Bombay

SO about an hour was spent standing in that morass in severe cold. At length, the flaming chariot of the Sun-god came speeding up the horizon, heralding a day of hope and joy. Most of the Sadhus of the party were now determined to abandon the leadership of the Sadhuram, and forming groups of two amongst themselves moved away from the place. But Ramdas who was all through as silent as a top – busy with the repetition of Ram’s name – clung fast to the Sadhuram, helped him in carrying his sandals and Lota and followed him. Although for a time the Sadhus were separated, they all met again at the nearest railway station. Here all of them got into the train going northward. At Viramgam, a change had to be made. In the rush of passengers, Ramdas and the Sadhuram missed each other and did not meet again. Probably the Sadhuram who wanted to proceed to Mathura must have boarded a train travelling still northward. Ramdas with some other Sadhus got into a train going towards Bombay. Ram’s kindness was so great that the train he sat in happened to be one that travelled directly to Bombay without requiring any change on the way.

The train had almost neared Ahmedabad when, at a certain station, a ticket inspector came in to check tickets. He found about half a dozen Sadhus in the carriage without tickets, of whom Ramdas was, of course, one. He gave an order that all Sadhus should get down. Accordingly, one by one, the Sadhus dropped down from the carriage. Now Ramdas also rose up, but the ticket inspector who was standing quite close to him, placing his hand on the shoulder of Ramdas, pressed him to sit again saying:

“Maharaj, you need not alight. What I said was not meant for you.”

O Ram, why this preference for Ramdas? No, he has no right to question Thee. Thy slave is ever bound to Thy holy feet – O Ram – and that is all. After passing Ahmedabad, some friends in the carriage provided him with fruits, etc. He found later that all passengers around him in the carriage were very kind to him – although he was all along silent, but only repeating Ram’s name under breath. About 8 o’clock in the evening, the train reached the Grant Road station in Bombay. Here, coming out of the station, Ramdas, as prompted by Ram, proceeded directly to Bhuleshwar. For the way he had to make enquiries now and again, as he walked on. Now arriving at the temple, he rested for the night on one of the stone steps of the inner temple. Here, close to the temple, there was a big storeyed Dharmashala instituted in the name of a generous mother – Janakibai.

The Dharmashala was always full. It could accommodate two to three hundred Sadhus. About 4 o’clock in the morning Ramdas, who was asleep, woke up to listen to a most rapturous song issuing from the Dharmashala The subject of the song was Radha-Krishna. The manner in which the two devout mothers were singing was full of pathos, and the voice filled the air with a sweet fascinating charm. Krishna’s own love seemed to have mingled with the music of their voice. Ramdas felt himself raised to heights of ecstasy and was lost in it as long as the singing lasted.

The day broke. Finishing his bath at the water-tap, Ramdas had just returned to his seat when he was presented by a friend with a Chit or ticket and was asked to accompany six other Sadhus who held similar Chits.

“You are all invited by a merchant for dinner at his residence,” he said.

So all the seven Sadhus followed this guide who led them through several streets until they were brought to the entrance of the host’s house. Since there was still time for dinner, the Sadhus sat down under the shade of the trees in the compound. Ramdas had just sat down on a log of wood when a Sadhu approaching him said:

“Swamiji, the ticket which was given to me is lost on the way. I have been going without food for two days. Shall I be able to secure dinner without a ticket?”

The only response which Ram made Ramdas to give at the time was to silently and cheerfully hand over to him his own Chit and instantly walk out of the place. He now wandered in the sun like a mad man – why say like a mad man? He was really mad – mad of Ram. He walked and walked. Unconsciously he directed his steps to the Fort and wandered from one street to another. At a certain turning on the footpath, a grief-stricken man of middle age saluted Ramdas and offered him a pie. Returning the salute, he said that he would not accept money but would take fruits. At hand there was a mother selling plantains. The friend bought one plantain for the pie and handed it to Ramdas.

Now he made Ramdas sit on the path, and narrated his story. He said that he had only one son who was a veritable jewel. He was so intelligent, so mild, so good in character, so promising, so affectionate and loving and also so handsome in features – such a model of perfection – and this son was carried away by plague about a month ago. Ever since this heavy loss, he had been stricken mad over the sad blow. He therefore begged Ramdas to find a way for him to bear this calamity. Ramdas then replied:

“Brother, to sorrow over the loss of your son is to hug delusion. To be free from this sorrow means to know the Reality. There is only one way to wake up to this Reality and that is to meditate upon God.”

“How can I do it? I cannot control the mind,” put in the friend.

“Well now, begin here to repeat the Mantram which Ramdas is bidden by Ram to give you and see the immediate effect.”

Saying thus, he gave him the Upadesh of Ram-Mantram and made him repeat it then and there for about 15 minutes without stopping. While he was doing this, a sense of relief came to him. Then he rose and saluting Ramdas said that he had secured the right key to unlock the gates of peace. He further admitted that since repeating the Mantram he had been experiencing calmness and he would not give up repeating it always. Then he left the place. Ramdas continued his mad walk.

Now he passed through the broad road adjoining the Port Trust Buildings and Docks. He went on and on – now going into a maze of streets and lanes – then passing over bridges and railway crossings. At last he found himself about 3 p.m. in front of a building which was familiar to him. Looking up, he discovered the sign board of brother Ramakrishna Rao – portrait painter by profession. Ram prompted him to get up the staircase and in a few minutes he was in the front room occupied by the artist-brother. He was welcomed by the brother most heartily. With this brother he remained for four days. The members of his household were also very kind to him.

During his stay here, Ramdas was utilizing the morning for visiting the various temples of Bombay and the Sadhus residing near the temples. He spent one night on the footsteps of the large tank of the Walkeshwar temple, keeping awake almost the whole night in Rambhajan. By Ram’s command, then, he proposed to start. The kind brother Ramakrishna Rao escorted him as far as the railway station, and, getting him a ticket for Nasik, saw him sit in the night train. Ramakrishna Rao’s anxiety for his comforts was so great that he pressed him to take a small packet containing plantains, oranges and some sweets. The train started. Ram now got Ramdas the company of another friend who was sitting beside him on the same bench. He travelled with Ramdas as far as two stations this side of Nasik. All the way he was talking of nothing else but Ram. Now and again he would sing about Ram composing songs extempore. In fact, he was more mad of Ram than Ramdas himself. Here Ram was teaching Ramdas how to become really mad of Him. It was a perfect delight to enjoy his talk and songs of Ram. It was all Ram’s pre-ordained plan and Ram is always kind. Before alighting, this friend requested another passenger (who was close to him and who too was bound for Nasik) to guide and take care of Ramdas.

In due time Nasik was reached. The new friend guided him out of the station. Here finding a motor-tram waiting, the friend got into it beckoning to him, and Ramdas followed suit. Soon the tram was full of passengers and the bell sounding, it started. The tram conductor, after clipping tickets for other passengers, came to Ramdas and demanded fee for the ticket. Ramdas had, of course, no money and so nothing to say in reply; while a number of passengers sitting near him in almost one voice told the conductor not to bother the Sadhu, as he was not supposed to possess money, and that he should be allowed to sit in the car. Of course, the conductor yielded to their appeal on behalf of Ramdas.

About 3 miles were passed when a Ticket Inspector got in. He was an elderly man with whiskers. Coming to Ramdas he asked for ticket, but Ramdas having no ticket, the Inspector began to fret and worry over it saying that the Sadhu could not be allowed to travel free. When he was thus complaining, the same friends who had pleaded for Ramdas with the conductor again spoke for him, but could produce no impression on the Inspector. So the only course open for Ramdas was to get down. Accordingly, standing up, he requested the Inspector to stop the car so that he might alight. Here again, Ram’s power prevailed. The attitude of the Inspector now suddenly changed. He told him not to trouble himself and that he might continue the journey in the tram. Ram’s tests are at all times coming unawares. One should always be prepared for them and face all vicissitudes calmly and in complete resignation to His will. Then there is no sorrow, no disappointment, no fear of any kind.