UPALfiJ—PA2QKAHPUH—IN THE THAIN 111
bear the presence of that saint (meaning Ramdas). I am
going away."
Then it appears the old man asked her: "Are you sure,
you are leaving for good? Say that on oath.'1
Then she said: "Mahadev, Hanuman, Rama are my
witnesses. I am going, I am gone." So saying she collapsed
and fell down unconscious, and the old man with the help
of others had to convey her home. From this time she had
become her old self again, but she was still weak.
For Ramdas devils are none other than the evil passions
that rage in the human breast. They take possession of persons
and dominate over them. The only way to drive them out
is to awaken in their mind and heart the purity, light and
glory of the indwelling Truth. As at the appearance of
light darkness vanishes, so in the presence of the pure
spirit of God, the evils of the mind disappear, softening the
heart with love and joy.
Some of the devotees desired that Ramdas should meet
ihem again in Pandharpur on the Kartik ekadashi fair, an
important annual festival of that shrine, where they would
all assemble for the occasion. So Ramdas and others includ-
ing Janardan Pant started from Upalai, and on the way
halted at Shetphal where they stopped for the night.
Bhajan and kirtan were performed by the villagers during
the night. Ramdas had also the opportunity of again seeing
and embracing the shop-keeper who had fed him forcibly
during the last visit.
(ii) Qod is Love—in our Heart
The party arrived at Pandharpur on the day previons to
ekadashi. Ramdas proposed to occupy the sands of the river
Chandrabhaga, and accordingly they settled down on the
bank, a few yards from the river. The night was cold.
Chill breezes were blowing towards them from the river.
The night was spent in waj^efuln9§s.,Kext day, the day of
the festival, one by one, the