154 IN THE VISION7 Or GOD
" There is no fear, Ramji. They are lizards, not snakes,
under the stone. They are harmless," Kamdas assured him.
"Oh! v he cried, "the thing, whatever it is, crawled
on my legs. What a horrible sensation I got! "
*" Never mind, sleep on; there nee<d be no fear," Ramdas
said encouragingly.
Finding Ramdas was in no mood to leave the place, he
foiled himself on the stone, covering his body fully from
head to foot with the cloth. During the night he started in
his sleep twice with a cry of fright; the cries were only
the after-effects of the first alarm. The first shriek had
terrified the poor lizards so much that they dared not come
out of their lairs to touch one who could produce such a
soul-racking sound!
The bania's peace mission having utterly failed, the
next day, they left Karri again for Chitrakut. Bath in the
river over, the favourite tiffin shop entertained them with
its purees and milk. The day was hot. They rested for some
time in the cool shade of a tree on the river bank. When
the sun had descended half way down the heavens,
Ramdas proposed that they should go up the hill of
Hanuinandhara and remain on it for the night.
(iii) Sadhuism is not a Joke
Ascending over a hundred stone steps uphill, they
reached the place called Hanuinandhara. Here a big jet of
water was pouring down from a height of about fifty f e>et
into a reservoir below* made of hrick and mortar. There
was also a small rest-house near the waterfall. The place is
considered sacred because it is said to have been once
occupied by Sri Ramchandra and Sita. From here an
extensive view of the surrounding country can be had—
vast plains, high hills covered with dense vegetation and
the smooth running river, are all presented to the gaze of
the spectator. CMtrakut is a land of sages and saints.
Hundreds of sadhug are still doing penance in their small