Naja Rustom Irani

Image rendition by Anthony Zois
Image rendition by Anthony Zois

 

Born : 10th October, 1908

Died : 20th May, 1982 - 1:20am

Married : No

Parents : Rustom Irani " Masaji" & Piroja Dorab Irani

Siblings : Pendu ( Aspandiar ), Mehera  ** & Gustad**  ( ** died young )

Nationality : Indian

 

Meher Baba's cook

 

Piroja was the sister of Shireen - Meher Baba's mother.

 

 

Early 1920s. Image rendition by Anthony Zois.
Early 1920s. Image rendition by Anthony Zois.
Meherazad, India - Mid 1970s
Meherazad, India - Mid 1970s

MEHERA PLAYED THE ROLE OF MARY

                                    Bhau Kalchuri

Because of the school children, hospital patients and the 
large number of mandali members staying in Meherabad, Naja
had to prepare enough food for two-hundred meals each day.
Help from the other women staying at Meherabad was not always 
forthcoming, since they had their own duties.

Once, when very tired, Naja thought: "Mehera is not given much
work. Why does Baba make me work so hard?" Although Naja
did not voice her thoughts, Baba one day called for his cousin
and explained to her:

   Have you ever heard the story of the two sisters Mary and 
       Martha [of Bethany]? Both loved the Lord Jesus intensely. 
       Once Martha was preparing food for Jesus, while Mary 
       stayed sitting by his side, listening to him speak. Martha 
       did not like cooking in the kitchen all day long, for she 
       had no opportunity to be in Jesus' company.

   One day she complained to Jesus about it, asking him to 
       order Mary to help her. But Jesus said, "By sitting by my 
       side, Mary is serving me as much as you are by cooking my 
       food."

   The _sanskaras_ (impressions) of everyone are different; 
       hence, everyone's duty is different. Mary was serving 
       Jesus more by sitting beside him than Martha was by 
       cooking his food. Continue doing your duty with love and 
       don't think about what others are doing. You have no idea 
       how great your service is! It is truly great, and in the 
       future you will realize it.

Finally consoled, Naja thus received her answer and from then 
on began doing her work with all her heart. Many years later, 
it was said by Meher Baba that she played the role of Martha 
in his circle as Mehera played the role of Mary.


LORD MEHER, 1st USA ed, vol. 2, p. 714
Copyright 1987 AMBPPCT

Courtesy of Mark Trichka

9th May 1923 : Rustom & Freiny's Wedding, standing outside the Parsi Fire Temple in Ahmednagar. Image rendition by Anthony Zois.
9th May 1923 : Rustom & Freiny's Wedding, standing outside the Parsi Fire Temple in Ahmednagar. Image rendition by Anthony Zois.

 

Wedding attendees above image that are known are :

 

* KHANSAHEB - Kaikhushru Sarosh Irani, the father of the groom RUSTOM, also his   daughters - PIROJA & DOLLY and husband of GULMAI.

* Meher Baba's mother SHIREEN came her youngest son ADI & daughter MANI.

* Gulmai's sister's husband KAIKHUSHRU MASA Z.B. Irani came with his daughter KHORSHED.

* Shireen's niece NAJA is standing next to her.

* FREINY ( the bride ) has her mother DAULAT standing behind her.

 

LM p1711
LM p1711
LM p1710
LM p1710
Image colourized by Anthony Zois
Image colourized by Anthony Zois
Courtesy of Lord Meher
Courtesy of Lord Meher
MSI Collection ; India - Naja is 2nd from front left
MSI Collection ; India - Naja is 2nd from front left
MSI Collection ; 1937 - India
MSI Collection ; 1937 - India
 1937 : Having lunch on the road to Paris. Full image. ( L-R ) Kitty Davy, Meher Baba, Mehera Irani, Naja Irani, Khorshed Irani & Baba's sister Mani Irani.
1937 : Having lunch on the road to Paris. Full image. ( L-R ) Kitty Davy, Meher Baba, Mehera Irani, Naja Irani, Khorshed Irani & Baba's sister Mani Irani.
1937 : Villa Caldana, Cannes, France. Naja is seated far left of Meher Baba. Courtesy of Lord Meher book, p.2296
1937 : Villa Caldana, Cannes, France. Naja is seated far left of Meher Baba. Courtesy of Lord Meher book, p.2296
 1937 : Villa Caldana, Cannes, France. Naja is seated far left of Meher Baba. Courtesy of MN Publ.
1937 : Villa Caldana, Cannes, France. Naja is seated far left of Meher Baba. Courtesy of MN Publ.
 1937 : Villa Caldana, Cannes, France. Naja is seated far left of Meher Baba. Courtesy of MN Publ.
1937 : Villa Caldana, Cannes, France. Naja is seated far left of Meher Baba. Courtesy of MN Publ.
Baba with Mehera, Naja and Mani at Meherazad, 1959
Baba with Mehera, Naja and Mani at Meherazad, 1959
 Image enhanced by Anthony Zois.
Image enhanced by Anthony Zois.
Naja and Gaimai with Glenn Magrini massaging Naja. Photo taken by Jeffrey Shev, 1978
Naja and Gaimai with Glenn Magrini massaging Naja. Photo taken by Jeffrey Shev, 1978
Naja ; Photo taken by Jeffrey Shev, 1978
Naja ; Photo taken by Jeffrey Shev, 1978
Photo courtesy of Heather Nadel
Photo courtesy of Heather Nadel
 Dorab Irani Descendants Tree. Graphics created by Anthony Zois.
Dorab Irani Descendants Tree. Graphics created by Anthony Zois.