CHAPTER XII
UPALAI-PANDHARPUR-IN THE TRAIN
(i) The Devil Exorcised
From Angar Ramdas went to Upalai with Ramcharan-
das and Bliavanishaiikerrao and many others, and was put
up in Govind Joshfs house as on the previous occasion.
Here again lie observed a water fast for three days. Vast
crowds of people gathered around him. Grovind Joshi's
wife was greatly disturbed over the fast. Her motherly
heart ached for him. She made several attempts to persuade
him to take at least some milk during the fast but he would
not take it. Govind Joshi in his overflowing love presented
Raxndas with a red woollen shawl and a cap of the same
material, for the time was winter and the cold was severe.
The red shawl he gave away to Bamcharandas. On the
fourth day the people of the -whole village arranged for a
feast in Vithoba's temple. People of all castes joined in
the dinner.
On the morning of the day fixed for the feast, Maruti,
a boy who was famous for Ms mastery of the Gita and for
his wonderful intellectual powers in expounding it,
requested Bantdas to pay a short visit to Ms house.
Ramdas agreed and in the company of about fifty devotees
went to his house. Along with others Bamdas took his seat
on the open verandah. Ifow a woman of the house was
brought out and made to sit on the yard below, in front
of him.
"This woman/' Maruti said, "is possessed by a devil;
please have pity on her."
Ramdas looked at her. Her long loose hair was hanging
down over her shonlders and arms in a state of disorder.
Her face was unusually red; her eyes wide open and re-
volving in a weird manner. When his eyes met hers she
suddenly gave vent to a shrill shriek and began to tear at