"Padayatra" (Jayanagar to MBUSC) on 15-16 Oct 2006
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JOURNEY ON FOOT
'New Life' has been an important phase in Meher Baba’s Avataric advent.Though the significance of New Life was not fully understood by aspirants, Meher Baba termed it as "a life of hopelessness and helplessness". The state of hopelessness and helplessness eventually leads to absolute renunciation which means total reliance on God.
Meher Baba also said, "this New Life will live by itself, even if there is no one to live it". Avatar Meher Baba lived this New Life with His companions (mandali) with no distinction as Master and disciples, touring many parts of India, mostly on foot for more than two years.
To commemorate the beginning of Avatar Meher Baba’s New Life on 16th of October, 1949 and also the commencement of "Manonash (annihilation of mind)", part of New Life on the same day in 1951, a 2-day padayatra (meaning "journey on foot") program was conducted for a distance of about 40 km from Bangalore to Byramangala in the southern part of India. Both these places witnessed the Avatar's work during His physical form. Bangalore is one of the places where Avatar Meher Baba did extensive work with the god-intoxicated Masts. Also it is the place where, the Samadhi of Sadguru Narayan Maharaj, one of the five perfect masters responsible for realization of Meher Baba’s Godhood, is located. Abbankuppe Village, near Byramangala, visited by Avatar Meher Baba on His way to Mysore, is well-known amongst Meher Baba family for the Universal Spiritual Center (MBUSC), standing in the area where the Avatar laid the foundation stone with His own hands in 1939.
The aim of this padayatra was to spread Avatar Meher Baba’s Message of Love and Oneness amongst the people witnessing the event all along the way of journey. The padayatra commenced immediately after offering prayers to Avatar Meher Baba at 7:00 AM on 15th of October, 2006 from Meher Baba Center in Jayanagar in Bangalore.
It proceeded in busy streets of Bangalore city for about four hours and later on the Mysore highway. After covering a distance of 22 km the night's halt was made at an orphanage enroute. The padayatra continued on next day, 16th of October, 2006 and reached MBUSC near Byramangala village by noon.
The padayatra procession was led by a well decorated wooden chariot bearing MeherBaba’s photographs with fresh rose garlands displayed on it, in the front and the rear. Elderly people followed the chariot in two rows, followed by ladies and young lovers, respectively. The participants of padayatra carried in their hands the seven-color Baba flags mounted on thin posts and banners displaying Meher Baba’s famous sayings in English and in the local language, Kannada. Chanting of Avatar Meher Baba’s name in different forms and tunes was continuous throughout the journey without a break. Booklets and handouts containing information about Meher Baba and His prayers, messages and photographs were
distributed to the people on the way. There were so many souls instantly drawn in awe. Some showed their respect to the Lord, by placing rupee coins at the photograph on the chariot
while, several others curiously questioned and enquired.
The participants included Baba lovers from all over India, mostly from Andhra and Karnataka states. Even though more than eighty aspirants participated in the beginning of padayatra, around fifty five lovers continued till the end. Lovers as old as seventy and as young as thirteen were enthusiastic part of the event. Some walked barefoot throughout the journey. Meher Baba lovers at Bangalore organized the padayatra in a disciplined manner befitting the occasion.
Meher Baba once said, "My manifestation will embrace the economic, social and religious aspects of life. It will spiritualize all human activities in art, science, music, politics and drama. In the near future a great universal drama will be enacted, the theme of which will be pure love, selfless service. I will play the leading part in this world-awakening drama". The panorama of activities going on, around, while the padayatra progressed would have brought this message of the Avatar to His lovers' minds.
The padayatra concluded with a sahavas of all participants and other Meher Baba lovers who could not participate in the padayatra at MBUSC in Byramangala which, included Frieny Nalawala and Venkoba Rao who have been associated Meher Baba at Dehradun and Bangalore, respectively. Some lovers and participants spoke about the importance of New life and there experiences of the padayatra. While it will remain an enthralling and unique feeling for the participants, the count of the hearts that have been struck by the arrow of the Eternal Beloved's divine love in His chosen way of manifestation, remain for the days to come, to witness. Jai Meher Baba !