96 RELIGIOUS SECTS 



As Ranavvas and Jagannath, two of Vallabhacharya's disciples, were batliing, a 

 woman of theRajput caste came down to the river to burn herself with her husband; on which 

 Jagannath said to his companion, what is the fashion of a woman becoming a Sati, Rana- 

 VYAS shook his head, and said, the fruitless union of beauty with a dead body. The Rajputa7ii 

 observing Ranavyas shake his head, her purpose at that moment was changed, and she did 

 not become a Sati, on which her kindred were much pleased. Some time afterwards, 

 meeting with the two disciples, the Rajputani told them of the effect of their former inter- 

 view, and begged to know what had passed between them. Ranavyas being satisfied, that the 

 compassion of »S/7 Jfc/icr/ was extended to her, repeated what he had said to Jagannath, 

 and his regret that her charms should not be devoted to the service of Sri Thdkurji, rather 

 than be thrown away upon a dead body. The Rajputani enquired how the service of ThdJcurji 

 was to be performed, on which RaNavyas, after making her bathe, communicated to her the 

 initiating prayer, and she thenceforth performed the menial service of the deity, washing his 

 garments, bringing him water, and discharging other similar duties in the dwelling of Ra- 

 navyas, with entire and fervent devotion, on which account, she obtained the esteem o^ Sri 

 Achdrj, and the favour of the deity. 



Ram Das was married in his youth, but adopting ascetic principles, he refused to take 

 his wife home : at last, his father-in-law left his daughter in her husband's dwelling, but Ram 

 Das would have nothing to say to heij and set off on a pilgrimage to D-Jodralcd : his wife fol- 

 lowed him, but he threw stones at her, and she was compelled to remain at a distance from 

 him. At noon, he halted and bathed the god, and prepared his food, and presented it, and 

 then took the Prasad and put it in a vessel, and fed upon what remained, but it was to no 

 purpose, and he was still hungry. Thus passed two or three days, when Ranachhor ap- 

 peared to him in a dream, and asked him w^hy he thus ill-treated his wife. He said, he was 

 Viralda, (a ccenobite), and what did he want with a wife. Then Ranachhor asked him, 

 why he had married, and assured him that such an unsocial spirit was not agreeable to Sri 

 Achdrya.) and desired him to take his wife unto him ; for Ranachhor could not bear the 

 distress of the poor woman, as he has a gentle heart, and his nature has been imparted to the 

 Achdri/a and his disciples. When morning came. Ram Das called to his wife, and suffered 

 her to accompany him, by which she was made happy. When the time for preparing their 

 food arrived, Ram Das prepared it himself, and after presenting the portion to the image, 

 gave a part of it to his wife. After a few days, Ranachhor again appeared, and asked him, 



