Page:The Message and Ministrations of Dewan Bahadur R. Venkata Ratnam, volume 2.djvu/250

 Blessed, blessed, blessed Le Thju for everi Sisters and brothers,

Truly the All-holy is to Le praised and glorified that He has so mercifully enabled us to be here to celebrate this anniversary day, the returning day of recollections and of rejoicings on account of our Sadhanasramam. What shall I utter, what shall I place before you, which you do not know? Yet I may remind you of the central purpose, I may recall to your minds in one word the inmost aim and object, of the Institution.

It is said that, in the early days of Mahammedan inroads into this country, a certain town was sacked by Mahammedan troops; and as was the practice then, a rush was made towards the temple, that it might be pulled down as a sort of tribute and honour to the Lord of hosts who had given the Islamic arms the victory of the day. There was a priestess attached to the temple. She ran in, embraced the idol, pressed it to her bosom, held it close to her heart, clung to it with the utmost