ERNAKULAM-KASARAGOD-ANGAR-SHOLAPUR 419
Nambiyar, the headmaster of the High School—an
earnest, simple and pure soul. Thus he was brought into
contact with the young aspirants and their patriotic leader.
He was asked to speak a few words on brahmacharya to
the boys which he did in a short speech.
The next item of interest during his stay in Puttur was
the visit to the noted Sri Krishna Mandir of Sri Krishna
Rao, the veteran saint of the place. Kuttanmam, as he was
known to all, was all kindness and love. He possessed a
glorious record of religious service and led a life of purity,
simplicity and devotion. Always kirtan, bhajan and
readings from religious texts were always going on in the
mandir presided over by the venerable saint.
Ramdas gave some discourses on devotion and allied
subjects in Sundarrao's house which were attended mainly
by mothers. He was taken to several houses for dinner and
kirtan. Ramdas' brother by old birth Narsingrao also had
him for a night's kirtan and dinner at his house. Here
Ramdas noted the power of Ram-mantram on a devotee,
Gopal Pai, who had the repetition of the Name going on
audibly even in his sleep, his very snoring was continuous,
sonorous chanting of the mantram!
Soon after Ramdas arrived at Kasaragod he paid a
flying visit to Mangalore. He stopped with Sitarainrao in
Mangalore and also paid a visit to mother Rukmabai at her
father's. At Sitaramrao's he met an itinerant, educated
sadhu who started a conversation with him on the proof of
the existence of God. Ramdas had a few words with him
but, as he seemed to be a sceptic and not open to convic-
tion, Ramdas refused to be dragged into further discussion
with him.
One afternoon, when Ramdas was sitting in the portico
of the house with some mothers, a young man was seen
standing at the gate of the compound with a bunch of
plantains in hand. He stood for nearly an hour looking in
the direction of the portico. When the mothers departed he