“L” of for Lovers of Meher Baba. Merwan Sheriar Irani, known as Meher Baba, was born in Poona India—of Persian parents. He was influenced by both Muslim and Hindu spiritual leaders. They made him aware of his high spiritual destiny and shared with him t divine knowledge. Having attained spiritual perfection, in 1921, he drew together his first close disciples and began his spiritual mission. These disciples gave him the name Meher Baba [Compassionate Father]. Without regard for differences of castes and creeds, he gave his followers training in moral discipline, love for God, spiritual understanding, and selfless service. His disciples, called “lovers” viewed him as the atavar, or manifestation of God for this age. In 1931 he attracted his early western disciples, among whom was Elizabeth Chapin Patterson, of Myrtle Beach. She donated the land that would become a spiritual center for the Lovers of Meher Baba.
Dr. Walter Edgar has two programs on South Carolina Public Radio: Walter Edgar's Journal, and South Carolina from A to Z. Dr. Edgar received his B.A. degree from Davidson College in 1965 and his Ph.D. from the University of South Carolina in 1969. After two years in the army (including a tour of duty in Vietnam), he returned to USC as a post-doctoral fellow of the National Archives, assigned to the Papers of Henry Laurens.