Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies - DUBOIS, Abbé Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies, Dubois | Page 508

AN ETHEREAL PERSONAGE
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have decided to give you a marked token of their favour
At the very moment that I am
of their protection.
speaking a most wonderful thing is happening in your
kingdom and not very far from your royal residence. On
the slope of the mountain that lies near to your capital
there is a cave in which a holy penitent, who has descended
without doubt from the very abode of the great Vishnu,
has deigned to take up his dwelling. In profound medita-
tion on the perfections of Parabrahma he is wholly insensible
to all terrestrial objects
he partakes of no other nourish-
ment than the air which he breathes not one of the
and
;
;
objects that affect the five senses make the slightest impres-
sion on him.
In a word, it may with truth be said of him
that his body alone dwells in this world below, while his
soul, his thoughts, and all his feelings are already closely
united to the Divinity. I have no hesitation in saying that
the miraculous appearance of this holy personage in your
kingdom is a manifest guarantee of the interest which the
gods take in you and yours.'
These words of Appaji were listened to with astonish-
ment and wonder by the king and his courtiers. The king
at once decided to go without delay to visit this illustrious
penitent, whose praises the prime minister had sung so
highly.
And in order that the visit might be made with
a dignity worthy of the eminent virtues of him who was the
object of it, the king announced that he would go accom-
panied by his whole court and escorted by his whole army.
Furthermore, he caused to be proclaimed to all his subjects,
by public criers, by the beating of drums, and by the
blowing of trumpets, his reasons for making the visit to
and everybody was invited to follow him.
the mountain
The procession was soon on its way. Never before had such
a magnificent gathering been witnessed
never had such
a huge multitude of people assembled together.
Pleasure
;
;
was depicted upon every countenance.
The
air
rang with
while every one congratulated himself on
having lived to enjoy the happines