TOWARDS GOKARN-GOKARN	33
day of celebration.  Pilgrims from various  parts  of  the
country were now pouring in for this great occasion.
Ramcharandas and Eanidas reached here at midday.
They were invited for dinner at the house of a prominent
merchant of the place where they were treated with great
kindness and love. Then they went to the temple of
MahadeT and saw a crowd of pilgrims at the entrance in
the outer yard. Pilgrim sadhus were scrambling for place
on either side of the main door of the temple. For, here it
\ras that they received the greatest attention from the pil-
grims who came with offerings.
" Swamiji, let us also settle down here—there is still
room for us," suggested Ranicharandas.
"Ram," replied Ramdas, "what if we pitch upon a
retired and secluded spot? That seems to be the right
thing."
"No, Swamiji," interrupted Ramcharandas, "this is
the best place for us, since we have the double advantage of
being near the murti of Mahadev and also having the
society of the sadhus."
His reasons proved unassailable* and Ramdas submitted.
A portion of the ground was immediately cleared of its
pebbles and loose earth by him, and some spare cloths were
spread on it to signify that the place had been booked and
marked. Night came on. They took their seats on the
coveted piece of ground. Ramcharandas felt proud of their
enviable position since it lay only second in the line to the
right-hand side of the main entrance. The first position was
occupied by two sadhus-one elderly and the other young.
Before dark both the sides of the doorway, up to the
extremity of the wall, were filled by sadhus. Of the sadhus
to their left, the elder was the guru and the younger the
chela.
" Ra-mgiri-prepare the chilain," said the guru in a gruff
and authoritative voice to his chela.
" All right, maharaj-Ji," replied the chela meekly*