1969 Darshan
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The 1969 Darshan (also known as The Last Darshan and The Great Darshan) was an event where many followers of Meher Baba, many of whom had not met him, came from East and West to Pune and Meherabad, India to pay homage to Meher Baba after his death on January 31, 1969.[1] The programs had been arranged by Meher Baba in advance of his death. The darshan programs took place in Pune, in phases, from April to June 1969. Thousands attended[2][3], mostly Easterners, but including about 800 Westerners. Westerners attended programs in the morning and Easterners in the afternoon.[4]
Before his passing, Meher Baba had made extensive preparations for a public darshan program to be held in Pune, India in the Spring of 1969. Originally the darshan had been planned for Meher Baba's followers in the East and West to see Meher Baba personally. Many in the West had heard of Meher Baba only in the last years of his life while he was maintaining strict seclusion and were hoping to see him for the first time. The darshan had been planned for April-June 1969, but Baba died at the end of January, ahead of the scheduled event. Meher Baba's body was laid in his samadhi (tomb) at Meherabad and was kept viewable to the public for one week, but was interred on February 7, 1969. Meher Baba's mandali decided to proceed with the arrangements for the large drashan despite the physical absence of the host, writing to the awaiting participants, "God has invited you, and you are free to keep your appointment." Several thousand attended this "Last Darshan," including many hundred people from the U.S.A., Europe, and Australia.[5]
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[edit] Amartithi
Meher Baba's death is commemorated annually in India in festivities known as Amartithi held at Meherabad in the last week of each January. 10,000-12,000 overnight and 25,000-30,000 daytime visitors from all over the world gather at Meherabad for the three-day program.[6]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Master's Glossary, (See "Great Darshan")
- ^ Listen, Humanity by Meher Baba 3rd Ed, Harper Colophon Books, New York, 1982, Introduction to the Colophon Edition, p. x
- ^ Who is Meher Baba
- ^ Darshan Schedule as explained by Eruch Jessawala (1969 tape recording of darshan schedule being explained to attendants)
- ^ Kalchuri, Bhau: "Meher Prabhu: Lord Meher, The Biography of the Avatar of the Age, Meher Baba", Manifestation, Inc. 1986. p. 6739
- ^ Avatar Meher Baba Trust - Calendar of Events
[edit] External links
- Great Darshan Proceedings (tape recordings of actual proceedings)
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