(Aug. 1946) DURING THIS PERIOD the marriage of Krishna Nair, Baba’s night watchman took place. Several years before, the following incident occurred while Baba was staying in Dehra Dun in 1942. Krishna would take a walk every evening at five o’clock before going to Baba’s room for nightwatch. Opposite their bungalow was a girls’ school. Four girls used to watch Krishna, and one of them asked him if she could come with him for a walk. Krishna felt extremely uncomfortable around women. “I didn’t want to see any woman’s face,” he recollected. “I disliked women.”
His disgust was so great that when the girl innocently asked to accompany him, he spit in her face. The girl’s feelings were hurt and she complained to Baba. Baba called Krishna and asked for his side of the story. “You have done a terrible thing,” Baba reprimanded.
He directed the girl to remove her sandal and slap Krishna with it. Krishna was ordered to bow down to her and seek her forgiveness. When the girl had left, Baba asked Krishna why he did that. Krishna said, “Baba, I do not want to touch any woman; I do not want to have any contact with any woman.”
Baba spelled out to him, “You say you do not want to have anything to do with women, but you will marry! You will have one son also! He will cry. When he cries who will look after him?”
“No, Baba, I tell you I will not marry.”
“Are you challenging me?” Baba asked him.
“I am not challenging you, but I do not want to marry.”
“You will marry,” Baba insisted. Krishna was equally firm that he had resolved not to wed. “All right,” Baba directed him, “write it down.” Krishna took out a pencil, but Baba stopped him. He called Vishnu and told him to bring a quill pen. He then directed Nilu to draw blood from Krishna’s forefinger.
To Krishna he ordered, “Write, in your own blood: I will not marry.” When Krishna finished, Baba examined the paper and handed it to Vishnu. “Keep this with you, and when I ask for it again, give it to me,” Baba instructed.
Four years passed. Nothing was said again about Krishna’s marriage. Before going back to Niranjanpur in July 1946, Baba had given Krishna a month’s leave to visit his mother. “Don’t disappoint your mother,” Baba ordered him. “Obey her words and make her happy.” Krishna went home and saw his family for the first time in nine years. (1) After four or five days, his mother began pestering him to marry. Krishna remembered Baba’s words and sent him a letter. Baba sent a one-line telegram: “Obey your mother’s words.” Krishna’s mother arranged the marriage, and the marriage ceremony was held twelve days later. The very next morning, a telegram came from Baba ordering Krishna to return immediately. His bride was not upset; on the contrary, she
insisted that he go.
Krishna met Baba in Rishikesh. When Krishna entered the room, everyone was ordered out. Baba asked Krishna, “Are you married? Is your wife beautiful? Does she love you?”
“Baba, I was with her for only eight hours,” Krishna said. “How do I know whether or not she loves me?”
Baba commented, “She is better than you. She loves you more than you know.” Krishna was sent back to Niranjanpur, with instructions not to tell anyone about the marriage.
(1) Since 1939, Meher Baba sent Krishna Nair’s mother thirty rupees every month to help with her livelihood, which he continued to do until her death in 1964.
Lord Meher, Original Publication, Bhau Kalchuri, Vol. 9, pp. 3123 – 3124.