424 IN THE VISION OF GOD
About this time, mother Rukma Bai, although she was
ailing due to the chronic attack of asthma, came to stay
with him at the ashram. The aspirants and devotees and
principally Krishna Bai sorved and attended on her "with
great love and reverence. She bore bravely the diucomforts
of the ashram life. However, at the pressure of Ramdas,
she went back to live with her daughter, coming to stay
in the ashram off and on.
Soon after the ashram was started two young women,
school-mistresses of Kasaragod, became regular visitors to
the ashram. Both of them \vere unmarried but they
•were real spiritual aspirants, Purity and nobility of
character shone on their faces. They got instructions from
"Ramdas regarding the methods for repetition of the Name
and meditation. With earnestness and #eal fclioy acted up to
these instructions. One day both of them questioned hmi
whether a woman can maintain brahntachurya all her life:
Eamdas replied, 'Certainly.1 At this they were highly
pleased. They put themselves under strict discipline, started
evening bhajan at home, regulated their diet and thus led
an austere and chaste life* Blessed mothers! May the light
of God ever illumine your hearts aud all the ways of your
lives.
Through correspondence "Ramdas was in touch with
Innumerable devotees in various partis of India. A year
passed away in the ashram and tho&e distant friends
longed to see Ranidas again. Letters commenced to
pour in from all parts appealing to him to leave the Ashram
and start on another tour. Since ho had no command from
Earn to go from the ashram he stuck on to it. Efforts
through correspondence having failed, the friends of Maha-
rashtra deputed Janardan. Pant to visit the ashram in
person to persuade Ramdas to go over to them under his
escort. Janardan Pant and Sri Krishna Deshpando arrived.
Their advent yielded immense joy to the devotees of
Kasaragod. Janardan Pant performed a kirtan at which