One day in May of 1913, while on his way to Deccan College in Poona, Merwan (later affectionately called Meher Baba by His lovers) was beckoned by a very old woman sitting under a neem tree. She looked very radiant and her eyes beamed with divinity. She wore only a rough blanket wrapped around her in sun, rain, and cold. This was Hazrat Babajan, one of the five God-realized Perfect Masters of the time. At this first meeting, Babajan embraced Merwan, and the effect of this contact led him to lose all worldly interest. He took to sitting with her regularly for hours, especially at night.

Then one January evening in 1914, Babajan kissed Merwan on his forehead, between his eyebrows, and made him realize in a flash the infinite bliss of Self-realization (God-realization). Merwan lost consciousness of everyone and everything, except the infinite bliss of his own Eternal Existence.

Babajan would sometimes refer to Baba through the words of the following Persian couplet: "Khud be khud azad boo bi, khud girfdar aamadi." Freely translated into English this couplet means, "You on your own were completely free, but you bound yourself [out of love]." This indirectly refers to the descent of Infinite God into finite human form.

In reference to His God-realization and the return journey to being conscious both of God and creation, Baba later made the symbolic statement, "Babajan gave Me a rupee and Maharaj made Me realize the value of a rupee."

In September of 1931, Babajan went for a minor operation at Sassoon Hospital. After this, Babajanšs health declined and she did not seem to recuperate. Babajan dropped her body on September 21st, 1931 in Pune. (Lord Meher, I, p.19)

When Baba heard the news by telegram that Babajan had passed away, He was in Combe Martin, England. After Baba read the telegram from Vishnu, Baba stated, "By Babajan having dropped her body, numerous difficulties will crop up and circumstances will soon change. For this reason, I changed my plans about proceeding to Persia and then returning to India, and have decided instead to go to America." After Babajanšs passing, it was as though Babašs work increased, especially in His connection to the West. (Lord Meher,IV, p.1426)

Before beginning the Fiery Free Life in 1952, Baba visited the shrines of three of the Perfect Masters: Upasni Maharaj, Sai Baba, and Babajan. After visiting Sakori and Shirdi, Baba and the mandali drove to Pune, reaching there at 2:00am. Babajanšs dargah was of course closed, but special arrangements were made for it to be opened for Baba to have darshan. At this quiet hour, while all slept, Baba paid His respects to Babajan in the very same place where Babajan made Baba feel what He ever is. (Glimpses, III, p.198)

Through the years, Baba continued to hold deep respect for His master, Babajan. In the 1960s, when Baba and the mandali would stay in Guru Prasad for the summer months, Baba would ask Mehera and the ladies to visit Babajanšs dargah.

Whenever Babajan was mentioned, Baba would have a special glow on His face. Because of her total renunciation of everything for God, some referred to Babajan as the "Fakir of Fakir" (one owning nothing of this world), but Baba would call her "Shahanshah" or "Emperor of Emperors."