440 IN THE VISION OF GOD
and face with sandal paste, heaping on1 him at the same
various costly presents. After partaking of the prasad they
had him photographed. When it wağ time to depart,
Ramdas divested himself of the rich robes and redonnedhis
plain khaddar piece. The merchant insisted upon Ramdas'
accepting his costly gifts of clothes etc. Declining the offer
with thanks Ramdas said;
"These glittering things are not meant for a wandering
fakir like Ramdas; so you have to oxcuso him for not
accepting them."
Ramdas left the merchant's house in company with
another merchant who took him to his houso whoro he was
treated with similar hospitality.
The house of Digambar Knlkarui became a veritable
bhajan mandir. The Name of God resounded within its
walls throughout the day and till late in the night. Ho
would sit in a spacious hall in the upper Htoroy of the*
building whilst all the devotees who assembled there would
stand in rows against the walls and sing thu Lord's Name
in chorus. Digambar Kulkarni took tho lend in bhajan. On
the day following Ramdas' arrival, a Hindu vakil from the
neighboxirhood came in and took his Heat bflsido him, and
latterly stood up and joining the chorus dimeod with tho
others. When bhajan stopped ami lull was restored, this
vakil approaching Ramdas sat down facing him,
"Swamiji," he began, "I greatly wish that, you should
hear the tale of my conversion* It camo about in a
wonderful way. In the first place I must toll you that until
an hour ago I was a rank sceptic. My house is situated
adjoining this. I could hear from there tho loud Ringing
going on here. When I heard it and also the thumping on
the floor of this storey, I made enquiries as to what the
noise was about. I was told that a sadhu had arrived at
the house and that the singing and dancing was on account
of him. I thought that the people in the house were
extremely foolish that they should behave so boisterously