BANGALORE-SHOLAPUR 439
until she passed the period of pollution which is generally
three days, but Ramdas could not accede to her wish. So
about four o'clock the same day he started. When he
came out of the house he saw the mother in a corner of the
front-yard. On a sudden prompting from Ram within,
Ramdas went up to her and asked her to touch his feet.
She hesitated but he assured her there was nothing wrong
if she touched him as he was not only her child but the
Lord had freed him from all conventional restrictions. The
mother responded with a face suffused with delight and
laid her head at his feet. The darshan over he turned
towards the friends who were waiting for him. They must
have been not a little astonished at this strange act of
Ramdas, but they were calm and indulgent.
Mention has to be made that at this place also he came
in contact with two Muslim friends who were extremely
' kind to him.
Passing through various other villages Ramdas with the
party came to Khandali. Wamanrao Balwant Kulkarni was
as kind as ever in the loving service of his guests. Soon
Digambar Kulkarni came here to take Ramdas with him
to Usmanabad. They took train to Usmanabad where he
remained Digambar Kulkarni's guest. The visit to this
town is memorable in many respects. Some of the
prominent events relating to this visit are chronicled
here.
Ou the second day of his arrival he had invitations from
two merchants. He was first taken to the house of one
of them in a motor-car followed by a procession and
with an English band playing in front. The reception
Ramdas received at his house was right royal. Evidently
the merchant was a rich man. Ramdas was made to sit on
a raised dais, decked and decorated like a throne. As soon
as he took his seat the merchant induced him to discard
for the time being his plain khaddar cloth and put on
instead laced and silk clothes. He besmeared Ramdas' body