CHAPTER XLVIII
RAMNAGAR-ANANDASI1HAM
After a few days' stay, Ramdan uxul Krishna Bai, at
tho invitation of T. Bhavamflhankorrao, came to Manjapati,
now known as Ramnagar, for tho opening ceremony of his
nowly built house at tins place. T. Bhavaniflhankorrao and
other friends pressed Rarndus to have an anhram built near
the Maujapati hill, which places WUH diflcovored to ho not
only solitary but also possessing all the Hconic grandeur of
tho country-side.
Agreeing to the suggestion of tho frieudn ho decided to
have au ashram erected on a small hillock by tiro side of a
towering hill—the highest in the range. At once flod who
gave the idea set him to work for actwvmplislriwH it,
He wrote appeals for funds to the inumtiorable friondn
all over India, with whom he had come in contact during '
his itinerant life, for making up the cost of the new ashram.
The encouragement and help ho roooivod on all sulofl was
simply marvellous* Within a month of his arrival at
Bamnagar the work of erecting tho ashram building was
started. The friends who offered tho suggestion heartily
joined in it. The ashram work was begun only throe months
before the breaking of the monsoon; HO the work had to be
hurried on. In three mouths the main ashram building and
an out-house behind it wore completed,
A few days after Ramdas loft Kasaragod, mother
Rukmabai who was still staying at. bor daughter^ houno,
came to Ramnagar and after a short stay proceeded to
Madras to spend a few days with her nephew, Hhc had a
great mind to live permanently with Ramdas in tho now
ashram. But God willed otherwise. Soon after hor arrival
in Madras her asthmatic complaint took a serious turn.
Her condition became critical. At this time her nophew
questioned her as to whom slio wanted to see and she at
once replied; "I want to see Krishna Bai/' She also added;