Meher Baba was born on February 25, 1894 as Merwan Sheriar Irani in Pune. It was his father who imparted him the first spiritual inspiration and Merwan was the second among the six children that his parents had. He was brought up as a Zoroastrian At the age of 19 he met a Muslim holy woman Hazrat Babajan that changed his outlook towards life. Thereafter he was in contact with spiritual personalities. Meher Baba means "Compassionate Father" in Persian and this was given by his followers.

He maintained silence from July 10, 1925 to the end of his life. He communicated by means of an alphabet board or hand gestures. He also travelled widely, held public gatherings and engaged in charity work. In 1931 he visited the West where he attracted many followers.

In a vie to spread his thoughts, Meher Baba set up an ashram that is now called Meherabad, in the month of April, 1923. According to him, the duty of an avatar is to awaken humanity to the spiritual nature. Zoroastrianism vastly influenced the teachings of Meher Baba. Meher Baba believed that be it consciously or unconsciously, every living creature seeks a spiritual goal. His health started deteriorating in the 1960s. He died on January 31, 1969. His tomb-shrine in Meherabad has become a place of international pilgrimage.

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