Baba’s Umbrella Bearers

For thousands of years, images of gods and goddesses, royalty, and enlightened beings have appeared shaded and protected from the elements by an umbrella held by a steadfast attendant. For the mandali and devotees of Meher Baba, the role of umbrella bearer came with a bonus: the chance to be closer to their Beloved. Here are a few stories, gathered from the 1940s and 50s.

Filis Frederick recalled that during Baba’s 1956 visit to New York City, Eruch Jessawala was ever ready with “the inevitable black folded umbrella.”¹

Murshida Ivy Duce noted that it was easy to spot Baba in a crowd by looking for the hallmark umbrella held by a mandali member. In a letter to Billi Eaton, Baba’s sister, Mani, recorded that the Marathi Sahavas group was to arrive the next day, December 2, 1955. “… it’s lovely to watch from the kitchen verandah the long procession climbing Seclusion Hill with Baba. We can always spot the Beloved in the crowd even from that distance — often it is His pink coat and sadra and Shatrughna holding the umbrella over Him.” ²

Shatrughna Kumar Ghildial, known as Kumar, met Meher Baba in Dehradun in 1950. He and his family became devoted to Baba. Four years later, Meher Baba called him to be with Him for one week, and that week turned into nearly a year. Baba gave Kumar strict orders: he was not to purchase anything; he was not to communicate with his family. Additionally, he was instructed not to leave the compound unless he was accompanying Baba as His umbrella bearer.

At mass darshan events in Hamirpur, Andhra and other locations, Kumar often stood next to Baba, umbrella in hand. In 1955, Baba called him from Dehradun for a month. “Kumar was made the Commander-in-Chief to control the crowds. He performed his duty diligently. Whenever Kumar would come and stay with Baba, he would be Baba’s ‘umbrella man’ protecting Him from the sun.” ³

Children as well as adults wished for the chance to protect Meher Baba. One of Meherwan Jessawala’s first duties to assist Baba came in 1942, while in Dehradun. Young Meherwan accompanied Baba as He walked from the women’s residence to the men’s ashram. He told Bill LePage: “If it was sunny then I endeavored to hold the umbrella over His head. This was very difficult because of my small height, and the distance was about a mile. Baba continued to walk at a fast pace, and while I tried very hard to hold the umbrella high with one hand fully stretched, and with the other hand clutching His extra scarves and alphabet board, at the same time keep up with Him, many times one of the spoke ends would bump His head. I felt my inability to avoid this happening, but He did not seem to mind, giving me a chance to serve Him to the best of my ability.”⁴

During Meher Baba’s 1958 visit to Meher Spiritual Center, a children’s birthday party was held. Wendy Haynes Connor, who was six years old at the time, recalled, “I began to notice different people holding the umbrella over Baba’s head to shade Him from the sun. Baba would clap and call for this person or that person to come take a turn holding the umbrella. This went on for some time. Well, the more I watched the more this longing grew to hold the umbrella for Baba. In fact, the longing grew so much that I felt I might pop.”

Baba clapped and Beryl Williams passed the umbrella to Wendy: “Now it was my turn to hold the umbrella for Baba, and I was overjoyed! Again, time stopped, and I was in heaven. I don’t know how much time passed but, all of a sudden, I realized that the umbrella was slowly sliding downward. It was pretty heavy. It wasn’t a parasol, but a very substantial umbrella.” ⁵ Still happy, Wendy valiantly tried to steady the umbrella by holding it with both hands, the umbrella continued to slip. Baba clapped and Jeanne Shaw came to the rescue.

Several days later, Wendy’s mother, Jane Haynes struggled with her feelings of wanting to be the chosen one to carry the umbrella. It was a beautiful sunny day and after spending the morning in the Barn with Baba, the group walked to the beach. Baba was carried over the dunes by Margaret’s male dancers. As the group returned, Jane thought: “If only I could carry the umbrella for Baba. He knows every thought and wish — He will let me.” But others were called and Jane’s thoughts and mind raced, “Baba knows every inner wish — He doesn’t know what I am thinking of or He would let me carry the umbrella.’ Jane was tormented on the walk back from the beach, she wrote, “This thought, in its selfishness and lack of faith, persisted all the way back.”

Later, Baba called her to the Lagoon Cabin. He asked her, “Was there something you wanted to tell Me Jane, while we were at the Beach?” Jane replied, “Only to ask you if I might carry the umbrella, and to say that I love you Baba.” Jane wrote, “The words were almost lost in my tears. Baba with the sweetest of smiles, embraced me and said: ‘Yes, but this is even better is it not?’ And he held me close” ⁶

December of 1959 found twenty-one-year-old Alain Youell on his first trip to India to meet Baba. On the 27th, Meher Baba washed the feet of twenty-seven lepers. Baba took the umbrella out of Francis Brabazon’s hand and put it in Alain’s hand; Alain then shaded Baba for part of His work. After washing the lepers’ feet, Baba placed His forehead on their feet, and then gave each one five rupees. Alain recalled, “I have never felt, I have never seen, and I have been in some extraordinary places and situations in my life, anything like what those ‘beautiful birds in ugly cages’ received from Baba that day, and I received too, and everybody around received.” ⁷

In October 1959, Dr Hoshang Bharucha experienced precious moments of protecting Baba with an umbrella. As they strolled through the garden at Meherazad, Baba told him “This is a walk in the garden of Allah, and I truly mean it.”⁸ A few days later, as he walked Baba home from Mandali Hall, Hoshang said, “Baba, four days of our stay are already over’… Baba looked at him with love and gave him a kiss.”⁹

1. Filis Frederick, “Journey of the Heart”, Awakener Magazine Online ed, Vol 4 No 3, Spring – Summer, 1957
2. A Love So Amazing, by Billi Eaton, p. 97
3.Tales of Meher Baba’s Love, by Bal Natu, p. 144
4.The Divine Humanity of Meher Baba, Vol. III, by Bill Lepage, pp. 23-24
5. Waves and Waves of Love, by Carolyn Ball, pp. 136-137
6. Letters of Love, compiled and edited by Jane Barry Haynes, pp. 60-61
7. Meher Baba Talk, Alain Youell, Meher Baba Assoc. UK, November 15, 2015, You Tube
8. Lord Meher, by Bhau Kalchuri, On Line ed., p. 4602
9. Ibid., p. 4607