Page:Anandamath, The Abbey of Bliss - Chatterjee.djvu/60



The next day dawned. The desolate woods, so long dark and still, resounded gleefully with the joyous notes of birds. In that blissful morn and in that happy wood, Satyananda was sitting on his deer-skin seat in the Abbey of Bliss for saying his morning prayer. Near him sat Jivananda. At this time Bhavananda came there with Mahendra. The monk silently went on with his worship and no one ventured to speak. When his prayers were done, Bhavananda and Jivananda both saluted him and took the dust of his feet before humbly taking their seats. Satyananda then beckoned to Bhava- nanda and took him out. We do not know what they talked about, but they shortly came back and the monk feelingly spoke to Mahendra with a smiling face : "My child, I am very much distressed at your troubles. By the grace of the Lord alone could I save your wife and child last night" He then told him the story of Kalyani's rescue and said, "Come, I will take you where they are." So saying the monk led the way and Mahendra followed him into the temple. On entering it he found it to be a very high and spacious chamber. Even in the glorious morn smiling with the infant sun, when the woods were glistening as if decked with diamonds, this vast room was very dark. Mahendra could not at first see what there was in the room, but gazing an d gazing on, he presently found a huge four-handed image, bearing