KUDLU-KADRI HILL 33
merchant of the city who provided him with his bare needs.
His time was his own which he spent in meditation. He
was indeed an earnest seeker after Truth. He was simple
and guileless. Eamdas felt a strange attraction for him at
the very first sight. He questioned Ramdas how he
could control the restless mind, Eamdas gave him the
Ram-mantrarn and, thereafter, the mantram was always on
his lips.
On Eamdas' expressing to him his desire to remain in a
perfectly solitary place, Madhav suggested the cave Just u
few yards above the dharmashala on the hill. This cave had
been newly rebuilt by raising mud walls at its entrance.
Ramdas leaving his seat asked the boy to lead him to the
ca^e. The cave was a narrow and low hole just sufficient
for one person to lie down- The mud walls were still undried
and the floor was damp. It had a small doorway with
shutters. Ramdas entered the cave and told Madhav that
he had decided to spend in it the night and some
days more. Madhav spread the deerskin on the floor of the
cave, and then returned to the rest-house.
Madhav was all kindness to him. He served him in
every possible way, but there was something \veighing on
his mind, and he looked worried. Ramdas found out that he
had a debt of a few rupees. G-od arranged for it and set
him free.
Ramdas1 stay in the ca^e was marked with many periods
of fasting. But for his extreme physical weakness during
the fasts, he -was perfectly at ease and cheerful. It must be
noted here that whenever God inspired Mm to undertake
a fast he experienced great elation, similar to what a hungry
man would feel when he was provided with a sump-
tuous feast.
In all, he remained in the cave for about a month and a
half. He received yisits from many devotees of the city.
He also went occasionally to the city in the evenings to
attend kirtan parties. Once he was invited to
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