Mani Irani
Encyclopedia
Manija Sheriar Irani was the younger sister of India
n spiritual master Meher Baba
, and one of his mandali
. She was chairman of the Avatar Meher Baba Trust
and the author of 82 Family Letters.
Besides Meher Baba's chief woman disciple Mehera Irani
, Mani Irani was said by Meher Baba to be his second closest woman disciple and his spiritual sister. Mani was one of only four women out of twenty companions to accompany Meher Baba in his New Life
phase, beginning in October 1949. By Meher Baba's directive given during his lifetime her remains are buried adjacent to Baba's samadhi in Meherabad
, India
.
, India
, the sixth and last child of Sheriar Mundegar Irani
and Shireen Sheriar Irani
. Sheriar and Shireen had one earlier daughter Freiny who died of plague
at the age of six in 1902. Thus Mani was Meher Baba's only surviving sister and the youngest in her family. Meher Baba was 24 years old when Mani was born, a period when he was still under the care of sadguru
Upasni Maharaj
in Sakori
outside Ahmednagar. By the time Mani was old enough to know about her famous brother, he was already attracting disciples of his own in Meherabad
. Mani attended Catholic school and longed to accompany her brother and live in his ashram
as his disciple even as a young girl. She wrote persistently to him, pleading to be allowed to come. Finally Baba made it possible through difficult family negotiations with their mother Shireen who was worried about Mani's safety and health in the austere and harsh desert life of Baba's ashram outside Ahmednagar. As a result of such efforts Mani joined her brother as a full resident disciple in September 1932 at the age of only 13.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n spiritual master Meher Baba
Meher Baba
Meher Baba , , born Merwan Sheriar Irani, was an Indian mystic and spiritual master who declared publicly in 1954 that he was the Avatar of the age....
, and one of his mandali
Mandali
Mandali from the Sanskrit mandala meaning circle, connection, community, is a term that Meher Baba used for his closest disciples.-Inner circle:...
. She was chairman of the Avatar Meher Baba Trust
Avatar Meher Baba Trust
The Avatar Meher Baba Perpetual Public Charitable Trust is a Charitable trust created by Meher Baba in 1959 to fulfill after his death various directives given by him. Bhau Kalchuri is currently its chairman.- History and charter :...
and the author of 82 Family Letters.
Besides Meher Baba's chief woman disciple Mehera Irani
Mehera Irani
Mehera Jehangir Irani was Meher Baba's closest mandali . Meher Baba said she was the purest soul in the universe and that she loved him as he ought to be loved...
, Mani Irani was said by Meher Baba to be his second closest woman disciple and his spiritual sister. Mani was one of only four women out of twenty companions to accompany Meher Baba in his New Life
New Life (Meher Baba)
The New Life was a period of renunciation, pilgrimage, and spiritual adventures undertaken by the Indian spiritual teacher Meher Baba on October 16, 1949. Baba selected twenty companions to join him in this self-described life of complete reliance on God, telling his companions, "Life during that...
phase, beginning in October 1949. By Meher Baba's directive given during his lifetime her remains are buried adjacent to Baba's samadhi in Meherabad
Meherabad
Meherabad was originally an ashram established by Meher Baba near Arangaon Village, India in 1923 about south of Ahmednagar. It is now the site of Meher Baba's samadhi as well as facilities and accommodations for pilgrims...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
.
Early life
Mani was born in PunePune
Pune , is the eighth largest metropolis in India, the second largest in the state of Maharashtra after Mumbai, and the largest city in the Western Ghats. Once the centre of power of the Maratha Empire, it is situated 560 metres above sea level on the Deccan plateau at the confluence of the Mula ...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, the sixth and last child of Sheriar Mundegar Irani
Sheriar Mundegar Irani
Sheriar Mundegar Irani was a mystic and the father of Meher Baba.- Biography :...
and Shireen Sheriar Irani
Shireen Sheriar Irani
Shireen Sheriar Irani , was the mother of Indian spiritual master Meher Baba.-Early life:...
. Sheriar and Shireen had one earlier daughter Freiny who died of plague
Bubonic plague
Plague is a deadly infectious disease that is caused by the enterobacteria Yersinia pestis, named after the French-Swiss bacteriologist Alexandre Yersin. Primarily carried by rodents and spread to humans via fleas, the disease is notorious throughout history, due to the unrivaled scale of death...
at the age of six in 1902. Thus Mani was Meher Baba's only surviving sister and the youngest in her family. Meher Baba was 24 years old when Mani was born, a period when he was still under the care of sadguru
Satguru
Satguru does not merely mean true guru. The term is distinguished from other forms of gurus, such as musical instructors, scriptural teachers, parents, and so on...
Upasni Maharaj
Upasni Maharaj
Upasni Maharaj, born Kashinath Govindrao Upasni, was considered by his disciples to be a satguru. He lived in Sakori, India and is said to have received God-realization from Sai Baba of Shirdi...
in Sakori
Sakori
Sakori or Sakuri is a small village in the Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra State, India, about south of Shirdi. Sakori is best known as the home of Hindu guru Upasni Maharaj and of his ashram, Kanya Kumari Sthan. It is located at ....
outside Ahmednagar. By the time Mani was old enough to know about her famous brother, he was already attracting disciples of his own in Meherabad
Meherabad
Meherabad was originally an ashram established by Meher Baba near Arangaon Village, India in 1923 about south of Ahmednagar. It is now the site of Meher Baba's samadhi as well as facilities and accommodations for pilgrims...
. Mani attended Catholic school and longed to accompany her brother and live in his ashram
Ashram
Traditionally, an ashram is a spiritual hermitage. Additionally, today the term ashram often denotes a locus of Indian cultural activity such as yoga, music study or religious instruction, the moral equivalent of a studio or dojo....
as his disciple even as a young girl. She wrote persistently to him, pleading to be allowed to come. Finally Baba made it possible through difficult family negotiations with their mother Shireen who was worried about Mani's safety and health in the austere and harsh desert life of Baba's ashram outside Ahmednagar. As a result of such efforts Mani joined her brother as a full resident disciple in September 1932 at the age of only 13.
Books by Mani S. Irani
- 82 Family Letters: Letters from Mani Irani (Meher Baba's sister) to various families. A compilation of letters to various Meher Baba groups around the world concerning Meher Baba's activities from 1958 to 1969. Sheriar Foundation, 1979 (ISBN 978-0913078259)
- God-Brother: Stories from My Childhood with Meher Baba, Sheriar Foundation, 1993 (ISBN 978-1880619063), illustrated by Steve JamesonSteve JamesonCharles Stephen "Steve" Jameson is a United States painter and children's book illustrator. Jameson paints under two brush names: "Cedar" and "Wodin"....
under the painting name of Wodin. - Dreaming of The Beloved, Sheriar Foundation, 1998 (ISBN 978-1880619186), illustrated by Steve JamesonSteve JamesonCharles Stephen "Steve" Jameson is a United States painter and children's book illustrator. Jameson paints under two brush names: "Cedar" and "Wodin"....
under his painting name Wodin. - Tales from the New Life with Meher Baba, (Contributing author) Narrated by Eruch, Mehera, Mani and Meheru, Published by Meher Baba Information, 1976 (out of print)