135 Ztf THE V1SIGX Or 3-33
remained f»»r a few minutes. Seeing Ramdas silent and in-
different he left. The »lay passed. The time was mid-
r* Strainer in the United Provinces is attended with
heat. From ten to five during tbe day the sun -was
belching f^rth lire. The rocks of the cave exposed to the
direct Uaze of the sun would burn with intense heat.
F:*?ry breezes were blowing into the cave through the
narrsiw -entrance. Ramdas scarcely moved from tfce mat.
Thes*e««xM iko* passed.
On the third day he rose above body consciousness, and
bis experience was that he felt a solemn blankness in
existence, A stillness and peace pervaded his being. He was
no^r mostly lying down on the mat fiat on his back. He
had not n wink of sleep and his eyes were ever open, even
in the nights* for he conM not keep them shut long,
Neither weakness nor pangs of hunger affected him in the
least. Balak Ram was paying him a visit every morning.
He thought that the fast ^as for his sake. He hoped that
by Ramdas* austerity he would attain liberation. Ramdas
did uf>t know nor did be care to know the why and
wherefore of the fast. He simply obeerveol it hy Rani's will.
At midnight, on the third day, Ramdas was sitting on
tfee aaan when suddenly a thunder crash was heard and for
a quarter of an hour it rained in torrents. The rain pouring
down the opening at the roof of tbe cave, directly fell on
him us though he were seated beneath a waterfall. He was
wholly drenched and the cave was filled with water to the
height of an inch. He hudged not. His only cloth and the
mat were thoroughly soaked. Next day the heat of the son
wai M rigorous as ever, and so, by noon, the water in the
etTe ilried up; ao also the cloth and the mat.
The news of the fast spread in the city of Banda.
People in large numbers mounted the bill to see Mm. Many
of them ou&e &&ly as far as the lower cave and after
ioqairie* with Balak Ram returned, while some ascended
to the Upper am In which Ramdas Hired. They would only