CHAPTER XI
ANJANGAUM-ANGAR
(i) An Honesi Rebel
Bamdas had an unique experience during this "visit to
the Sholapnr District. The reader may remember that
Ramdas had visited Anjangamn once before a year previ-
ously and had been the recipient of great kindness and
hospitality at the hands of the devotee, MadhavraoKnlkarni.
The celebration in his house was of Navavidha bhakti, that
is, nine kinds of devotion. The devotee who is a high-class
brahman had engaged the services of over a dozen brah-
mans to perform the varions functions of the sacred festival.
Besides Bamcharandas, Ramdas was later joined by
Bhavanisfaanltemo of Bangalore.
Eamdas arrived at Madhavrao's house only two or three
days before the close of the festival which had a ran, as
usual, for nine days. Since his arrival, Madhavrao's house
had a rush of visitors to see Eamdas. Now the attention of
most of the inmates of the house and the people of the
village was diverted from the religions ceremony towards
him. The brahmans did not at all like the turn of events.
They remonstrated with Madhavrao against the undue
prominence paid to a wandering sadhu. Poor Madhavrao
was in a sore fix ! His love and regard for Ramdas would
not diminish in spite of the repeated onslaughts of the
brahmans against his fidelity to Ramdas.
The inevitable last straw was not lacking in the present
case. The situation vas growing every moment more and
more tense. At the request of Madhavrao and other guests,
Ramdas was made to distribute prasad. The brahnians
demurred to accept it from the hands of Eamdas. How-
ever, some of them most reluctantly received it from Mm,
and there waa an honest rebel. His name was also Ramdas,