .
7th November 1954 : Meher Baba at theChandrabhaga River in Pandharpur early morning, wth ( front L-R ) Sarosh Irani, Saint Gadge Maharaj & Gustadji Hansotia behind Baba. Close up image. Photo taken by B. Panday.
6th November 1954 : Meher Baba at Gadge Maharaj's dharamshala in Pandharpur, wth ( front L-R ) Pendu Irani (black cap). Bhau? behind Baba, Saint Gadge Maharaj, Adi K. & Gustadji Hansotia ( long dark coat ). Photo taken by B. Panday. MSI Collection
A Love So Amazing, by Bili Eaton, pp. 95-96 The Ancient One (by Eruch Jessawala), ed. Naosherwan Anzar, p. 158 Awakener Magazine, vol. 2 (no. 4): pp. 1-11 ("Baba Visits Pandharpur" - 1954)
Awakener Magazine,vol. 4 (no. 3): p.
36 82 Family Letters, by Mani Irani, p.10
Thanks to Kendra Crossen Burroughs for her
assistance with this page.
Meher Baba's Life & Travels
