Visit Avatars Northern India

On the morning of 16th October 1949, Avatar Meher Baba with His sixteen men and four women companions crossed the Ahmednagar Railway Crossing... and their New Life (Navjeevan) actually began. His 'New Life' of complete renunciation and absolute helplessness.

"This New Life is endless, kept alive by those who live the life of complete renunciation of falsehood, lies, hatred, anger, greed and lust, and who, to accomplish all this, do no lustful actions, do no harm to anyone, do no backbiting, do not seek material possessions or power, who accept no homage, neither covet honor, nor shun disgrace, and fear no one and nothing; by those who rely wholly and solely on God, and who love God purely for the sake of loving, who do not let go the hand of Truth, and who, without being upset by calamities, bravely and wholeheartedly face all hardships with 100 percent cheerfulness, and give no importance to caste, creed and religious ceremonies.

This New Life will live by itself eternally, even if there is no one to live it." M.B.

For his New Life Companions: "The first period of training will be spent in Belgaum comprising of physical labor. The second period of training will be spent at Benares, comprising begging and langoti [life in loincloth]. The third and last period of training will be spent on the way to Hardwar, comprising gypsy life... From January 1. 1950 onwards, whether on the way to Hardwar or wherever God takes us, will be endless New Life of hopelessness in real earnest." M.B.

Training at Belgaum, comprising physical labor. "The women in buoyant spirits, laughing and joking. They are busy building mud stoves; they will start cooking. Don should see about improvising a kitchen. Baba walked to the hut carrying a basket of onions and tomatoes on his head. He would also sweep the floors and clean pots. They had a few musical instruments, Baba played the dholak and Adi the harmonium as he sang ghazals, a month to go before they left for Benares"

From Mumbai fly south to Belgaum, nestled high in the Western Ghats. Elevation 2,500 ft. Belgaum was founded in the 12th century. Belgaum (or Belagavi) is a city in Karnataka. It is 84% Hindu. The old town area with cotton and silk weavers stands besides the modern, bustling, tree-lined British Cantonment.

'Shiv Jayanti' is celebrated with great fervor, and Belagavi is known for its unique traditions and celebrations of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Maharashtra's greatest warrior king (1630-1680). He once marched through Belgaum with his army. The rebellious local king attacked the army and was killed. His queen took up arms and attacked Shivaji but became captive. Shivaji forgave her, she then became a devotee of Shivaji and now there are many statues of Shivaji in Belgaum.

Belgaum Train station... Meher Baba: "We leave Belgaum, all twenty-one of us, by third class train to Benares." , Baba and the men and women companions left Belgaum for Bombay by train then continued to Benares by train.

The New Life companions of Meher Baba wandered with Him from place to place begging for food, The meaning of this truly symbolic act was to beg for and constantly yearn within the heart for the love and compassion of the Lord and that He should remain their Constant Companion.

The very essence of spiritual India. Every enlightened master and millions of aspirants have spent time in Varanasi. The River Ganges is the destination of every Hindu. Varanasi (formerly Benares or Kashi) was the city of Shiva for millenium. Lord Buddha gave his very first sermon, 700 BC, during this time, in His ashram in the nearby 'deer park' town of Sarnath. Varanasi is strongly Hindu and is known as the city of Lord Shiva.

Meher Baba has visited almost all the places visited by Him in His previous advents as Zoroaster, Ram, Krishna, Buddha, Jesus and Mohammed and He would not only visit these places but also He would be doing His work in seclusion there.

Meher Baba: "This New Life will be kept alive by those who live the Life of complete renunciation of falsehood, lies, hatred, anger, greed and lust and who, to accomplish all this, do no lustful actions, do no harm to anyone, Do no backbiting, do not seek material possessions or power, who accept no homage, neither covet honour nor shun disgrace, and fear no one and nothing; by those who rely wholly and solely on God."

Meher Baba has disclosed that Jesus came to India along with two disciples and He went to different places of pilgrimage in India such as Rameshwaram, Dwarka, Benares and other places in India and also Rangoon.

The three aspects of God: Brahma the Creator, Vishnu the Preserver and Shiva the Destroyer.

...Their rules for begging in Benares, the four pre-requisites were: bare feet, kafni, brass bowl and jholi (cloth satchel with
pockets) to receive different kinds of breads, grains or any
thing that is dry and uncooked)...From 26th November the companions began going out into the streets of the city to beg. Their appearance was similar to Babas - barefoot, in white kafnis, carrying the brass begging bowl and orange cloth satchel, wearing green turbans. They begged in groups of two walking from house to house until they had recovered
Bhiksha........................

Meher Baba spent some time in Benares during the New Life and started the phase of begging from Benares. He then went to Sarnath walking. Sarnath is the place of Buddha and there He lead the life of nakedness and meditation (langoti life).

Starting November winter is comfortable with average day temperatures of 25° C, nights around 7°C. BUT: the AIR POLLUTION is very, very bad. November air pollution in Varanasi can be bad . Summer day temperatures can rise up to 45° C. Monsoon rain: July till early October. The Ganges will be swollen and un-navigable.

Buddha Ruins. Buddha came back North to Sarnath 650 BC, after His awakening in Ceylon. He trained his disciples here, who later spread his teachings to every corner of the Eastern World. Various Buddhist Temples from many countries now surround the Buddhist 'Deer Park'. A nicely maintained monument, the archaeological museum at Sarnath is a must visit for visitors. Archaeological Remains are in the museum.

Baba walked to the underground rooms in the subterranean passages of the Sarnath ruins with His men companions, each clad only in langotis. Each one read the prayer in their minds for fifteen minutes.

Dr. Nath had rented a friend's bungalow for Baba and the women outside Sarnath, at the village of Pahariya, and another, an eighth of a mile away, for the men. Families were to send meals by car from Benares. Baba spent twelve days in Sarnath.

"The New Life is not yoga; nor is it asceticism. It can never be cut and dry. The proper word for it in Sufism is ruidi, which means freedom from form and religion. If and when we get things to eat, we eat plentifully; if we do not get, we starve cheerfully. Whatever comes we enjoy or suffer happily. But our aim is aimlessness, our help is helplessness, our hope is hopelessness."

At 7:30 on Monday morning 12 December 1949, Baba, leading the way, left Sarnath on foot with the four women, Eruch and Don. The whole caravan followed an hour and a half later. The white horse — symbolizing purity and the sanctity of the Avatar's advent. Behind it came the camel cart, the bullock cart. The New Life caravan, pulled by the black English bull, Rajah, followed by the two cows and their calves, lastly the two donkeys. The rest of the companions, while walking, were to stay on both sides of the camel cart, caravan and bullock cart lest the animals get out of control.

The procession rendezvoud with Baba and the women in Shivpur. The companions and Baba were dressed in white kafnis with green turbans, and the women wore blue cotton saris. When the complete entourage began again, it was a wonderful sight. On 14 December, everyone rose at 3:30 A.M. in the darkness of the middle of the night, amidst the bitter cold with a sigh of relief the companions greeted these words from Baba on 16 December: "Let the camel, camel cart, two cows and calves be sold for the best price possible.

The New Life companions halted at Jaunpur, took a train to Moradabad, walked from Moradabad to Najimabad (53 miles) (then train to Haridwar/ Dehradun).

To reach Jaunpur, Baba and the companions had walked 38 miles in four days in the freezing cold. With no shelter, they had slept in the open in that weather, and the food, too, was not substantial. At every halting place they had to tend to the animals — to water them, bring fodder, feed them and tie them up at suitable places — attend to minor repairs to the carts, beg for food, cook, clean pots, fetch water and wash clothes — all these and other small things added to their exhaustion. But the intense cold did not allow them much rest. It was therefore with a sigh of relief that the companions greeted these words from Baba on 16 December:

"Let the camel, camel cart, two cows and calves be sold for the best price possible. Don, Eruch and Pendu should go to the railway station to make inquiries about sending the two donkeys, white horse, bullocks and bullock cart by freight train to Hardwar." Baba decided to sell the cows, as he had gotten them at half price, and also because due to the young calves, the companions' pace had been slowed. The camel likewise walked at a plodding speed, and the camel cart would often break down. The donkeys were to be kept, as the women had discovered they would readily move forward when their backs were loaded. The white horse could not be sold as it was received in alms. 'Lord Meher' online. Page 2849.

LEAVING JAUNPUR Baba left by train for Moradabad with the group of companions, 21 December 1949. The four women traveled first class, Baba and the men rode in the servants' compartment. Don, Pendu and Sadashiv were left to accompany the caravan, bullock cart, bullocks, horse and the useful two donkeys, by freight train.

Moradabad accommodations were in Ram Leela Maidan, a public garden. Baba stayed in a tent, which was erected near the steps leading to the women's room. The men and women had not a single woolen coat between them and the men were spending the nights in their kafnis, usually outside in the open. Two tongas and a horse were purchased in Moradabad. Food, too, was provided. Pendu, Don and Sadashiv arrived in Moradabad on 29 December with the caravan, cart and animals. They left Moradabad, 10 days later, January 1, 1950, walking in procession. The cavalcade now consisted of a caravan, two tongas and one bullock cart. Pendu drove the caravan, Don and Baidul the tongas, and Sadashiv the bullock cart. Baba and the companions trudged along, all the luggage piled into the caravan, tongas and cart.

After covering about six miles, the caravan halted for the night Early January 2 . The two tongas went in advance to select the next halting spot, where Kaka was to keep the food ready and Ghani and Babadas were to go out for begging. After walking five miles, Baba sent Eruch out to beg. The women fed grass to the donkeys, and after covering a further five miles they arrived at the village of Haryana at 2:00 P.M., where they stayed in a mango grove.

Next morning, after walking five miles, the women sat in the caravan to rest for a two-mile stretch. They then walked another mile and a half. The afternoon and night were spent in a mango grove at Amroha. Next morning, they left Amroha, reaching Ratangarh at 4:30, after walking fifteen miles. The women walked nine and a half miles and covered the rest of the distance in the caravan. On the way, Eruch regularly went out to beg. Baba would mostly precede the women, accompanied by Eruch. Mehera, Goher Mani and Meheru were behind them, leading the two donkeys, and lastly the men in white kafnis and green turbans.

In Ratangarh they also camped again in a mango orchard, leaving Ratangarh, after five miles, one of the wheels on the tonga, drawn by the white horse, broke. "The horse was not pulling the vehicle well," Mehera related. "He had been trained to pull the tonga in Moradabad, but the horse was constantly resisting." With some effort they covered a mile further and stayed again in a mango grove. Nine miles were covered by foot that day. They halted for the night in a mango grove one and a half miles from Nethaur. Resuming the journey, Baba and the companions stopped in another mango orchard near Akbarabad after walking thirteen miles that day.

Monday, leaving the mango grove near Akbarabad, the group journeyed eight miles and arrived in Najibabad. Baba announced his desire to stay in Najibabad for a few days, and from there to proceed by train to Dehra Dun.

Kaka suffered a heart attack in Najibabad and became debilitated and it was decided to proceed by train. The donkeys, Sakoo and Thakoo, were sold at this time, They left Najibabad on the six o'clock train and reached Dehra Dun station around ten-thirty that morning.

Najibabad is 71% Muslim. Rohilla, a Muslim warrior of the Mughal Empire. "Nawab Najib-ud-Daulla". From 1757 to 1770 he was governor of Saharanpur, ruling over Dehradun. Many architectural relics of the period of Rohilla remain in Najibabad.

They arrived in Manjri Mafi, Hardwar, near Dehra Dun. after an eight-day journey. This property is situated at a village called Manjri Mafi. The name of the village means "cats are forgiven". So [Baba joked] perhaps this implies that there aren't any rats there! This property has a small structure consisting of two rooms, a verandah, kitchen and bathroom. It had been found and bought previously.

Baba stayed there during the New Life. The four women, Mehera, Mani, Meheru and Goher, stayed with Baba in Manjri Mafi, living according to the original conditions of the New Life. Don was to stay in Dehra Dun, open a dispensary and work as a doctor there. Though Kaka and Gustadji were to remain with Baba, they chose to regain their old-life freedom. Their maintenance was to be undertaken by Don.

Having given up the 'gypsy life', on 28 July 1950, the New Life caravan arrived back in Ahmednagar from Dehra Dun. (Padri towed it from Poona.) The New Life caravan, along with the Blue Bus, was a significant vehicle of Baba's travels during this advent, and they are preserved at Meherazad.

Garhwali Kingdom was one of the few kingdoms that never came under the Muslim rule influence. The history of Garhwal is older than that of the Ramayana and Mahabharata. Worshipping Lord Shiva, according to the great Mahabharata, Garhwal is believed to be the land where the Vedas and the Shastras were made.

Meher Baba: "If we want to know God as He is, we must be as honest as He is. The least hypocrisy creeping into our hearts keeps Him away. So let us be honest."

As Meher Baba's tour came to an end in Hamirpur District, it was aflame with the fire of divine love. This impoverished, rural area, although lacking materially, claimed a bountiful share of Baba's love. That is why he stated: "The district of Hamirpur is my heart!" . Almost 80,000 people had the good fortune to receive Baba's touch during these ten days of darshan. The whole region of Hamirpur resounded with: "Hari Lord] Baba, Hari Baba! Meher Baba Hari, Hari!" ...In Mahewa, Hamirpur, Meher Baba spelled out, on his alphabet board: declaring Himself Avatar of the Age.

For days people totally forgot themselves in this rhythmic acclamation. Hamirpur is such a remote area that at places there are only narrow footpaths. Yet the people made every effort to facilitate Baba's arrival and stay. They had constructed roads through their fields for miles on end. In some places, forests were cleared and earth filled in across canals that irrigated their fields. Quotes from "Lord Meher Online" page 3210. The meaning of Meher Baba's Fiery Free Life can be understood from the programs undergone in Hamirpur District. On Friday, 28 November 1952, Baba and the mandali left Hamirpur for Delhi by the Manikpur-Jhansi express train. Ten of Baba's close followers from Hamirpur accompanied them... __________________________________________________ Presently. 2024: Avatar Meher Baba Meher House Meherpuri Hamirpur Uttar Pradesh . .... Quote: Meher Baba "Side by side with other activities of the Fiery Free Life, there will invariably be one constant feature of that life, wherever it takes me. I will bow down to the saints whom I adore, the masts whom I worship and the poor to whom I am wholeheartedly devoted." Meher Baba.

Drive (one hour) from Haridwar to Rishikesh. You must walk over the bridge into Rishikesh. Take a walk along the clean, blue Ganges riverside. Always be careful of cows walking towards you! Just give them a little extra room.

Kedarnath is an ancient Shiva temple of great pilgrimage, located at 11,600 ft. Said to be built by the Pandavas. Reconstructed in 8th century AD, It is more than 1000 years old. You can take a helicopter ride there and back, same day, from Rishikesh. About $100.RT. You may need a special ID from the Haridwar railway station to board the helicopter.. Or hike 14 miles up! Cross back over the bridge and drive (one hour) up to Dehradun.

Many temples to visit. Get your ID/permit at the railroad station if you plan to take a helicopter ride up to Kedarnath in Rishikesh

To visit: Avatar Meher Baba Samadhi Tomb Shrine. Fly from Delhi to Pune. There are many hotels in Pune, which is a 2 hour drive from Meherabad (Ahmednagar). There are a few new hotels in Ahmednagar with restaurants. The car ride from town to Meherabad is 15 minutes. There is a pilgrim guest house in Meherabad available for people genuinly interested in Meher Baba, only with prior reservations through the Trust Office.

The Samadhi can be visited directly from either Pune or Ahmednagar. You need to hire a car with a driver who knows how to drive to the parking up the hill, near the Samadhi. Open to everyone from 7 am to 7 pm.

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NATURAL FABRICS INDIA COTTON INDIA WOOL INDIA SILKS CHIKANKAARI LINEN SAMADHI STRUCTURE		INDIA TRAVEL RAJASTHAN TRAVEL. HIMALAYAS JOURNEY SPIRITUAL VARANASI BABA'S 'NEW LIFE' SAMADHI STRUCTURE		AVATAR IN INDIA AVATAR IN INDIA INDIA PILGRIMAGE RAM SITA EXILE KRISHNA in DWARKA SAMADHI STRUCTURE



VISIT INDIA FIVE AVATARS IN INDIA DESIGN STRUCTURE INDIA COTTON ---------------------------	VISIT INDIA VARANASI KRISHNA DWARKA SILK CHIKAN LINEN ----------------------------	VISIT INDIA 'NEW LIFE' JOURNEY HIMALAYAS JOURNEY INDIA WOOL ---------------------------
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