444 IN THE VISION OF GOD
people of the higher castes. He directly entered and passed
through the crowd. He found them all inside, expecting
his arrival. He took his seat on a raised and decorated dais
prepared for him* It was indeed a mammoth withering. As
he entered the place the people of tho cobbler caste also
»freely made their way insido and mingled with the
brahmans by taking their seat in between them. He was
watching from his seat the wonderful work of fl-od which
brought a people who woi'e despised as untouchables in
close touch with the intolerant brahmans, and that too
within a temple. The brahmans turned their faces to each
other, stared, winked and whispered. The situation was
extremely tense. Ramdas simply smiled witnessing the
strange phenomenon before him. Huddonly stillness and
silence pervaded the place. As the saying goes, yon could
hear a pin drop. Such was tho stillness that camo upon the
assembled people. On one side was standing the Ilaridaft
who was none other than tho head-mafltwr of tho local
High School. His opening words wore:
"My tongue refuses its function a-t the flight of this
unusually crowded audience. I must declare that T am
having vishwarupa darshan. It is practically proved that
distinctions of caste, creed and colour arc the offspring of
utter ignorance. It is the supreme Lord Himself who i»
manifest as all beings. I am blessed by the sight."
This was all he said and closed his kirtan. These two
incidents that took place, close upon one another, really
baffle description. What peace and bliss, what freodoxo cati
man enjoy when he attains the vision of God in all creatures
and things! But as it is he is a slave to false traditions that
breed hatred and strife between man and man.
Ramdas' stay coming to a close he and the friends
started to depart. A motor-car was engaged to take them
to the railway station. The party took their scats in the
motor-car which stood at the ^entrance of Digambar KxJ-
karni's house* The devotees of the place crowded round