Mandali from the
Sanskrit
Sanskrit (; stem form ; nominal singular , ,) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan languages, Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in northwest South Asia after its predecessor languages had Trans-cultural ...
''
mandala
A mandala (, ) is a geometric configuration of symbols. In various spiritual traditions, mandalas may be employed for focusing attention of practitioners and adepts, as a spiritual guidance tool, for establishing a sacred space and as an aid ...
'' meaning circle, connection, community, is a term that
Meher Baba
Meher Baba (born Merwan Sheriar Irani; 25 February 1894 – 31 January 1969) was an Indian spirituality, spiritual master who said he was the Avatar, or God in human form, of the age. A spiritual figure of the 20th century, he had a following o ...
used for his closest disciples.
Inner circle
Mandali are considered to include those close disciples that lived permanently or for extended periods with Meher Baba at his
ashram
An ashram (, ) is a spiritual hermitage or a monastery in Indian religions, not including Buddhism.
Etymology
The Sanskrit noun is a thematic nominal derivative from the root 'toil' (< Avatar
Avatar (, ; ) is a concept within Hinduism that in Sanskrit literally means . It signifies the material appearance or incarnation of a powerful deity, or spirit on Earth. The relative verb to "alight, to make one's appearance" is sometimes u ...
always has 10 concentric circles of 12 men and/or women each. The inner circle consists of 12 men plus two women, for a total of 122 mandali. But Meher Baba also said, "Those who do my work are my ''mandali''. If we were to list their names, it would fill a volume." At another time Baba said, "By ''mandali'' I mean those who have been with me for several years, but ask for nothing... In short, I would say that the mandali means those whose intimacy I feel."
[''Meher Prabhu: Lord Meher, The Biography of the Avatar of the Age, Meher Baba,'' by Bhau Kalchuri, ''Manifestation, Inc.'' 1986. p. 4277]
See also
*
New Life (Meher Baba)
References
External links
Mandali Membersmandalihall.org
(Audio recordings of Meher Baba's mandali members)
{{Meher Baba
Meher Baba