DURING 1921, a statue of the great soldier Shivaji was inaugurated in a main square of Poona. One day, during a stroll through the city, Meher Baba explained that for certain spiritual work there occur in varying centuries two types of Avataric incarnations – major and minor. He then revealed his past minor incarnation as the great soldier of the Deccan: "In a past lifetime, I was Shivaji. Until recently, the British have left nothing undone to detract from Shivaji historically. Yet, they have now had a statue unveiled by the Prince of Wales last year in Shaniwar Wada, Poona, when I am present in this form."

Glancing at the men present, he said, "You were all with me at the time of Shivaji. Behramji was Afzal Khan, the Mughal general, who was killed by Shivaji. Sadashiv Patel was Tanaji Malsoore, the man who gave his life to save Shivaji." In Maharashtra state, people have great reverence and love for Shivaji and these statements further consolidated the early disciples' faith in Meher Baba's greatness. After he revealed this, the men talked of it among themselves for days. Later, in private, he explained to Adi K. Irani that he had been Shivaji's wife.

There is significance in the role of Shivaji's activities in founding the Maratha kingdom in the Deccan plateau during the 17th century, which later became the state of Maharashtra. Born around 1630, Shivaji was a versatile personality and leader – a statesman, social reformer, military warlord (master of guerrilla warfare) and advocate of religious toleration. Called "the Grand Rebel" he was devoted to Hindu religious freedom and fought against the Muslim oppression and persecution of Hindus, instigated by the Mughal ruler Aurangzeb. Shivaji was spiritually guided by Swami Ramdas, a Sadguru. Although veiled from his true identity, Shivaji reorganized the country of India and prepared the people's consciousness for the advent of the Avatar, especially the Muslims and Hindus in the Deccan.

A NAWAB (a Muslim prince) happened to hear of Meher Baba and came to see him at his humble hut along Fergusson Road. Distressed, the nawab complained that he was the legal inheritor of his father's kingdom, but a younger prince had deprived him of it and usurped his lawful throne. The nawab implored Baba for help in regaining the vast estate. Baba agreed to help him on the one condition that, after gaining his inheritance, the nawab should financially help just one of the Master's devotees.