What is Meher Baba?
Meher Baba was an Indian spiritual master who said he was the Avatar, or the total manifestation of God in human form. Born Merwan Sheriar Irani on 25 February 1894 to Zoroastrian parents of Persian descent in Pune, India, he is best known for maintaining complete verbal silence from July 10, 1925, at age thirty-one until his death on 31 January 1969. During this 44-year period, he communicated first through writing, then an alphabet board, and finally through hand gestures interpreted by his close disciples. His teachings emphasized love, the illusory nature of the material world, and the realization of one’s divine nature. Unlike many spiritual teachers, Meher Baba did not seek to establish a formal religion or organization, stating he had come “not to teach but to awaken.”
Origins & Lineage
Meher Baba’s spiritual transformation began when he was 19 years old and lasted for seven years, during which he contacted five spiritual teachers before beginning his own mission and gathering his own disciples in early 1922, at the age of 27. These teachers, whom he called the Five Perfect Masters, were Hazrat Babajan, Upasni Maharaj, Sai Baba of Shirdi, Tajuddin Baba, and Narayan Maharaj—all God-realized souls living in central India during the early 20th century. His first encounter was with Hazrat Babajan, an elderly Muslim woman saint who lived under a neem tree in Pune. According to Meher Baba, the five Perfect Masters brought him down as the Avatar, and all that he became was due to these five.
In 1923, Meher Baba and his mandali (circle of disciples) moved to Meherabad, near Ahmednagar, which became the center of his work. During the 1920s, Meher Baba opened a school, hospital, and dispensary at Meherabad, all of which were free and open to all castes and faiths. His silence began in 1925 and persisted until his death, though he continued traveling extensively, including multiple trips to the United States, Europe, and Australia.
How It’s Practiced
Following Meher Baba is not a formalized practice with prescribed rituals or institutional membership. Meher Baba never sought to form a sect or proclaim a dogma, attracting and welcoming followers of many faiths and every social class with a message emphasizing love and compassion, the elimination of the selfish ego, and the potential of realizing God within themselves. His followers, often called “Baba lovers,” engage with his teachings through reading his major works—primarily Discourses (1938–43) and God Speaks (1955)—and gathering informally to discuss his life and message.
Gatherings of Baba followers are typically informal and social in nature, with special effort made to gather on Amartithi (the anniversary of Meher Baba’s death) and on his birthday. Small gatherings often read and discuss Meher Baba’s written works or view films of Baba or videos of his mandali. Activities at larger gatherings often include talks by invited speakers or plays concerning aspects of Baba’s life, with devotional music frequently playing a substantial role. Many of Meher Baba’s followers observe Silence Day on July 10 of each year by keeping verbal silence for 24 hours, commemorating the anniversary of when he began his silence. Three prayers written by Meher Baba—“O Parvardigar,” the “Prayer of Repentance,” and the “Beloved God Prayer”—are recited at gatherings and at his samadhi.
Meher Baba Today
Today, seekers encounter Meher Baba primarily through pilgrimage, literature, and informal gatherings. Meher Baba died on 31 January 1969 and was entombed at Meherabad, and his tomb, or “samadhi”, has become a place of pilgrimage for his followers. Thousands of visitors from around the world travel annually to Meherabad, particularly during Amartithi (late January) and his birthday (February 25). The Avatar Meher Baba Trust maintains archives, publications, and pilgrimage facilities in India.
Meher Baba centers and groups exist in North America, Europe, Australia, and India, though these remain informal networks rather than hierarchical organizations. After his death his followers heeded his wish that they not form an organization, but they continued to gather informally and often to discuss and read his works and express through music, poetry, dance, or drama their reflections on his life. The Meher Spiritual Center in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, serves as a retreat center and gathering place for followers in North America. Numerous books, documentaries, and online resources preserve his teachings and the accounts of those who knew him.
Common Misconceptions
Meher Baba is not a meditation technique, yoga tradition, or spiritual practice in the conventional sense—he is a historical figure whose followers relate to him as the Avatar, God in human form. Unlike gurus who prescribe specific spiritual exercises or initiations, Meher Baba emphasized love and remembrance of God over formal practices. While some followers were given individual spiritual instructions, he did not establish a universal sadhana (spiritual discipline) for all.
His silence was not undertaken as a spiritual exercise, but solely in connection with his universal work. He explicitly stated that followers need not imitate his silence as a spiritual practice, though many choose to observe silence on July 10 annually as an act of remembrance. Meher Baba did not speak publicly after 1925, and he never “broke” his silence in the anticipated dramatic fashion, leading to ongoing interpretation among followers about the meaning and fulfillment of this aspect of his life.
Finally, Meher Baba should not be confused with other 20th-century Indian spiritual teachers. Though he encountered Sai Baba of Shirdi (one of the Five Perfect Masters), they are distinct figures. Meher Baba’s Zoroastrian background, declaration of Avatarhood, and 44 years of silence distinguish him from contemporaries like Ramana Maharshi, J. Krishnamurti, and others.
How to Begin
Those curious about Meher Baba typically begin by reading his own words. The Everything and the Nothing (1963) offers accessible aphoristic teachings, while God Speaks (1955) presents his cosmological and metaphysical system in detail. Discourses (multiple volumes, 1938–43) covers practical spiritual topics. Biographies such as The Awakener by Filis Frederick and Lord Meher by Bhau Kalchuri (a comprehensive 20-volume work) provide accounts of his life and interactions with followers.
Many begin by attending gatherings at local Meher Baba centers or groups, which can be located through online networks. Visiting Meherabad in India, while not required, offers direct encounter with the place most central to his work. The Avatar Meher Baba Trust website (avatarmeherbabatrust.org) provides access to authentic texts, archival materials, and pilgrimage information. For those drawn to his message, the path is one of love and remembrance rather than formal initiation or membership—reflecting Meher Baba’s teaching that God-realization comes through love, not organizational affiliation.