MEHER  BABA'S

1924 : BRITISH INDIA

Mortakka to Omkareshwar - Ox Cart Trip

August 1924

Meher Baba left 2 days later on 24th August at 10pm, and arrived in Ujjain on the 25th at 1pm. Later they found many sadhus on the banks of the Sipra (Shipra) River, lepers were there as well. Money was distributed to them after Baba bowed down to them.

Nearby there was a Shiva Temple on the banks, with some sadhus in a hut next to it. They later left Ujjain at 4pm and arrived at Mortakka south of Indore at 10pm, the same day.

*The nearest railway station to Mortakka is called Omkareshwar Road Railway Station.

* Baroda to Ujjain : 358 kms / 222 miles ( rail )

* Ujjain to Mortakka : 109 kms / 68 miles ( rail )

August continued ...

They slept on the railway platform  and the next morning, 26th August, they rode on a bullock cart to Omkareshwar ( an island in the Namada River ) some 9 miles away to the East; a famous Hindu place of pilgrimage "Mandhata" where Upasni Maharaj had meditated and entered a state of 'samadhi', which then led him to contact Perfect Masters Narayan Maharaj and Sai Baba.

Meanwhile, Padri had dysentery and had remained in the town, Baba was quite ill as well.

LM p.677

RD p.364

* Mortakka to Omkareshwar : 15 kms / 9 miles ( road - bullock cart )

Total return : 964 kms / 599 miles

Perfect Masters : Upasni Maharaj        Sai Baba of Shirdi                 Narayan Maharaj

26th August continued ...

In Omkareshwar, Baba met a Bengali 'pundit' ( a priest or scholar) named Nirmal Ananda Swami; the locals called him 'Mahatma' - a great soul.  Baba spoke in English with the Swami, telling him to disguise himself  so Baba could seek out other sadhus in the area, with his help. Sadhus were found and Baba bowed down to them.

Baba told Sadashiv to bathe in the Narmada River.

They returned to Mortakka ( Omkareshwar Road Railway Station ) at 10pm and departed for Baroda immediately.

The next day 27th August, when Baba's train halted briefly, a Muslim man insisted on meeting 'this man', Baba. After he had taken a block of opium with a chapatti, he shook his hand and started to loudly praise the virtues of Mt. Abu, Baba was impressed by this man and decided to go there.

Later that night, they all arrived again in Baroda  and stayed in the same hotel as before. Sadashiv returned to Poona on the same train.

LM p.677

RD p.364

1924  AUGUST to  DECEMBER