Amartithi — Literally "deathless day" or "eternal date" (from Hindi/Marathi amar, deathless + tithi, day). Observed annually on January 31, it commemorates the day in 1969 when Baba "dropped his body," and is celebrated as his eternal remembrance rather than a day of mourning. Trustmehe.org
Arti (also arati) — A devotional song or prayer. For Meher Baba, arti became a song sung in His praise describing His divine attributes. avatarmeherbab.com
Avatar (also Avatara) — The total manifestation of God in human form on earth as the Eternal Living Perfect Master — the direct descent of Reality into Illusion; also called the God-Man, the Messiah, the Buddha, the Christ, the Rasool. In Hinduism, the term literally means "descent" of the divine. avatarmeherbaba.com
Bal Natu (1919–2003) — Born Chintaman Vishnu Natu, one of Meher Baba's close men mandali, best known as author of the six-volume biographical series Glimpses of the God-Man, Meher Baba, chronicling daily life with Baba from 1943–1955, as well as Intimate Conversations With the Awakener. Meherbabatravels.com
Bhau Kalchuri (1927–2013) — Born Vir Singh Kalchuri, an Indian author, poet, and trust administrator; one of Meher Baba's mandali and the principal biographer of Meher Baba's life. He wrote Lord Meher (Meher Prabhu), a twenty-volume, 6,472-page chronicle, and later served as Chairman of the Avatar Meher Baba Trust. EverybodyWiki
Damaan (daaman) — Literally "the hem of a garment"; holding on to Baba's daaman means becoming totally dependent on the Master, as a small child holds onto its mother's skirt for safety and protection. avatarmeherbaba.com
Darshan — Literally "sight" or "seeing"; refers to being in the presence of a Master, folding the hands in adoration, and receiving blessings and love. avatarmeherbaba.com
Dhuni — Literally meaning "fire," a purifying ceremonial fire, first lit by Baba at Meherabad on November 10, 1925 during a drought; it continues to be lit at sunset on the 12th of every month as a symbol of burning up attachments. Avatarmeherbabatrust
Discourses — A collection of articles authored by Meher Baba from 1938 to 1944, covering topics like sanskaras, illusion, the ego, reincarnation, and the spiritual path. avatarmeherbaba
Drop the body — Meher Baba's own phrase for physical death; his last words (gestures) were "Do not forget that I am God," and followers describe his passing not as death but as a release of his love into the world. AnydayGuide
Eruch (Jessawala) (1916–2001) — A close disciple of Meher Baba and one of his mandali, and the primary interpreter of Meher Baba's alphabet board and later his sign language. He transcribed God Speaks from Baba's dictation and wrote its ninth chapter and conclusion. Mandali Hall Talks
Ghazals — A poetic composition, especially in Persian or Urdu, best exemplified by the poetry of the Persian Perfect Master Hafiz; a short love-poem — in Baba's context, often devotional verses describing the lover's devotion to the Beloved. avatarmeherbaba
God Speaks — A monumental 1955 work describing the intricate process of reincarnation and the inward journey of the soul back to the Oversoul, covering "the Planes," states of Divine Consciousness, and including seven charts. Meher Baba
Dr. Goher Irani — Baba's personal physician who lived with and served Him from 1947 until He dropped the body in 1969. She later founded the Meher Free Dispensary in 1970, serving local villagers near Ahmednagar. MehercenterMeher Fund
Japp (japa) — Repetition of a name of God or other sacred word. Baba taught that japa should become spontaneous and continuous, like breathing — done naturally while eating, walking, or working, until the repetition becomes a natural habit. Meher BabaMaitreyayana
Katie R. Irani (1920–2009) — One of Meher Baba's close Circle and women mandali members, sister of Dr. Goher Irani; she joined the resident women's ashram in 1938 and later helped run the Meherazad kitchen and assisted with clinic work. Trustmeher
Keeping silence — Refers both to Meher Baba's lifelong silence (1925–1969) and to the practice of followers observing silence in his honor, especially on Silence Day (July 10) and during the fifteen minutes of Amartithi commemoration.
Mandali — Baba's circle of close disciples who lived and traveled with him, dividing responsibilities of daily life, correspondence, and later the administration of his Trust.
Mani Irani (1918–1996) — Manija Sheriar Irani, the younger sister of Meher Baba and one of his mandali; chairman of the Avatar Meher Baba Trust and author of 82 Family Letters. Said by Meher Baba to be his second-closest woman disciple and spiritual sister. Trustmeher
Manonash — Means "annihilation of mind"; the culminating phase of the New Life, begun at Khojaguda cave, Hyderabad. Baba explained: "Man-o-nash results in this glorious state in which plurality goes and Unity comes, ignorance goes and Knowledge comes, binding goes and Freedom comes". AvatarmeherBelovedarchives
Mast — Advanced souls experiencing the inner planes of the spiritual path who have become spiritually intoxicated from direct awareness of God; while outwardly they may seem unbalanced, they are vast reservoirs of spiritual light. Avatarmeherbabatrust
Master's Prayer (also Parvardigar Prayer, Universal Prayer) — Given by Meher Baba on 13 September 1953: "O Parvardigar — the Preserver and Protector of all! You are without Beginning, and without End, Non-dual, beyond comparison, and none can measure You..." Trustmeher
Mastery in Servitude — A 1995 book by Bhau Kalchuri, edited by Ward Parks, published by Meherana, California. Meherbabatravels
Meher Mount — A Meher Baba pilgrimage retreat center in Ojai, California, visited by Baba in 1956, dedicated to His life and message.
Meher Spiritual Center — Baba's retreat center at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, which He visited in 1952, 1956, and 1958 and referred to as His "home in the West". Mehercenter
Mehera (J. Irani) (1907–1989) — Meher Baba's closest mandali. Meher Baba said she was the purest soul in the universe and loved him as he ought to be loved. He called her his "Radha" and said, "She is my very breath without which I cannot live." EverybodyWikiEverybodyWiki
Meherabad — A universal spiritual retreat near Ahmednagar, Maharashtra, established as an ashram by Meher Baba in 1923; home to His Samadhi (tomb-shrine). Wikipedia
Meherana — A universal center for spiritual renewal dedicated to Avatar Meher Baba, located on 289 acres in Mariposa County, California, near Yosemite National Park. TrustMeHer
Meherazad — Originally Meher Baba Mandali's House, established by Meher Baba at Pimpalgaon Malvi, Shendi, south of Ahmednagar; Baba's residence in his later years. Wikipedia
The New Life — Begun October 16, 1949, when Baba "ended his Old Life of cherished hopes and multifarious activities" and began, with a few companions, "a New Life of complete renunciation and absolute helplessness," including wandering and begging for food, without money. Belovedarchives
Parvardigar — "The Preserver or Sustainer" in Sufism, the name of God used to open the Master's Prayer. EverybodyWiki
Perfect Master — A soul that has "become conscious of itself as God and uses His divine attributes for the spiritual advancement of others." At any time there are 56 incarnate God-realized souls, but only 5 are deemed Perfect Masters, distinguished by having circles of disciples. Osho
Sadra — The white cotton sacred shirt worn by Zoroastrians, first given at the Navjote confirmation ceremony along with the kusti (sacred thread); Baba, of Zoroastrian heritage, wore one. Meher Baba
Sahavas — A gathering or period of spiritual companionship with the Master; the "International Meherabad Young Adult Sahavas" brings young adults together to celebrate Baba's love through sharing, creative expression, and service. Avatarmeherbabatrust
Samadhi — Meher Baba's Tomb-Shrine at Meherabad, the site of his entombment on January 31, 1969; a major place of pilgrimage. Wikipedia
Sanskaras — Mental impressions accumulated through experience which act as barriers to enlightenment and which propel the soul through cycles of reincarnation until overcome. Dharmapedia
Silence Day — Commemorated every July 10th, marking the day in 1925 when Meher Baba began his lifelong silence, kept for the next 44 years. Avatarmeherbabatrust
The Avatar Meher Baba Perpetual (Public Charitable) Trust — Established by Meher Baba in 1959 to provide for his disciples, maintain his Tomb, create pilgrim facilities, and carry out charitable activities. Avatarmeherbabatrust
