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mins had kindly relieved me of all the money I had with me,
and made me part even with my gold and silver ornaments,
rings, bracelets, and other jewels, on the plea that the more
I gave away in charities, the more my self-denial would bene-
fit me in the after-life. Thus, having parted with all I had,
I hastened on to the place of residence of a learned scholar,
a man named Lala Bhagat, of whom I had much heard on
my way from wandering Sanyasis and Bairagees (religious
mendicants). He lived in the town of Sa)ale, where I met
with a Brahmachari who advised me to join at once their holy
order, which I did.
Joining the Holy Order
After initiating me into his order and conferring upon me
the name of Shuddha Chaitanya, he made me exchange my
clothes for the dress worn by them—a reddish-yellow gar-
ment. From thence, and in this new attire, I proceeded to
the small principality of Kouthakangda situated near Ahme-
dabad, where, to my misfortune, I met with a Bairagi, a resi-
dent of a village in the vicinity of my native town, and who
was well acquainted with my family. His astonishment was
as great as my perplexity. Having naturally enquired how I
came to be there, and in such an attire, and learned of my
desire to travel and see the world, he ridiculed my dress and
blamed me for leaving my home for such an object. In my
embarrassments he succeeded in getting himself informed of
my future intentions. I told him of my desire to join in the
Melia' of Kartik, which was to be held that year at Siddh-
pore, and that I was on my way to it. Having parted with
him, I proceeded immediately to that place, and took my
abode in the temple of Mahadeva at Neelkantha, where Dandi
Swami and other Brahmacharis already resided. For a time,
I enjoyed their society unmolested, visiting a number of
learned scholars and professors of divinity who had come to
the Mella, and associating with a number of holy men.
1. Mella is generally a religious gathering.