418 IN THE VISION OF GOD
his return. He with Ramdas and some others went one
morning to the Pilikunji hill in search of a suitable site for
the ashram and at last discovered a beautiful spot belonging
to Chandavar Sanjivrao. On negotiating for the plot with
Sanjivrao, he agreed to hand over the small piece of land
entirely for the ashram as a gift on condition that, if at
any time the activities of tho ashram as a religions institu-
tion should cease, the property should go buck to him.
The work of constructing the building was taken up by
Anandrao in right earnest, and it was hurried on as the
monsoon was fast approaching. The ashram consisted of a
tiny room with a raised pedestal against one of its walls to
serve the purpose of a cot, and a square open verandah for
receiving visitors and holding small kirtau parties. All
ronnd the four sides of the ashram a belt of tulsi
was planted. The site had a charm of its own. On its
southern side was the beautiful view of the Payaswini
river and green fields, and on the other Bide wove hills
covered with a dense jungle of tall trees. Soft, cool
breezes always played about the ashram coming from the
river. In the morning and evening the air was filled with
the sweet music of birds. Before the ashram was occupied
Ramdas paid hurried visits to Mangalore and Puttur.
Kuber Anandrao escorted him to Pntfrur whoro he was put
up at the Police Inspector Sundarrao's house. Heaving of
his arrival many residents of Puttur, both friends and
mothers, came to see him. An enterprising young man, full
of zeal for the uplift of the school boys, had started a trial
institution called Shanti Shibir whoro boys wore trained in
the discipline of the body and mind. A diet free from salt
and chillies was prescribed. The chief principle on which
the institution worked was the observance of brahtnacbarya.
Life was systematized, and rules and regulations controlled
the activities of the student, so that they might grow up
into pure, noble and fearless sons of India.
Ramdas was invited to this institution by Raman