Junagadh

NOW the train carried Ramdas to the Junagadh station. It was midday. He was without a guide. At the city gate he inquired of a policeman if there was a Ram Mandir in that place. He replied that there was a Ram Mandir about two miles from the gate and he pointed out the way leading to it. Ramdas walked on, making frequent inquiries on the way. At last, he reached the high gateway of the Ram Mandir. Entering, he was welcomed by the Mahant of the Ashram, with whom he remained for about a week. Here he had the benefit of the society of six other Sadhus who were also there as the guests of the kind-hearted Mahant. All of them were very kind to Ramdas.

Ram here performed two wonderful miracles – one of these Sadhus had an attack of fever from a fortnight and in spite of various kinds of treatment, he was as bad as ever. He was bedridden, emaciated and pale. Besides, he was disheartened and was fretting over his illness. Seeing his condition Ramdas could not resist going to his bed, and, sitting near him and offering himself for his service, began pressing his legs lightly. Coming to know of this the ailing Sadhu sat up and remonstrated, saying that he was quite unworthy to receive such attention from him. He only asked for a blessing from Ramdas that he should be all right by the following day. Ramdas said that he was only a humble slave of Ram and had no right to bless anybody.

“Do bless in the name of Ram,” he appealed.

“Well, brother,” said Ramdas, “may Sri Ram – the Protector of all – bless you with health by tomorrow morning.”

That night Ram was perhaps busy setting the Sadhu right, for next morning he was entirely free from fever and was moving about in good cheer and health. This marvellous cure by Ram, for working which he had made humble Ramdas his tool, made quite a sensation in the Ashram. So he became the object of considerable attention and love from all in the Ashram. About three or four days later, another Sadhu fell ill. He too asked Ramdas to bless him in the same way as he had done the other one. Ramdas prayed again to Ram as requested. O Ram, what a powerful being Thou art! The second Sadhu also recovered by the following morning. All glory to Thee, Ram!

Ramdas was not made to remain in this Ashram long. He met one day the same Sannyasi who had guided him to Dharmapuri. He had evinced a great liking for Ramdas. Now he took him up and brought him to another Ashram, belonging to a well-known Sannyasi of Junagadh, Kashigirji by name. In this Ashram or Akhada, as it was called, Ramdas was loved by all Sannyasis – there were about fifteen of them. Ram’s intention in taking him to Junagadh was to enable him to scale the heights of the famous hill of Girnar – the seat of Guru Dattatreya and Mother Ambaji. He expressed this wish to Kashigirji who proposed also to accompany him on his climb. Ram’s kindness is indeed very great. A day was fixed and one night he mounted the steps of Girnar with Kashigirji and six other Sannyasis who were also in the party. The total number of steps to be mounted in order to reach the summit of the hills was about 9000. 6000 steps were covered, and they reached, at about three after midnight, the Ashram of a Sannyasi whose name was Shankargirji.

Here a halt was made for the night. Cold on the hill was severe. Ram was kind and his Bhajan was so sweet. Next morning, the party climbed further up and reached first the temple of Mother Ambaji and thence ascending a flight of steps mounted again the highest peak among those hills. While nearing this peak, the steps were irregular and slippery, but Ram led all up safely. Here on the summit are the footprints of Guru Dattatreya. Hundreds of pilgrims are everyday ascending these hills for the Darshan of these holy footprints. To sit on the edge of this peak and to have a sweeping look all around is to present to the gaze a most enthralling sight. The charming landscapes on all sides – the distant hills painted with green and yellow – the vast blue expanse of the sky overhead, and the thin silvery streaks of sparkling water streaming down the smooth and shining sides of rocks – are all scenes that elevate the looker on to regions at once mystic and celestial.

On getting down this hill – half-way – the party visited some caves occupied by Mahatmas, and had the uncommon pleasure of their society. Then were visited the various reservoirs of water on the slopes of the hills. At length they returned at noon to the hospitable Ashram of Shankargirji. After dinner the party started on their downward journey and reached Junagadh in the evening. Next day all the Sannyasis of the party were complaining of stiffness and pain in their limbs. Some of them, for two or three days, could only hobble along. But Ram was so kind to Ramdas that he did not feel any pain or stiffness in his legs. Now Ram made him acquainted with two young friends, Maganlal and Kantilal, both of whom conceived a great love for him. In their company he spent a few very happy days. They would take him every evening for walks in the public gardens and among groves of trees.

Once in their company Ramdas ascended a small hill called Lakshman Tekri. They also introduced him to some Muslim friends of the place who were all very kind to him. A visit was paid to the Datar Mosque at the foot of the Datar hills. Maganlal made him acquainted with several friends of Junagadh who were all uniformly kind to Ramdas. Maganlal arranged for his journey to Somnath, a noted shrine of great historical importance. Ramdas duly proceeded to this shrine in the company of a Gujarati friend who met him at the Railway station by the grace of Ram.

This friend, on reaching Veraval station, as arranged by Maganlal, took him to the house of a rich merchant of the place – a relation of Maganlal. But when Ramdas visited him, he was laid up with high fever and his whole household was in a state of acute anxiety over his illness. He sat near the sick friend and, touching him on the arm, felt the high temperature. Before leaving the room, Ramdas was asked by his relatives present, as well as by the friends who escorted him to the place, to bless the patient with health. Accordingly Ramdas said that by the grace of almighty Ram he would be all right next morning.

Ram manifested His power here as well! The patient was entirely free from all fever next morning. He was having the attack of fever for five days past without intermission. By Ram’s grace, now the fever having left him, he was able to walk out to his place of business. Ramdas was staying in the topmost storey of his shop – a huge building. Here too all were kind to him. He duly visited the ruins and the temple of Somnath. The underground cave, in which there is the huge image of Somnath, was entered and he stood before the idol. Here again he felt thrills of ecstasy in the presence of Somnath. He bathed in the river a little away from the temple. Returning to Veraval, Ramdas expressed to the merchant-friend, as prompted by Ram, his wish to visit Prachi and Muddi Goraknath, and said that he would go on foot early next morning.

“No, Swamiji,” said the kind merchant, “you should not go on foot. I shall engage a bullock cart for you, for the road leading to these places is so rugged and rough that even a horse carriage cannot be driven over there. Moreover, you have to cover a distance of 16 miles which is a long distance for a weak man like you to walk through.”

Although Ramdas was against the proposal, he was prevailed upon by the friend to sit in a cart along with some other friends who were also bound for Prachi. The kind friend dropped into his pocket a small kerchief to which were tied Rs.2 for cart-hire to and from Prachi. The cart started before daybreak. They had not travelled half a mile, when Ramdas saw the driver beating the bullocks with a heavy stick. He, of course, could not bear the sight. He felt as if the blows were delivered on his own back. He appealed to the driver not to inflict injury on the bullock. He replied that the bullocks would not go if they were not chastised. Ram now commanded Ramdas to give up the cart at once. After paying Re.1, his hire, he got down and walked the distance and reached Prachi about midday.

As he was proceeding, he happened to pass close to a poorly dressed man with a bundle on his back. Seeing Ramdas he quickly moved out of the way and began walking at the other end of the road. Proceeding a little further, he met another man coming from the opposite direction, and both greeted each other with ‘Ram, Ram’. After going a little further Ramdas questioned him why he was moving so far away from him, to which he replied that he was a Pariah.

“O, but you are Ramdas’ brother, all the same.” So saying, Ramdas approached him and took him by the hand. He stared at Ramdas in confusion.

“I am a Dhed by caste,” he again said.

“Ramdas is your brother,” repeated Ramdas. “A man who has the name of Ram on his lips is superior to a Brahmin – in the eyes of Ram, all are equal.”

Until he parted, Ramdas went on talking to him about the glory of Ram. Now he took a sidetrack and separated from Ramdas who then fell into the company of a Mohammedan friend driving a horse, loaded with some merchandise. This friend, whose nature was simple and child-like, gave him much pleasure by his society until Ramdas reached Prachi. Bathing in the large tank into which a river was flowing he visited several Mandirs, met two Sadhus of the place, and then started on his return journey, and reached in the evening the shrine called Muddi Goraknath. Here he remained for a night in the society of the Sadhus of the temple, which is also a cave, entrance to which can only be gained by descending a number of stone steps.

Starting from there early next morning he reached Veraval in the forenoon. The first thing he did was to return the balance of Re.1 to the merchant. He had walked all the way with enthusiasm, repeating, according to his wont, the sacred Ram-Mantram. The following day he went back by train to Junagadh. Maganlal and Kantilal heartily welcomed him back. They pressed him to remain in Junagadh for some days more. He agreed to do so, by Ram’s will, provided he was allowed to remain in solitude where he could spend his days in entire devotion to and meditation of Ram. Accordingly Ram Himself pitched upon a place called Muchkund Rishi’s Ashram. This is situated right in the midst of a dense jungle over a hill, on the way to Girnar, about 4 miles from Junagadh. There is a temple here in ruins, besides a number of Samadhis in a neglected condition. The place has consequently a weird appearance.