DISCOURSES Volume II - Avatar Meher Baba Trust

IntroductionMerwan Sheriar Irani was born in Poona, India, onFebruary 25, 1894. His parents were of Persian extraction. Hisfather, Sheriar Irani, was a persistent seeker of God.Merwan was a lively and happy boy who excelled in bothstudies and sports. In 1913 while in his first year at Poona's DeccanCollege he met the aged Muslim saint Hazrat Babajan, one of thefive Perfect Masters of the time. Being attracted to her, he visitedher from time to time and one day she kissed him on the forehead,revealing to him his state of God-realization.At first Merwan was dazed but gradually the focus of hisconsciousness returned sufficiently to his surroundings to lead himto the Qutub-i-Irshad, Sai Baba, who in turn sent him to anotherPerfect Master, the Hindu, Upasni Maharaj of Sakori. For sevenyears Upasni Maharaj integrated Merwan's God-consciousnesswith consciousness of the mundane world, preparing him for hisrole as the Avatar of the Age. This avataric mission started in 1921with the gathering together of his first disciples, who gave him thename "Meher Baba" or "Compassionate Father."After years of intensive work with these disciples, andtravel in India and Persia (Iran), Meher Baba established quartersat an old military camp near