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In 1949 Maharaj went to Kashipur in District Nainital with nine devotees
and stayed at Kishan Chaube's house. On his return he went walking
along a dusty road outside the town. A group of potters were coming
from the opposite direction, their donkeys laden with earthen pots.
There was a young potter among them who passed Baba puffing a pipe,
which he carried in his hand. Baba asked him loudly, "Who
are you?" The
potter replied, "Who are you?" Baba repeated the question more loudly
and so did the potter, getting angry. Baba then changed the question
and asked, "What caste are you?" The
potter repeated the question back to him. Baba at once replied, "I
am a sweeper, who are you?" This time the potter spoke
with pride and said, "I am a potter." Baba showed respect towards him
and humbly asked, "Will you give me your chillum
to smoke?"
The potter held out the clay pipe containing the tobacco and cinders
towards Baba. Baba puffed it two or three times and then placed his
hand on the potter's head. The young potter became quite detached from
the world in that instant. They went to the nearby garden of Radhay
Shyam. On Baba's instruction he took a bath using the well water, and
Baba got the clothes of a monk for him. Giving the boy a rosary,
Baba
initiated him and made him a monk. He then made arrangements for his
boarding and lodging in the garden. Baba instructed the boy to go to
Badrinath from there and then left.
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