CHAPTER XLV
BANGALORE- SHOLAPUR
In due course Ramdas and Janardan Pant reached
Bangalore and were put up at Bhavanishankerrao's house in
Malleswaram. Their stay here was only for a couple of
days. At the wish of the devotees in the house Janardan
Pant performed a Mrtan which was also attended by the
people of the neighbourhood. At the time there was in the
house a purohit who was called in for some religious
ceremony. When Ramdas retired to the room, which he
occupied for rest, the purohit came to him and read him
a severe lesson. He took him roundly to task for abandon-
ing the householder's life. Ramdas silently swallowed the
'bitter' pill and dismissed the matter with a smile, for
explanation and argument with him were found to be of
no avail.
Their stay in Bangalore coming to a close they left for
"Sholapur. At Sholapur station a batch of friends was
awaiting their arrival. Govind Rainakrishna Joshi and his
son-in-law were among the party. At this time, the annual
celebration at Madhavrao Kulkarni's house in Anjangaum
was in progress, and it was proposed that Ramdas should
first attend this function and then proceed to TJple-Dumala.
They were also joined at this place by Prem Singh. The
party in due time reached Anjangaum. The celebration at
Madhavrao's was then in full swing, Ramdas felt great
-elation in the company of Madhavrao and other devotees.
Anant Buwa, son-in-law of Govind Ramakrishna Joshi,
entertained the assembly with his kirtan, and Ramdas had
also to deliver a discourse on bhaktL
From Anjangaum the party consisting of Ramdas,
Janardan Pant, Prem Singh and two devotees from Uple-
Dumala, who had specially come to invite and escort
Ramdas, started in bullock-carts. They reached in the even-
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