ARNAVAZ DADACHANJI JOINS BABA
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(Photograph taken by Niket Kale-2006) |
(Photograph taken by David Fenster - 1976) |
ARNAVAZ NARIMAN DADACHANJI
Meherazad
February 22, 2009
Jai Meher Baba,
So ~ our darling Arnavaz is finally where she belongs in the arms of her
Beloved. Shortly after she passed away someone came up to me and said they
were reading in LORD MEHER where Baba comments on why one lingers for so
long at the end of their life. Baba says it is because they are receiving
liberation and therefore they need to finish up all the remaining sanskaras
in this lifetime. Whether that is the case or not with dearest Arnavaz, she
certainly did linger beyond our capacity to comprehend the why of it.
On the morning of the 17th, the day that Meheru was returning from Pune,
Arnavaz went into a Cheyne-Stokes pattern of breathing associated with the
end of life. She would intermittently stop breathing and then start again.
And it was clear that she was once again in a coma. So we began our bedside
vigil. Throughout the day there were times that Arnavaz would rub her chest
repeatedly and when we took her pulse it was very rapid. So we began giving
her injections which would relieve her pain and her rapid pulse. This went
on throughout the day and in the afternoon, shortly after Meheru returned,
when Arnavaz's breathing pattern appeared to change again, we thought she
was going to Baba. Everyone in the household was
alerted and Katie, Meheru, Manu, Meherwan and all gathered around her
singing and repeating Baba's Name. But it wasn't yet time.
That night we took turns sitting bedside with Arnavaz so someone was always
awake with her. And by morning her breathing and pulse became more normal
and we wondered if she was pulling another fast one. But around 2:30 pm her
breathing pattern changed once more and she opened her eyes. It was time.
Again the household gathered around her to repeat Baba's Name as she
returned to the waiting embrace of her Beloved.
Arnavaz was taken on a stretcher into Baba's Room where she lay at His feet
as we stood around her saying the prayers. Then she was carried into Mandali
Hall where she lay in state until it was time to go to Meherabad the
following morning. Almost immediately people began arriving at Meherazad to
pay their respects and soon Mandali Hall was full. Arnavaz looked so
beautiful. About 2-3 days before she passed away, Arnavaz began to resemble
the young woman she was in her wedding photo with Nariman. All the strain
and puffiness left her revealing a stunning beauty, and that is how she
appeared to us
lying in Mandali Hall.
Meheru and Katie led us in the prayers and arti and then the singing began.
Some people stayed all night keeping darling Arnavaz company, and in the
morning her beauty was even more striking. At 7 am on the 19th the Meherazad
household and those who arrived early to follow the cortege to Meherabad
stood before Baba's chair with Arnavaz lying in repose at His feet and
recited the prayers and sang the arti. Then to the chorus of "Avatar Meher
Baba ki Jai" she was carried into the Meherabad ambulance and out through
the Meherazad gates for the last time.
Several of us- Arnavaz's family, Meherazad household and her caregivers-
accompanied her in the ambulance to the Samadhi where a crowd awaited her
arrival. Arnavaz was carried into the Samadhi and placed at the foot of
Baba's marble - her head at His feet. Once again the prayers were said, arti
was sung and darshan was taken by those accompanying her inside the Samadhi.
We garlanded Baba, Mehera and Mani, kissed our darling Goher and were on our
way to Mandali Hall at lower Meherabad where she lay in state till 10:30 in
the morning. And the crowds arrived. A steady stream of people coming to pay
their last love and respects to Arnavaz. More singing. It was incredible.
The Iranis were there with their remarkable passion
and love for Baba singing His Name in Persian and playing the daf, the
national drum of Persia - a percussive instrument used to play in Sufi
meetings and unlike any we have ever seen or heard. And this was
counterbalanced by the Argentinians whose mellifluous singing floated
through Mandali Hall like the woodwind section of an orchestra. Bhauji and
Meheru arrived around 10:30 and witnessing their final farewell intensified
the atmosphere of Baba's Presence and His joy. As Arnavaz was being lifted
and carried out of Mandali Hall, everyone shouted Baba's "Jai" and then
stood silently contemplating the next step in her journey.
Arnavaz was brought to the cremation grounds at Meherabad in the ambulance
and placed on the pyre still looking so beautiful. Flowers were offered to
her and as the bits of wood were placed around her, Meheru and others
continued to toss roses onto the pyre in a final, heart-full goodbye. Meheru
placed a beautiful pink handkerchief that had been much-used by Goher over
darling Arnavaz's face and the pyre was completed over her body. Family and
friends took turns lighting the pyre and soon it was so hot that we all had
to stand back. After some time some of the young Irani men, with their dafs
in hand, began
circumambulating Arnavaz's pyre singing God's Name in Persian and they were
soon joined by many. It was beautiful and deeply touching beyond words as
each one solemnly circled Arnavaz acknowledging their love and respect for
this irreplaceable friend in Baba's family.
So we returned to Meherazad rather in a state of disbelief. The last few
years have been so focused on dearest Arnavaz by the entire household and
now we find it difficult to acknowledge she is no longer with us. For the
last year or so every night we would all line up in her bedroom for our
precious good-night hug. She would embrace each one and say "Have a good
night" and stroke our faces looking deeply into our eyes with so much love.
It was our nightcap - an elixir of Baba's Love and we miss her. Now so many
times during the day one or the other of us will say, oh, I should see if
Arnavaz wants to eat this, or it's time for Arnavaz's injection, or I should
check on her to see if she needs something. It will take time to change our
patterns, but the truth is we don't want it to happen too soon. There is
still great comfort in feeling her presence at Meherazad.
Another stalwart in His Love has returned to His fold and how fortunate we
all have been to know her and to share in her life of love and service and
in her final journey to her Beloved Avatar Meher Baba.
As Goher would often write at the end of her letters,
With much love to you all in His warm embrace,
Shelley Marrich
In Correspondence for Meherazad
Avatar Meher Baba gathered His dearest Arnavaz Dadachanji into His eternal
embrace on 18th February, 2009 at 2:34p.m. at Meherazad. Arnavaz passed away
from a heart attack; she was 90 years old. Cremation will be at Meherabad on
19th February at 11am.
Arnavaz was blessed to be born into a close family who were brought into
Baba's fold by her uncle Chanji, Baba's first secretary. From childhood she
was in His frequent company as Baba often visited their home, and she grew
up under His loving direction, obeying His every order. At Baba's wish she
married Nariman Dadachanji and they set up an apartment that was to become a
home in Bombay for Beloved Baba, Mehera, and the women and men mandali.
When Beloved Baba left on His New Life, He gifted Meherazad to Nariman and
Arnavaz, who remained "pillars" of Meherazad when the Beloved returned to
stay there and after He dropped His form. Nariman's passing away in 1974 was
a great blow to Arnavaz, and soon after Arnavaz moved to Meherazad
permanently to be near Mehera and serve Him there. She and Nariman had never
had children, and Baba once said that He and Mehera were their children.
Arnavaz always held that very close to her heart.
Although she lived in the ordinary world, her one-pointed focus was on Baba,
and she gave even her own family the benefit of her wisdom and perspective
on Baba and the spiritual life. This she also generously shared with
pilgrims who came to Meherazad, through her loving advice and counsel, and
through her beautiful book "Gift of God", titled after the meaning of her
name. Her inspiring life of obedience to the Avatar will serve as a luminous
example for generations of Baba-lovers to come, of how to be in the world
yet wholeheartedly with the Lord.
We, your Meherazad family, salute you, dearest Arnavaz, for your vital
support to Meherazad in your service to the Avatar, and especially for your
life of love and surrender to Him.
AVATAR MEHER BABA ki JAI !!!
Meheru, Katie, Falu and all Meherazad family
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
PLEASE CIRCULATE THE NEWS:
Niket Kale
For Support Desk
www.trustMeher.com