C!J THE V7AY-NARSOBAWADI 63
-was to be satisfied with one meal a day. During the nights,
Ramcharandas would take only light eatables when
available. Almost every Tillage in Maharashtra—for that
matter in India—contains a temple and a rest-house near
the temple. During this traTel they inTariably spent their
nights either in a temple or a rest-house. They started
on their journey always in the early hours of the morning.
At noon, next day, they were approaching a Tillage where
they would hare to make their midday halt.
"Remember, Ram,"1 hinted Ramdas, "that we are not
to beg-our food. Leave the question entirely to the Lord.
Let us simply go to a temple and remain in it engaged in
the repetition of His Name/'
Reaching the Tillage they entered a temple of Yithal
and took their seats in the verandah. Time was close
upon 12 noon. A visitor to the temple, seeing the sadhus,
asked:
"WLy are you sitting here idly? It is time for the
midday meal. Go to the brahman locality where you can
K-y for your meals/'
RamdLS did not reply, and Ramcharandas was also silent.
The man walked away. Half an hour passed. Ramcharandas
exhibited by his looks that he was growing sceptic. About
ten minutes later another man came and put them the
question.
*4Have you had your midday meal?"
Ramdas replied in the negative.
"How do you manage to have one?" washisnert query.
"The Lord sees to it,1" was Ramdas' quiet reply. The
words seemed to haTe gone home.
h"The Lord you speak of bids me take yon to my house
for meals, but there is one difficulty. I belong to the tailor
caste. I don't know if you are willing to take food at my
hands/1 he said.
"You are the Lord Himself in the eyes of the sadhns,
so there can be no objection,11 rejoined Ramdas.