IN QUEST OF GOD - Swami Ramdas -3

IN QUEST OF GOD

Swami Ramdas

ANANDASHRAM 

KANHANGAD

CHAPTER XIX

LOVE CONQUERS HATE

THE Sadhu seemed to enjoy the treatment. He was calm and

contented. Ramdas, wishing also to taste the pleasure, requested the Sadhu

to exchange places with him and thus offer him also the unique opportunity

of receiving the attention of the ticket-clerk. But the Sadhu would not be

persuaded to abandon his enviable position. Off and on, the clerk was

meting out this treatment to the willing Sadhu. This continued for nearly

half an hour. The ticket collection work at last stopped. Now the clerk was

totally free from work, and he turned right towards the Sadhus. He

approached the other Sadhus, of whom Ramdas was the second, with the

object of handling them roughly one by one. Ramdas felt much relieved to

see that his turn had at last come. The clerk coming up, caught his hand in a

firm grasp and looked on his face in which he discovered a most welcome

smile, bright and beaming. At once he let go his hand and drawing himself

back a few steps seemed to have given himself to some thinking. It was Ram

who was at work. For, next instant, he asked all the Sadhus to go out of the

station. Accordingly all the Sadhus left the station one by one.

‘O Ram! When Thy invincible arm protects Thy slave where was fear

for him? One thing was proved incontestably and beyond any doubt and that

was - Thou disarmest the evil intentions of an adversary when he

approaches you in a violent mood by meeting him with a smile instead of

with fear or hatred.’ Love can surely conquer hate. Love is a sovereign

antidote for all the ills of the world. After all, the whole occurrence might

be only Ram testing the Sadhus to see if they would lose their self-control

under provocation. All that Ram does is for the best.

Now the time was about 2 o’clock past midnight. It was pitch dark. So

the Sadhus sought for a place on the station for taking rest for the night.

But conditions for this were far from favourable. The station was full to

overflowing, as it were, with passengers. Every available nook and corner of

that portion of the station intended for passengers was occupied, and they

were all scattered on the floor sleeping in fantastic postures - all space

filled up. However, Ramdas and his guide, the Sadhuram, crept near a pillar

where there was found room for both to sit on their legs. The cold here also

was very severe. The Sadhus sat up close to and pressing each other, so

much so, that they seemed almost moulded into one piece. Rambhajan was

going on. Ramdas became unconscious and dozed away where he sat and did

not wake up until he was roused by a strong and shrill voice asking all

passengers to take to their feet and walk out of the station. This was the

order of the railway police.

Ramdas opened his eyes and instantly became conscious of his body

which was discovered to be in a peculiar condition - the legs had turned so

stiff with cold that they had stuck fast at the bend of the knee-joint, and on

a look at them he further made out that from the knee downwards both the

legs had swollen, and also the feet, as though they were stricken with

elephantiasis. However by rubbing them briskly by both hands for about five

minutes, he could unlock the stiffened joints. Slowly rising up, he hobbled

along for some distance. As he walked on, the stiffness disappeared. About

8 a.m. they reached the city of Jhansi about four miles from the station.

CHAPTER XX

JHANSI

MAKING enquiries, they straightaway went to a Dharmashala, and

resting here for sometime, at the suggestion of the Sadhuram, directed their

steps to the bazaar and obtaining some flour, etc. from a charitable

merchant, the Sadhuram prepared a few Rotis and Dal Curry. After finishing

dinner they remained in the Dharmashala till evening. Then the Sadhuram

proposed a move towards the station which was reached before dark. The

same ticket-clerk, whom Ram had brought in touch with the previous night,

was found at the gate. Ramdas went to him and requested him to allow

them to proceed to Bombay by the night train. Although at first he

consented to do so, when the train arrived at 2 a.m. he refused them

admission to the platform. It was all Ram’s wish. So they had to spend

another night in the station, which meant cold, stiffening and swelling of

the limbs for a second time.

Next morning, they retraced their steps again to the city. The state

of the Sadhuram’s mind at this time was most miserable. Coming to the

same Dharmashala, they met two Telugu Sadhus. The Sadhuram after a

short talk with these Sadhus at once made up his mind to give up the

company of Ramdas and join them. It was again all Ram’s making. His ways

are always inscrutable. Total submission to Him means no anxiety, no fear,

no pain and all assurance. About half an hour later Ramdas was left alone in

the company of Ram whose name he was uttering without cessation. The

new Sadhus and the Sadhuram - who was so long his guide and fostermother,

as it were - departed from the Dharmashala. Ramdas was

meditating on Ram unconcerned at the severance of the Sadhuram’s

company; for complete resignation to the will of Ram had deprived him of

all sense of anxiety and cares for the future. Thus, time was passing in

Rambhajan when two friends coming up to him dropped into his hands two

one anna pieces, suggesting that he might purchase some eatables from the

bazaar and break his fast. Accordingly, he directed his steps to the bazaar.

Here, while purchasing some eatables from a sweetmeat shop, he felt at his

elbow somebody pulling him. He had now received the eatables. Turning

round he heard the friend address him:

“Maharaj, a Seth desires you to go over to him.”

Ramdas instantly followed the friend who led him into a shop,

wherein were piled up wheat bags. As he entered the place, a friend came

up from inside the shop and fell prostrate at the feet of Ramdas - the

mendicant. Rising up with folded hands, the friend requested him to accept

Bhiksha at his house that day. This friend was the merchant who had sent

for him. He was then asked to sit on a thick white mattress - called Gadi -

with cushions to lean against. But Ramdas was a humble slave of Ram. So he

preferred to sit on the floor. Here again he was offered a gunny bag on

which he sat. After dinner the kind-hearted merchant sat beside him and

put him some questions in regard to his movements, etc. - which were all

duly answered in terms of Ram’s will, which was alone his sole guide. He

further told the Seth of Ram’s kindness and love for his Bhaktas and how he

who trusts Ram knows no sorrow and can be happy under all circumstances.

To have Ram’s name on the lips means joy - pure joy - nothing but

joy. The merchant was visibly affected to hear these words for he was

himself a great Rama-Bhakta. “Sitaram, Sitaram,” was always on his tongue.

After a few minutes’ talk, the Seth entreated Ramdas to remain with him

for some days. He said that Ramdas’ body, which was then in a most

neglected condition, required to be taken care of and that Ram had

specially sent Ramdas to him with this sole object. It must be related here

that the clothes in which he was clad were all rags. Mahadev Prasad - such

was the name of the merchant in whose care he was placed by Ram, -

provided him with new clothes dyed in Gerrua, and every care was taken of

him by this kind host. Mahadev became extremely fond of him. At nights, in

spite of remonstrances, Mahadev Prasad would sit beside the sleeping

Ramdas and press his feet. O, the kindness he showered on poor and humble

Ramdas was unbounded. ‘O Ram, it was Thee who was doing it all through

that friend. O Ram, how good, how loving Thou art!’ Weep on - weep on

Ramdas - in silence, weep on - weep not in sorrow but in joy, because Ram’s

grace is upon you.

For a month he was detained by Mahadev with him. Throughout the

day and night he would not give up the company of Ramdas. At his request

Ramdas was explaining to him the meaning of some Slokas from the

Bhagavad Gita with the help of the small understanding with which he was

gifted by Ram, and Mahadev in return would read out and explain that

monumental work of Tulsidas - the Hindi Ramayan. All people in his house

were also very hospitable and kind to Ramdas. To prevent any cold affecting

the heart of frail-bodied Ramdas, Mahadev got a tight woolen jacket made

for him. ‘O Ram, how kind of Thee! When Thou art out to show Thy fondness

and love for thy slave, Thou shameth the very human mother who gave birth

to Ramdas’ body. Such is Thy unlimited love.’

During Ramdas’ stay at Jhansi, Mahadev Prasad took him on a visit to

two Mohammedan Saints. The first was an aged Saint named Mirzaji. He

might have been over 60 years of age, lean and bent. He would not speak,

but there was a cheerful twinkle in his eyes. In short, he was a mere baby -

simple, innocent and free. Mahadev Prasad had brought some eatables with

him which he thrust into the Saint’s mouth bit by bit. There was not a single

tooth in the Saint’s mouth. The eatables were soft sweets. He chewed and

swallowed them unconcernedly. He seemed to recognize nobody. His eyes

had an absent and vacant look, though bright. He was visited twice. On the

second occasion, he was found sitting on the ground outside his cottage,

quietly tearing to bits stray pieces of paper scattered around him.

CHAPTER XXI

MEDITATION - THE ONLY WAY

THE other Saint whose name was Pirjee was comparatively a younger

man than Mirzaji. He would speak and reply to questions put to him.

Mahadev asked Pirjee whether happiness could be found in the Samsaric life

in which he was placed. At this question, Pirjee seemed to have roused

himself a little. His voice was firm and decisive.

“Well brother, as I have told you several times, there is only one

remedy and that is, give up, give up the miserable life of the world and,

going up to a solitary place, meditate upon God who alone can give you the

happiness you are after. This is the only way and no other.”

‘O Ram, Thou hast brought Thy slave in touch with these Saints in

order to confirm his faith in Thee. The first Saint teaches the state of one

who reached Thee. The second teaches how to reach Thee.’ The kind

Mahadev was taking him in the nights to various Bhajan parties in the city.

When Ramdas told him one day that it seemed to be Ram’s wish that he

should make a move, he was quite unwilling to part from Ramdas. To avoid

an immediate contingency of a departure, he escorted him to a village

called Oorcha which was about six miles from the city. The place is famous

for the temple of Sri Ramachandra. Leaving him at this place, and after

arranging for his food with a mother living near the temple, Mahadev Prasad

returned to the city. His parting words were:

“You may remain here as long as you like or as long as Ram wishes

you to remain. When He desires you to leave the place, kindly come back to

me at Jhansi.”

When left alone in contemplation of the Divine Guide, Protector and

Mother Ram, Ramdas wandered on the bank of the beautiful river of the

place. On walking for about two miles he came upon a number of Samadhis

or tombs - some very old and dilapidated over which were erected tall

conical turrets that shot high up into the air. He understood, on enquiry in

the village later, that they were the graves of women who performed Sati -

a custom prevailing in olden days. This place is now used as a cremation

ground. The site is full of trees and a beautiful calm reigns over the place.

He decided - as prompted by Ram - to occupy one of the tombs for a

retreat. For eight days he remained at this place. Only for about an hour at

midday he would go to the temple and receive the rations prepared by the

old mother, which consisted of a few saltless Rotis and boiled potatoes.

The whole night he would sit up for Rambhajan in that tomb. Nights

were spent in ecstasy. Ram’s presence was felt in the very air he was

breathing. In the mornings when he was repeating aloud the charming

Mantram - “Om Sri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram!” - the birds of the air, small

and big, and squirrels would alight on the parapet wall and would listen

eagerly and with rapt attention to the sound of the great Pranava - Om! In

the evening the same sound “Om” would work like magic upon the goats and

bullocks that came near the tomb for grazing. They would raise their heads

pricking up their ears, stand still and drink in the sound. ‘O Ram, it is

proved beyond any doubt that Thou resideth in the hearts of all creatures.’

The sleeping souls of the birds of the air and the beasts of the plains are

awakened at the call of Ram’s glorious voice!

CHAPTER XXII

RAM, THE FRIEND OF THE POOR

DURING his visits to the village, the villagers tried to dissuade Ramdas

from staying in that jungle at nights as they warned him of tigers and other

wild animals, because the place occupied by him formed part of a dense and

extensive forest. But when the all-powerful Ram was there to save him,

where was fear for him and from whom? Ram is pervading everywhere - in

all things, in all beings, in all creatures. He continued there for eight days,

when he received the command from Ram to move on.

A small incident which took place here has to be chronicled at this

stage. One day, when he was passing the small bazaar of this place with his

Lota in hand, he felt thirsty. He now approached, as he walked on, a

number of small low huts on one side of the road. Going up to one of them,

at its entrance he found an old mother sitting. He begged of her to give him

some water in his Lota. The old mother shook her head and said: “Maharaj,

you cannot take water at my hands.”

“May Ramdas know the reason for this objection?” inquired Ramdas.

“The simple reason is”, put in the mother, “I belong to a very low

caste - to be brief - I am a barber woman.”

“What of that?” said Ramdas, not the least surprised. “You are

Ramdas’ mother all the same - kindly satisfy the thirst of your son.”

She was highly pleased at this reply, and going in brought out a seat

for him and her water vessel out of which she poured some water into his

Lota. He quenched his thirst occupying the seat so kindly offered by her.

Now the old mother said that she was utterly miserable. Left alone in the

world, she spent all her days and nights in pain, fear and anxiety. Ramdas

then assured her:

“O mother, there is no cause for fear and anxiety or for a feeling of

loneliness when there is Ram to protect us all - Ram is always near us.”

“But a poor, weak-minded woman like myself does not possess any

faith in Ram, because I am a sinner.” So saying the mother burst into tears.

“You shall have faith, kind mother, by the grace of Ram. Don’t

despair, Ram is always the friend of the poor and the humble,” said

Ramdas.

“Then show me the way,” asked the old mother.

“Repeat the one name ‘Ram’ at all times of the day and at nights

when you are awake. You may be sure that you will not feel lonely or

miserable as long as you are uttering that glorious name. Where this name is

sounded, or meditated upon, there resides no sorrow, no anxiety - nay, not

even death.”

Saying thus, Ramdas started to go, when she begged him to visit her

again the next day. As desired by her, he went to her hut again the

following day at about the same time.

“Well mother, how do you do?” was his question.

There was a cheerful smile on the face of the mother. She said that

she had acted upon his advice and was finding herself much relieved from

fear and cares. Then she offered him some Ladoos which she said she had

got from the sweet-meat shop.

“Mother, this is not what Ramdas wants, he wants something

prepared by your own hands,” said he.

At this she went in and got for him, a piece of Roti or bread made by

her which he ate with no small amount of pleasure. Later, he saw her once

again, when she was busy uttering “Ram, Ram!”

CHAPTER XXIII

GOD NEVER PUNISHES

BY Ram’s command Ramdas came back to Jhansi, where Mahadev

Prasad welcomed him most heartily, and pressed him to spend a few more

days with him. At this time Ram brought him into contact with more than a

dozen friends at Jhansi, who were all very kind and hospitable to him. Of

these, one young friend named Ramkinker was extremely kind. One day, in

the course of a conversation, he heard that on the Himalayas there were

two shrines - Kedarnath and Badrinath - and the path leading to these places

was very difficult, and also the cold there was very intense. O Ram, it was

all your suggestion. For him there was always a fascination for dangerous

journeys and perilous places. Kedarnath - he had read of in the splendid

writings of that great Mahatma Swami Rama Tirtha. His mind was made up.

Ram prompted and the resolution was sealed that he should visit these

shrines, however difficult the path that led to them. He expressed Ram’s

wish to his friends. Mahadev and others, who valued his frail body so dearly,

did not at first appreciate the idea. They said that the journey was a

terrible one and it would prove so especially to Ramdas whose body was so

weak and emaciated. He replied:

“Ram has given his fiat and Ramdas obeys, placing full trust in Him.

The burden is on Ram to see that he is taken care of; even if his body were

to drop off at the will of Ram, he would not grumble. He will then be Ram’s

entirely - go he must.”

At once Ramkinker, the young friend, proposed to follow him on his

journey to Kedarnath and Badrinath. So, he had to remain at Jhansi for

some days more at the request of these friends, which gave Ramkinker

sufficient time to make his preparations for the journey.

Some other incidents in connection with his stay at Jhansi have to be

narrated here before he describes his pilgrimage to the Himalayas. After the

resolution was made, he was taken over by Ramkinker, who kept him in a

Ram Mandir near his own house and carefully looked after his personal

wants. In this Mandir there was a Pujari known as Pandaji. O Pandaji! How

very kind you were too. At midday, everyday, Ramdas would saunter out in

the hot sun and walk in the streets of Jhansi for two or three hours. The

heat of the sun at midday in that season was very severe; but he would not

mind it. Observing this one day, Pandaji, who was treating him as a child,

warned him thus:

“Look here, Maharaj, you are everyday going out at midday and

wandering about in the hot sun. Your head, which is clean-shaven, is always

uncovered. If you are obstinate, I shall have to lock you up in the temple

before I go out.”

With this threat - an indication of his great love for Ramdas - he

would press him to sleep in the afternoon and would not leave the Mandir

for midday meals until he saw Ramdas asleep. O Ram, how kind Thou art!

One day, during his midday walks, Ramdas got thirsty and he

discovered on the way a well at which some mothers were drawing water.

He went up to the place and requested one of them to give him some water

to quench his thirst. In reply, the mother who was asked for water said:

“Maharaj, I am a Mohammedan and you being a Hindu monk, it is not

proper that you should accept water at my hands.”

“O mother!” replied he, “Ramdas knows no caste distinctions. He

finds in you that Universal Mother, Sita, as he finds in all women. Therefore,

do not hesitate to provide your son with some water.”

The mother was strangely surprised at this reply, washed the waterpot

thoroughly and drawing water afresh, poured it out in the hollow of his

hands and he drank as much water as he wanted. Then he continued his

walk. For about ten days he was staying in the Ram Mandir, and during

evenings a number of friends of the city would come and put him various

questions about Ram, and he would try to satisfy them by such replies as

were prompted him by Ram Himself. On one occasion a certain friend came

up specially to have a discussion with him on a religious point.

His first question was: “Who are you?”

“I am Ramdas,” was his simple reply.

“No, you speak a lie there,” retorted the friend. “You are Ram

Himself. When you declare you are Ramdas, you do not know what you say.

God is everywhere and in everything. He is in you and so you are He.

Confess it right away,”

“True, dear friend, God is everywhere,” replied Ramdas. “But at the

same time, it must be noted that God is one, and when He is in you and

everywhere around you, may I humbly ask to whom you are putting this

question?”

After reflecting for a time, the friend was driven to say: “Well, I have

put the question to myself.”

This reply was given as a desperate attempt to reconcile his first

contention. If he would say that the question was put to Ramdas, there was

a clear sense of duality accepted by the disputant himself - “I” and “you.”

“As a matter of fact,” put in Ramdas, “Ram does not speak - the

moment he speaks he is not Ram. Speech creates always a sense of duality -

the speaker and the man spoken to. Ram is one and indivisible. It is sheer

ignorance for a man - whose ego is a great obstruction for his complete

realisation of the oneness of God - to say that he is God.”

The friend persisted for some time more to uphold his argument and

eventually gave it up. At the desire of Ramdas, who liked to stay for some

days in a retired place, the friends at Jhansi took him to a garden about a

mile away from the city, where there was a small shed. Here he lived for

some days, visited every evening by a number of friends.

Here again a schoolmaster came for a discussion. He belonged to the

Arya Samaj started by that great Saint, Swami Dayananda Saraswati. This

friend, in the course of a talk, became very hot and excited. The point was

about the Shuddhi movement set on foot by Swami Shraddhanandji. Ramdas

was clearly opposed to this movement as he is, in fact, opposed to every

effort on the part of anybody to create differences in religious faiths. That

all faiths lead to the same goal is a most beautiful and convincing truth. At

the close of the discussion, the friend exceeded the limits of decent talk.

However, Ramdas was cool and collected by the grace of Ram. At parting,

he assured the friend that he loved him most dearly in spite of any

objectionable words used by him. Next day, about the same time, this

friend came again in a great hurry. He could scarcely talk. He could only

whisper; his throat was choked up. His condition was pitiable.

“O Maharaj,” he exclaimed falling at the feet of Ramdas: “God has

punished your slave for having used rough words to you yesterday. See how

my throat is choked and I can’t speak out properly”.

“O friend, Ramdas is really sorry to hear this, but be assured of this -

God never punishes. God is love and is always kind. Our own doubts are our

enemies and create a lot of mischief. The so-called evil is of our own

making,”

At once, pulling out Ramdas’ right hand the friend rubbed the palm

on his throat and, strange to say, his throat cleared and he began to talk

more clearly and in a few minutes he was all right!

“Behold! Maharaj, how powerful you are!” he cried exultantly.

“You make a mistake, dear friend,” replied Ramdas. “Ramdas is a

poor slave of Ram, possessing no powers at all. Your faith alone has cured

you and nothing else,”

From this time onwards the friend became very much attached to him

and was very kind. O Ram, Thy ways are so wonderful that Ramdas gets

utterly bewildered at times.

The friends at Jhansi, whom he met daily in that city, were all very

charitable in disposition - especially were they kind and hospitable to

Sadhus. When he was living with Mahadev Prasad, he found this friend a

pattern of charity and humility. Mahadev would never send away a hungry

man from his door without feeding him. He would forego his own meal to

satisfy a hungry man. His heart was so soft and so tender. Mahadev’s

humility was exemplary. Ram certainly gave Ramdas the society of this

friend so that he might know what true charity and humility meant in actual

practice. Ramkinker - the young friend who accompanied him on his

pilgrimage to the Himalayas - made it a rule to utilise about 10 per cent of

his salary for charity. This is really a beautiful hint for all. While speaking of

charity, the ideal of charity followed by the householder of northern India is

indeed very noble and lofty, the ideal of the ancients, viz. that the

householder has no right to exist as such if he does not share his food

everyday with a hungry man of no means, such as a beggar or a Sadhu. In

fact, it is declared that a man assumes Grihasthashrama with the specific

object of carrying out this noble ideal. There are found some Grihasthas

who would not wait for a guest to turn up but would go seeking for one in

the streets, in temples or, Dharmashalas. Such is the piety of the

householders. Ramdas’ experience in southern India was also full of

incidents in which charity played a most laudable part. In fact, the whole of

India is a great land of charity.

CHAPTER XXIV

HIMALAYAN JOURNEY

THE friends in Jhansi provided Ramdas with all the necessaries for the

journey to the Himalayas, and the day for departure came. Many came as

far as the railway station to bid farewell to humble Ramdas and Ramkinker.

Both parties parted after mutual exchange of good wishes. In due time

Hardwar was reached. Hardwar, as the name suggests, is the gateway to the

great shrines of the Himalayas. Here the pilgrims stayed for two days. It is

most delightful to visit the bank of the Ganga, where congregate

Sannyasins, Sannyasinis, Sadhus, Bhaktas, Brahmins, pious mothers - all busy

with baths, ablutions, Sandhya, prayers and worship. O Ram, Thou art

clearly manifest at this holy place!

Now the journey on the Himalayas commenced. Up and up, Ramdas

and Ramkinker mounted and reached the place called Rishikesh. Rishikesh is

a very beautiful place. The scenes on the banks of the holy Ganga are simply

charming. Here the lofty peaks of mountains are dimly visible at a distance,

covered over with white mist, kissing as they do the rolling waves of clouds

that hang above them. A nearer gaze presents to the eye high gigantic rocks

with dense forests, a mixture of green, yellow and red hues of leaves,

foliage and blossoms. A still nearer view shows the crystal water of the holy

Ganga that flows in all calmness and majesty, disclosing in her bosom huge

pieces of rocks which her rushing torrent had pulled down in days of yore,

and made round and smooth. O Ram, Thou art sublime!

On one side of the great river are seen a number of small thatched

huts, neat and clean - Ashrams of Sannyasis. Ramkinker took Ramdas into

one of these huts. The interior of the hut was fitted with the simplest

furniture - a bamboo cot, two posts of which formed the pillars of the hut

itself, on which was spread a deer-skin, and a Kambal or blanket lying in

folds at the foot of it. A venerable old Sannayasi was squatting upon the

deer-skin. On a peg was hanging his Kamandal made of a black shell. Except

a small piece of cloth and a spare Kaupin which were drying in the sun

outside, he had no other clothing. On the sandy floor of the hut was a

bamboo-mat, and in a corner were two black stones, one big and the other

small, for crushing almonds and such other hard eatables having shells to

break. There was a calm and peaceful look upon the countenance of the

Saint. He welcomed Ramkinker and Ramdas with a cheerful smile, and they

seated themselves on the mat after prostrating at the feet of the Mahatma.

He offered some cardamoms to the guests and had a simple and child-like

talk with them about Saints who would be found in the thick forests on the

opposite bank of the Ganges, unexplored by ordinary man, where for a

number of years they might be performing Tapasya.

His beautiful advice to Ramdas was to remain as long as possible for

his Sadhana in solitude, than which there is no better means for control of

the mind. He was kind, affable, engaging and good. O Ram, it was Thyself in

all Thy glory that Ramdas met under that simple roof. One thing more, this

Saint was very fond of birds. He would not miss to share his food with them

everyday. They would wait for their share on the trees outside the hut. He

talked very lovingly of them. After coming out Ramkinker and Ramdas

wandered on the bank of Mother Ganga, where they saw a number of

Sannyasis clad in orange robes, their faces beaming with a cheerful light.

They had all come out for their usual morning bath in the holy waters.

Ramdas, during his stay in Rishikesh, had occupied the mud-platform around

a banyan tree on the bank of the river close to the hut of a Mahatma. This

Saint was also very kind to Ramdas. His hobby was to feed cows and

monkeys who would always be crowding round his hut. In order to feed them

he would be a-begging in the bazaar and secure foodstuffs and grass. He was

finding a peculiar pleasure in childishly dancing with monkeys, running after

them, making strange noises, all in glee and sport. His face was bright and

his greenish eyes would twinkle always with a watery tenderness. Under the

same tree there was also a blind Sadhu who had a good voice, which he

made right use of by singing the glory of Ram.

Three days were spent here in all peace and happiness. Ramkinker

was kind enough to attend to Ramdas’ food. There are two big Annakshetras

in Rishikesh which daily furnish food to all the Sannyasis. Of these Kshetras,

one was started by a great Mahatma by name Kalikamblibaba who is now in

Mahasamadhi. On these mountains and among Sadhus his blessed name is on

the lips of all. With his influence he has induced the wealthy merchants of

Bombay and other places to open at every 10 to 15 miles on the hills a

Dharmashala in which Sadavart or food-stuffs are distributed free to all

Sadhu-pilgrims who hold Chits with which they are provided at Rishikesh.

Ramkinker secured these Chits for Ramdas at Rishikesh.

CHAPTER XXV

HIMALAYAN JOURNEY (Contd.)

ON the fourth day, they started on their journey higher on the hills.

As they climbed higher and higher, the scenes and landscapes they saw were

found to be simply enchanting. On the right the sacred Ganga was rushing

downhill in all her glory, and on the left, high rocky hills, full of foliage and

trees, presented at once a thrilling and absorbing sight. The very air there

was charged with the divine presence of Ram. The far-off hills and valleys,

the varied-hued sky in which the white fleecy clouds assumed fantastic

shapes, the snow-capped mountains, hundreds of miles away up, dazzling in

the rays of the sun as though they were covered with sheets of silver: all

these constituted indeed, an imposing sight! O, the charm of the scenes! O

Ram! Poor Ramdas cannot find adequate words to describe the grandeur,

the beauty, the wonderful glory of the sights that met his bewildering gaze.

As he walked on, he drank deeper and deeper of the splendour of

Ram’s infinity and was lost, lost, lost in the intoxication of it all. O Ram,

Thy kindness to Thy slave is really unbounded. From day to day both

Ramkinker and Ramdas walked on at a high speed. Ramdas felt no fatigue,

no pain, no discomfort of any kind. He was as fresh as ever. It was all due to

Ram’s grace whose name was always on his lips. Thus mountain after

mountain was traversed and as they climbed on, grander and newer scenes

presented themselves before their wondering sight. It was a journey in the

land of enchantment. It was all a bewitching dream full of the glory and

greatness of Ram. There Ram exhibits His marvellous powers. He is a mighty

conjurer. Vision after vision dances and flits before your eyes, and

unconsciously you fall under the subtle charm and spell of this great

Magician. You forget what you are and where you are. You are simply

absorbed and lost in the surroundings - like a wisp of smoke in a hurricane.

Ramdas was walking at high speed - nay, he was veritably flying. Even

the difficult ascents were scaled in no time. Most of the time, he was

unconscious of his body. His mind was entirely merged in Ram who alone

appeared to him in those enchanting scenes. Higher and higher climbed the

indefatigable pilgrims. Ramkinker, who had a heavy bundle to carry,

complained of Ramdas’ running speed, since he could not keep pace with

him. But Ramdas was not his own master. Ram was his master. At a certain

place they missed each other, causing anxiety to both; but, however, Ram

brought them together at a stage called Rudraprayag. Thousands of pilgrims

are every year ascending these hills and during this season, i.e. from March

to June, a regular stream of people is going up and coming down the hills.

All the pilgrims, Sadhus and others whom Ramdas met on the way were very

kind to him. Some rich merchants from cities like Bombay were very

solicitous. Because Ram is kind, all are kind, and Ram is in all.

The mountains are peopled by hill-tribes - a fair complexioned and

well-built race. They live by cultivation and cattle and goat-breeding.

Naturally their lives and ways are simple. Their faith in God is very great.

“Ram, Ram,” is always on their lips. If you talk to them they tell you with a

glow of pride that they are the descendants of the Rishis that lived in those

hills. Their clothing is wholly made of wool. Males wear long woollen coats

and drawers and a black cap, and women, rough blankets in place of Sarees.

These blankets are prepared there out of the wool yielded by the sheep

they tend. So the food-stuffs and clothing - the two essentials of life - are

the produce of their own labour. Even while walking from place to place,

every man and woman carries a quantity of wool which he or she is spinning

on the way. They have simple pit looms on which they weave the yarn into

cloth. Since their mode of life is free from the baneful touch of modern

civilization, they live simple, pure, honest and pious lives.

At different stages of the journey over the hills, under trees or in

small huts or caves, are seen Sadhus engaged in austerities. To seek their

company and remain there, for ever so small a period, is a great privilege.

The society of a Sadhu is a much needed bath for the mind. The pure

atmosphere he creates around him by his meditations is the river in which

the mind bathes and is purged of evil thoughts and impressions. Upon these

sacred hills are the Ashrams of such famous Saints as Narada and Agastya

Muni. There is also a place called Pandukeshar where the Pandavas are said

to have halted for some time during their journey to Kailas. There is a

temple here and some old inscriptions, upon plates of copper. The first

place visited by Ramdas and Ramkinker on the heights was Trijugnarain. The

ascent to this spot was sharp and steep, and it was a plateau surrounded by

hills covered with snow. Hence the cold here was intense. The pilgrims

remained here for one day.

Then after descending some distance another chain of hills was

mounted. Here the path was narrow, rugged and dangerous - frail, rickety

bridges had to be crossed, at three places large tracts of snow had to be

traversed. On account of the perilous nature of the path, every year many

pilgrims are reported to have slipped down the cliffs and been washed

away, in the rushing torrents of the river, many hundreds of feet below.

One instance of a narrow escape may be mentioned here.

At a certain stage in the middle of an ascent, Ramdas was sitting on

the path awaiting Ramkinker. This was the edge of a high cliff and the river

was flowing far below. The path was very narrow. A girl of about 16 years,

full of energy and activity, was coming down on her return journey. It was a

sharp descent. Her pace was rapid and the sharp downhill path only

accelerated her speed, and in spite of herself she was running down at

uncontrollable velocity. Down, down she came. She was excited, her face

was flushed and she knew she was being drawn down automatically, and it

was beyond her power to control herself. Instead of running towards the

hill-side, she was staggering down to the edge of the path - the very brow of

a precipice.

Ramdas watched the scene with breathless suspense. He was silently

calling upon Ram to save her. Ram alone could and none else. Now she

came up to the edge, and with a superhuman effort controlled herself. She

had come to the very brink. Part of her left foot was out of the edge. O

Ram, how terrible a condition! Ram, Thy name be glorified. Ramdas looks

and sees the girl falling on the path right across uttering ‘Ram, Ram’. Saved,

saved! Ram saved her! She got up; did not wait a minute, but continued her

walk further down. Dauntless girl! What a marvellous faith in Ram is thine!

The other was the case of an old woman who gave up her body in the

basket in which she was being carried by a sturdy mountaineer who was

specially engaged for the purpose. At certain stages in the journey this

carrier would lower down his burden for relief, and the last time he did so,

it happened to be near the place where Ramkinker and Ramdas were resting

on the roadside. The bearer, as usual with him, lowered the basket on a

rock and asked the old mother to step out of the basket for some time. But

receiving no reply, the hillman peeped into the basket and a cry of surprise

and pain started from him.

“The poor woman is gone”, he exclaimed.

O Ram, Thy will is done. Then walking higher and higher, Ramdas and

his kind guide eventually reached Kedarnath. This was indeed a grand place.

It was plain land in the midst of high towering mountains covered with

snow. The cold here was extremely severe. O Ram, Thy kindness to Thy

slave was so great that Thou hadst made him almost proof against cold.

Om Tat Sat
                                                        
(Continued) 

(My humble salutations to the lotus feet of H H Swami Ramadas ji  for the collection)