path. She is encouraged in the task Maharaj entrusted to her by these darshan visits of Baba to the Ashram at her loving invitation.

We had arrived about 8:30, and preparations were now made to greet Baba in His car, expected shortly before 9 a.m. Sakori is a tiny village of less than a hundred souls. and I had imagined that the darshan would be for close devotees and villagers. I was amazed to find a big crowd collecting apparently from nowhere, with a brass band, guards of honor, and a white steed, symbolic in meaning, marshaled in readiness to meet Him.

With shouts of "Avatar Meher Baba ki jai!" and music which would have done credit to any town band in England, hundreds now crowded around Baba's car, headed by the band. At walking speed, the procession entered the gates of the Ashram. Particularly impressive to me were the long, finely chased silver sticks, swelling up to head height, reminiscent of the ''rods" used in British Parliamentary ceremonial. The white charger was caparisoned with trappings of beauty and dignity, and I only wished that I had the opportunity of studying these and the silver sticks more closely.

Now, however, the crowds were swelling rapidly and events crowded thick and fast. Inside the Ashram compound is the great banyan tree under which Upasni Maharaj sat for many years, and just opposite, a huge awning on poles with bamboo railings had been erected. Baba's puja was first performed near the Ashram temple by the high priest, and then at the Ashram entrance by Godavri Mai and the kanyas, who took Baba's darshan and garlanded Him. After that, Baba was firmly ensconced on a cushioned chair on the dais in the enclosure.

The cries of "Avatar Meher Baba ki jai!" (Hail Meher Baba, the Christ) increased in volume and strength, and it was not until later that I recalled the words of Jesus when He entered Jerusalem riding on an ass: "Verily I say unto you, if these had kept their peace, the very stones would have cried out.

The hall formed by the awning and rails was now full to overflowing and crowds stood without. Kishan Singh, who was my guide, well versed in making his way through large and unruly crowds, forced an entrance for me, and a few yards behind and to the right of Baba, I was able to sit down on the ground. The giving of prasad by Baba had now started, to the