134 IN THE VISION OF GOD

The words were addressed to the Dewan saheb. In her
tone there was a marked tinge of angnish. Having taken
some milk and frnit kindly proffered by the Rani saheb,
Ramdas took leave of her and returned to his rooms.

(iii) "From the Maze of Illusion
info the Maze of God ! "
Ramdas paid a visit to a sannyasi ashram where he was
kindly received by the resident sannyasis. At their request
he spoke a few words OB God-realization which he always
held forth as the only purpose of life.
Again he had an occasion to call on the Jain sadhus- in
their chief ashram in LimbdL Jainism is considered as old
as the Yedas. Its teachings, in many respects, resembled
those of Buddhism. The creed of nonviolence is observed
by the Jains in an extreme form. The Jain sadhus have
a semicircular strip of cloth covering their lips, placed
in position by thin ribbons fastened round the nether part
of the head. They also carry a soft duster for sweeping the
floor before sitting on it, lest they might kill the vermin
that may happen to be on it. For similar reasons, they
would drink only boiled water and never eat by
lamp-ligiit; they finish their evening meal before sunset.
Jainism holds absolute purity of life and non-violence as
the way, and liberation and peace as the goal.
On spending a delightful half hour with the sadhus in
this ashram, Ramdas was next taken to another Jain
ashram where nearly two hundred Jain ladies had con-
gregated to listen to a discourse by him. He was simply
blest with the sight of the kind mothers. He sat on a raised
dais and spoke for about three quarters of an hour at a
stretch upon purity, love and peace. He was all through
filled with an inexpressible rapture. Two prominent and
charitable Jain merchants, Ugarchand Shet and Hohanbhau
•who had conceived a great love for Mm, had arranged for