Page:Anandamath, The Abbey of Bliss - Chatterjee.djvu/62

40 " You will know by and by ; now say, 'Hail Mother' and come to see more." Then the ascetic led Mahendra to another chamber where he found a complete image of Jagaddhatri, perfect and luxuriously decorated. Mahendra asked, " Who is this ?" " The Mother," said the celebate, "as she was," " What do you mean by that ? " " In the past, she trampled under her feet the lion, the tusker and other beasts, and built her own beauteous palace over their homes. She was adorned in a full suit of ornaments and was ever smiling and fair. She was like the young sun of the morning and is here painted in its hue. Make your obeisance to her," After Mahendra had bowed before the image of* his mother-country which stood in the shape ot the protec tress of the world, the anchorite showed him a narrow tunnel and bade him come by it. He himself went before and Mahendra followed him apprehensively to a dark underground chamber where a streak of light had straggled in somehow. In that dim light he saw the figure of Kali. The celebate observed, " Look what the mother has now become." Mahendra cried with horror, " Oh, Kali ! " "Yes, Kali, covered with the blackest gloom, despoiled of all wealth, and without a cloth to wear. The whole of the country is a land of death and so the Mother has no better ornament than a garland of skulls. Her