THE GOD-MAN The Life, Journeys and Work of Meher Baba with an ...

168 THE GOD-MANto be ready with their respective Bible, Quran, Avesta and Gita, after taking a bath in case anyof them had missed it that morning. He then made them stand on his right. Kaikobad was thefirst to perform Kusti and to read the usual prayer audibly for five minutes. Donkin then readfrom the Bible the Crucifixion of Jesus from the Gospel of St Matthew. Khaksaheb offerednamas and silent1y performed two Raquat of Nafil. Kalemama ended the prayers by repeatingseven Shlokas of the 10th Adhyaya from the Bhagavad G!t". Each time the particular prayerended Baba took the respective scriptures on his knees, one by one, and rested his fingers oneach book. He then held the four holy books spreading them on an adjoining table with hishands. His prayer-mouthpiece, Ghani, was then asked by Baba to cover the four DivineMessages with both of his hands and to offer a prayer, which Ghani read according to adictation from Baba over the alphabet board as follows:"May God help Baba to definitely make this step, which he is taking to give up everythingand to go away, irrevocable, so that from 16 October when he enters the new life, there willbe no turning back."This was the first prayer for help ever before heard from Baba to God during the pasttwenty-eight years, and the mandali was so taken aback and confused that no one could thinkof saying, Amen!Baba occasionally gave sharp pin-pricks of chastisement to the mandali as well as praise,and later that day he eulogized Ali Akbar for his devotion, which proved too much for thepoor fellow. Although he knew quite well that Baba had made it a strict rule not to allowanyone under any circumstances to touch his feet, take his darshan or even to offer himnamaskars (fold hands in salute), Ali Akbar, who happened to be sitting near Baba's chair atthat moment, could not help stretching out his hands, unnoticed by anyone, and touchingBaba's feet. Instant1y the atmosphere became charged as Baba went grave, and the mandalibecame speechless. Expecting to witness an expression of strong displeasure, they saw himmake Ali Akbar stand before him; then suddenly Baba got up from his chair, went near AliAkbar and bent himself down to touch Ali Akbar's feet. No one c1ear1y remembers whatfollowed except that there was an immediate scream and Ali Akbar was seen to jump c1eanoff his feet, and had to be saved by those around him from falling down. It was also observedthat Baba was carrying one of his own arms, indicating that he also had received some injury,but without paying any attention to what had take place Baba once more bent down andtouched Ali Akbar 's feet.