The Women’s Sahavas will be held at Avatar’s Abode, in Australia’s Sunshine Coast, Queensland.

Avatar’s Abode was set up in 1958 for Meher Baba’s second visit to Australia. The property is beautiful, high up on a hill with breathtaking panoramic views and glimpses of the ocean, nearby neighbouring mountains and the countryside beyond.

You can read more about Avatar’s Abode at their official webpage http://www.avatarsabode.com.au/

For the purpose of our Women’s Sahavas however, I wanted to share an account of Baba with the women on his first visit there:

He asked Francis to go outside to see if the weather was suitable for Baba to visit the women’s quarters (the old farmhouse- later the Rouse’s residence). This is where the food was being prepared during the Sahavas.

The mist had lifted, although it was still cloudy. Francis said it looked like rain, but Baba decided to go anyway. He put on an overcoat and was driven down the hill to the farmhouse by John Bruford.

Despite his injured hip, Baba went up the long staircase and through the house, inspecting the rooms. He called for the cooks. Baba pointed to one bunk and was told it was May Lundquist’s. He then pointed to a framed picture of himself by May’s bed. Smiling sweetly, he said how dear May was to him and how much she loved him. Then he was driven to see the men’s tents, which were pitched by the roadside. He leaned on one tent post as he surveyed the tents.

On his return to his house, he sent for the women. Those who attended remembered it as an intimate, special occasion. For instance, Joanna Bruford recalls:

” Baba was so relaxed, it was just like being at home with your family. He sat there on the bed and beside him he had a lot of things the women mandali had sent out. He leaned over; there was a a game going on. He was picking out what he would give to whom. It was really lovely to see Baba taking so much time in such a little thing”

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The women sat around him on the carpet of his room as Baba leaned against the satin cushions on his bed. Eruch was beside him to interpret. Baba spoke to them about Mehera:

“Mehera is the purest of women, and she has sent her love to you all. She has some gifts to give each of you. After Mehera is Mani, my sister. She has no thought of herself and does all for me”.

Baba showed them the photographs of Mehera, Mani and the other women mandali, and afterwards, held up four large photographs of himself which Mehera had said to give to them.

He asked, “Now, to whom should these be given?”

Joan Bruford said, “I think they should go to the ones whose homes are most visited by Baba Lovers”.

So Baba gave one each to Clarice Adams, Frances Lee, Lorna Rouse and Joan Le Page. Then Baba handed out the rest of the gifts, miniature leather sandals and bangles. Before they left, each was given some of Baba’s hair by him. Two large color-tinted photographs of Baba were handed over with explicit instructions that they be hung in his room, one on the inside of the doorway and the other on the outside. “