Mehera Irani
Encyclopedia
Mehera Jehangir Irani was Meher Baba
's closest mandali
(disciple). Meher Baba said she was the purest soul in the universe and that she loved him as he ought to be loved. He called her his "Radha
" and said, "She is my very breath without which I cannot live." Her accounts of her life with Meher Baba are exhaustively and carefully documented in the three volume chronicle, Mehera-Meher: A Divine Romance, written by David Fenster, based on tape-recordings of Mehera he made.
Mehera met Meher Baba for the first time on October 15, 1922 at the age of 14 in the Sakori
ashram of Upasni Maharaj
during a visit with her mother, but did not come to stay with Baba permanently at Meherabad
until 1924. Unique among Meher Baba's women mandali, Mehera was sequestered by Baba from contact with men. It was not until the late 1960s that Mehera J. Irani was permitted by Meher Baba to come out of her seclusion and meet some of the men mandali from a distance. On the porch at Meherazad
, she simply folded her hands to them out of respect to their love for Baba and saluted them with "Jai Baba
!"
Mehera was one of four women who accompanied Baba in his New Life
period from 1949-1951. In 1952 Mehera suffered a severe head injury in an automobile accident with Meher Baba near Prague, Oklahoma
.
In accordance with Meher Baba’s directive, Mehera’s final resting place is by his side, adjacent to his Samadhi.
Although Mehera was born in January, from 1968 her birthday has been celebrated on December 22 as it was in 1968 in accordance with the Zoroastrian calendar
, that being the last year it was celebrated in Meher Baba's physical presence.
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....
's closest mandali
Mandali
Mandali from the Sanskrit mandala meaning circle, connection, community, is a term that Meher Baba used for his closest disciples.-Inner circle:...
(disciple). Meher Baba said she was the purest soul in the universe and that she loved him as he ought to be loved. He called her his "Radha
Radha
Radha , also called Radhika, Radharani and Radhikarani, is the childhood friend and lover of Krishna in the Bhagavata Purana, and the Gita Govinda of the Vaisnava traditions of Hinduism...
" and said, "She is my very breath without which I cannot live." Her accounts of her life with Meher Baba are exhaustively and carefully documented in the three volume chronicle, Mehera-Meher: A Divine Romance, written by David Fenster, based on tape-recordings of Mehera he made.
Mehera met Meher Baba for the first time on October 15, 1922 at the age of 14 in the 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 ....
ashram of 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...
during a visit with her mother, but did not come to stay with Baba permanently at 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...
until 1924. Unique among Meher Baba's women mandali, Mehera was sequestered by Baba from contact with men. It was not until the late 1960s that Mehera J. Irani was permitted by Meher Baba to come out of her seclusion and meet some of the men mandali from a distance. On the porch at Meherazad
Meherazad
Meherazad was the last residence of the Indian spiritual teacher Meher Baba and is today a place of spiritual pilgrimage outside Pimpalgaon village, approximately north of Ahmednagar, India. More accurately, it is located at . Meherazad estate comprises about .Meher Baba lived at Meherazad from...
, she simply folded her hands to them out of respect to their love for Baba and saluted them with "Jai Baba
Jai Baba
Jai Baba is an expression used by followers of Meher Baba and means "Praise Baba." It is used as a greeting, as a salutation, or as an outward expression of appreciation of Meher Baba's life and qualities...
!"
Mehera was one of four women who accompanied 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...
period from 1949-1951. In 1952 Mehera suffered a severe head injury in an automobile accident with Meher Baba near Prague, Oklahoma
Prague, Oklahoma
Prague is a city in Lincoln County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 2,138 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Prague is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
.
In accordance with Meher Baba’s directive, Mehera’s final resting place is by his side, adjacent to his Samadhi.
Although Mehera was born in January, from 1968 her birthday has been celebrated on December 22 as it was in 1968 in accordance with the Zoroastrian calendar
Zoroastrian calendar
This article treats of the reckoning of days, months and years in the calendar used by adherents of the Zoroastrian faith. Zoroastrian religious festivals are discussed elsewhere, but have a fixed relationship to Nawruz, the New Year festival, whose timing is discussed below...
, that being the last year it was celebrated in Meher Baba's physical presence.