had happened. Sai Baba said: "He may not have given four hundred Rupees to me; but it is a good thing that he has given them to you.” The swami asked: "Did you send me there to receive a thrashing?" Sai Baba said, "Sometimes thrashing also should be received. What is the good of having only good things every day. I used to receive much thrashing." Sai Baba often sent to Maharaj those persons who needed thrashing.

Some of the devotees of Sai Baba were burning with jealousy on account of the ever-increasing respect which people showed towards Maharaj; and they began to invent troubles for Maharaj, sometimes openly and sometimes secretly. The hemorrhoids with which Maharaj was afflicted also assumed an acute condition and another operation seemed to be indicated. At Miraj there was a surgeon. So, after staying at Shirdi for three months, Maharaj, through some one got the permission of Sai Baba for leaving Shirdi for Miraj. At Miraj, the operation was successfully performed; and from Miraj, Maharaj went from place to place until he settled down at Sakori, in July, 1917.

Maharaj was taken to Sakori by Shankar Patil, who was very keen that he should choose Sakori as his permanent residence. Maharaj preferred to stay outside the village in a burial-ground. People of the village built a hut for him to stay at the spot which he had selected for living. Even during the life-time of Sai Baba two big sapthahas (devotional weeks) were celebrated by the devotees of Maharaj at Sakori. Sai Baba entered Mahasamadhi on 15th October, 1918. The next celebration of a sapthaha at Sakori was concluded with the erection of a small temple just in front of the hut of Maharaj and the establishing in the temple of two photos, one of Sai Baba and the other of Maharaj. The temple also contained the padukas (sandals) of Maharaj. These were daily worshipped by some devotees, who resided in Sakori just for that purpose. Among the frequent visitors to Maharaj at Sakori was Meher Baba. This contact proved to be of special spiritual importance for the world. The role of Maharaj in the life of Meher Baba deserves special mention; it will, therefore, be described in detail.

At Sakori, Maharaj allowed his devotees to gather together to have religious celebrations on all religious days like Ramnavami, Datta-Jayanti, his own birthday. Vata-Pournima (a special religious day for women), Guru-Purnima and so on. Maharaj also paid a visit to Benares where he was followed by his devotees of various religious. At Benares, Maharaj sanctioned the reading of many holy scriptures by forty learned Brahmins