"These dhuni ashes contain the essence of many of Your sublime messages..."
Meher Mount
Your Friday photo is in honor of the Darshan Courtyard…
The Darshan Courtyard at Meher Mount was born out of fire. And ashes representing Meher Baba’s words symbolically help form the foundation of the courtyard.
The Darshan Courtyard is in the space of the Baba Room where Avatar Meher Baba gave darshan (the grace of seeing or being with the Divine) to His followers on August 2, 1956.
The guesthouse with the Baba Room burned to the ground on October 14, 1985. All that remained was the stone fireplace and chimney — now known as Baba’s Fireplace.
In 2021, plans were underway to build a courtyard celebrating this space and Meher Baba’s Presence. Meher Mount invited followers from all over the world to send their favorite Meher Baba quote.
Each quote and the person’s name were printed on a special piece of paper. These quotes were read aloud and then placed in a special dhuni (sacred fire)* at the Darshan Dhuni event on June 12, 2021.
In 2024, when it was time to break ground for the actual building of the Darshan Courtyard, the ashes from this Darshan Dhuni were put under the spot where Meher Baba sat during His time in the Baba Room. The groundbreaking ceremony was on dhuni day October 12, 2024.
This photo of a sunset over Baba’s Fireplace was taken by Ray Johnston just before construction began on the Darshan Courtyard in 2024. The following statement from board president Sam Ervin was made during the groundbreaking dedication later in 2024.
“These dhuni ashes contain the essence of many of Your sublime messages that are cherished by Your lovers around the world.
The dhuni fire in which they were burned was fueled by wood from Your tree, Baba’s Tree.
We now offer these ashes carrying that Divine essence expressed by You to mingle with the earth supporting the Darshan Courtyard.
We ask that You accept this, as an expression of the hearts of Your lovers, yearning for Your presence.”
Note
*Meher Baba lit the first dhuni in 1925, and later ordered that there be a monthly dhuni event on the 12th of each month in Meherabad, India (home of Meher Baba’s Tomb Shrine). At this dhuni, participants throw in a sandalwood stick dipped in ghee into the fire, an act signifying the renunciation of some attachment.