The picture was taken at the Hardwar
Kumbha Mela in 1938; the woman saint was then 112 years old.--see
majiew.jpg]
[Illustration: Krishnananda, at the 1936 Allahabad Kumbha Mela,
with his tame vegetarian lioness.--see lion.jpg]
[Illustration: Second-floor dining patio of Sri Yukteswar's
Serampore hermitage. I am seated (in center) at my guru's feet.--see
serampore.jpg]
The first day was spent by our group in sheer staring. Here were
countless bathers, dipping in the holy river for remission of sins;
there we saw solemn rituals of worship; yonder were devotional
offerings being strewn at the dusty feet of saints; a turn of our
heads, and a line of elephants, caparisoned horses and slow-paced
Rajputana camels filed by, or a quaint religious parade of naked
sadhus, waving scepters of gold and silver, or flags and streamers
of silken velvet.
Anchorites wearing only loincloths sat quietly in little groups,
their bodies besmeared with the ashes that protect them from the
heat and cold. The spiritual eye was vividly represented on their
foreheads by a single spot of sandalwood paste. Shaven-headed swamis
appeared by the thousands, ocher-robed and carrying their bamboo
staff and begging bowl. Their faces beamed with the renunciate's
peace as they walked about or held philosophical discussions with
disciples.
Here and there under the trees, around huge piles of burning logs,
were picturesque sadhus, {FN42-8} their hair braided and massed in
coils on top of their heads.
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