112 EN THE VISION OF GOD
met in their villages, began to pour in. Here he came in
touch -with a new devotee "by name Prem Singh, a Rajput.
He Tras fascinated with Ramdas and closely stuck to him.
Eaindas observed a fast on this day, taking only a small
quantity of milk.
As the day advanced the crowd of pilgrims on the banks
increased rapidly. Nearly a lac of people studded both sides
of the river. The Tast crowd was divided into groups and
some of them had tents pitched on the sands. From various
camps hundreds of lights gleamed in the dark. The name
of 'Yithal'—the deity of Pandharpur temple—rang forth
from thousands of throats, while dancing and singing also
commenced in many camps. Large crowds squatted round
the central figure of a saint performing harikatha, preach-
ing to the masses the value of devotion. This Mnd of
preaching to the accompaniment of mnsie started at several
centres.
He attended one of these performances. He listened for
about half an hour to the discourse of Dada Maharaj, a
saint from Satara and famous in Maharashtra. Of what he
said one thing struck Eamdas as pre-eminently true, via:
"It is not that ^we have to love G-od but to realize in our hearts
God who is love."
When Eaindas had returned to his seat, one of the devo-
tees coming to him said:
"Maharaj, throughout the day there was a huge rush at
the entrance of the temple for the darshan of Vithoba.
So access to the temple was difficult. Now, it being
midnight, the way to the inner sanctmn of the temple
is clear. If you wish I can take you for the darshan of
Vithoba."
"Ram," Ramdas replied: "Eamdas is witnessing already
in front of him Vithoba in thousands of forms. Can't you
see Him squatting, standing, walking, dancing and singing
in these multitudinous human forms? Do you think Tithoba
is only seated in the stone image within the temple? Be-