KASHMIR (Contd.) 349
to his temple dor bath in the river. Many an evening he
had spent in the shrine listening to the reading of Yoga
Vasishta in Hindi and attending the evening puja in the
temple, when Sanskrit slokas and mantras were sung in
chorus by a -dozen devotees who would "be present at the
time of worship.
On the morning of the day when Ramdas had to start
on the pilgrimage to Amarnath, Tarachand Bayu dropped
in and escorted him to the temple. Ramcharandas was
also with him. After bath Ramdas sat in front of the
image on an asan provided by the pujari. The time might
have been about eight o'clock. A young pandit, who was
a perfect stranger to Ramdas, entered the temple in haste.
He had come on a bicycle and inquired for Ramdas. The
pujari brought the pandit into the presence of Ramdas.
"Swamiji," the young man said to Ramdas, "my
father is making ready for the trip to Amarnath. He wishes
to take you also with him. Kindly come with me. He is
awaiting your arrival at home."
Strange are the ways of God! Here is a pandit utterly
unknown to Ramdas voluntarily proposing to have him as
his companion on the trip. He followed the young guide,
and told him that he would have to see Janakinath first and
inform him of his intending departure. So they weut to
Janakinath's house and apprised the friend of the arrange-
ment made by God for the pilgrimage. Janakinath, on hear-
ing of it, was spell-bound. Until then it had seemed that
there was not the least chance of Ramdas' leaving that day.
The mysterious and sudden way in which God brought about
circumstances that favoured his going struck Janakinath as
purely the work of Providence. The Lord after all did not
will that Ramdas should abandon the idea. Ramdas for
his part was absolutely confident that he would go on
the pilgrimage.
The warm dress intended for Ramdas and Ramcharan-
das was still with the tailor unfinished, A woollen cap