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

THE FIRST TEN YEARS 41Haji Malangshah. Baba told the disciples to climb the hill to pay homage, which they did. Theclimb was a severe one, and they were exhausted; but he would not allow anyone to drink untilthey had reached Kalyan station, fourteen miles away!From the time Baba first arrived at the Manzil the house was besieged by those whowanted to see him; but during the whole of the period he saw with occasional exceptionsnone but a few friends and relatives of his disciples.On the last day of March 1923 he made an announcement to the following effect:I now intend to bring the Manzil stay to an end. I propose to go with only a few of you toAhmednagar. I shall have to send most of you to your homes. Do not worry at all. I shall allowthose of you who will have to leave me to join me again. The separation will only be temporary.But remember that henceforth discipline will be more strict and the mode of living more simple.Whatever I may ask you to do you will have to do. Do not think of joining me at all if you aregoing to be ashamed to do menial work. You may have to do the work of masons, of coolies; inshort, any kind of manual work. Therefore think well before you resolve to join me again.As the house had been taken on lease for a year, it had been expected that the party wouldremain together for another two months. But, as we shall see, one of the characteristics of Babais the sudden change of decisions and the alteration of plans without warning. The discipleswho were sent home were ordered, among other things, to avoid fish, flesh and eggs, andalways to eat sufficient.The visit to Ahmednagar followed with the remaining few disciples. This city, founded byAhmad Nizam Shah Bahri, son of a Brahman of Vi jay ana gar in 1490, has played an importantpart in the history of the Deccan. It was for over a hundred years the capital of the N izam Shahikings, and possesses some of the best examples of Muslim architecture. It was taken by theMahrattas in 1760 and captured by Arthur Wellesley in 1803 in the Mahratta war. Baba stayedin a house belonging to one of his followers near the Zendi Gate. At the end of April he paid avisit to the Happy Valley, thirteen miles away, where it is believed that Rama with his faithfulLaxman and loving Sita lived for some time. During the three days' stay at the Government dakbungalow in the Happy Valley, Baba celebrated the fifty-third birthday of Upasni Maharaj. Heordered those with him to abstain from food completely,