Meherabad

Meherabad
town

Faredoon Driver shows the grounds of Upper Meherabad. (Photo by Win Coates)
Meherabad
Coordinates: 19°01′46″N 74°43′09″E / 19.029539°N 74.719042°ECoordinates: 19°01′46″N 74°43′09″E / 19.029539°N 74.719042°E
Country India
State Maharashtra
District Ahmednagar
Elevation 672 m (2,205 ft)
Time zone IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN 414001
Website ambppct.org

Meherabad (meher flourishing: "abad" meaning a prosperous settlement, or a flourishing colony) was originally an ashram established by Meher Baba near Arangaon Village, India in 1923 about 9 kilometres (6 mi) south of Ahmednagar. It is now the site of Meher Baba's samadhi (shrine/tomb) as well as facilities and accommodations for pilgrims. A large number of buildings mostly associated with the earlier decades of Baba’s work, the graves of disciples, and a range of pilgrim accommodation and charitable establishments are also there. Many Baba lovers work or live in the vicinity.[1]

Meherabad is a popular place of pilgrimage for both Eastern and Western followers of Meher Baba with reported numbers of around 30,000 annual pilgrims at Amartithi (the commemoration of his death, January 31).[2] The Meher Pilgrim Center and Meher Pilgrim Retreat located there are open to the public. There is also a free dispensary and school.

Established in May 1923, Meherabad was the first permanent residence of Meher Baba and his disciples in Ahmednagar district.[3] In 1944 Meher Baba moved his residence north to Meherazad located 24 kilometres (15 mi) away on the other side of Ahmedagar.[4]

References

  1. ↑ Avatar Meher Baba, His Life, His Message and His Followers, Copyright 1996 Ray Kerkhove, Peter Milne and Ray Kerkhove,
  2. ↑ Avatar Meher Baba Trust - Calendar of Events
  3. ↑ Meher Prabhu: Lord Meher, The Biography of the Avatar of the Age, Meher Baba, by Bhau Kalchuri, Manifestation, Inc. 1986. p. 519
  4. ↑ Meher Baba's Last Sahavas, pp. 15-16 Copyright 1969 Dr. H. P. Bharucha

External links