The Aravidu Dynasty of Vijayanagara, Vol. I v1.c24.89

v1.c24.89

As a matter of fact, de Nobili spent more than one year in that holy solitude, without having been seen in the streets even for a moment ³. When, after a while, he began to go occasionally to his country-house for some rest, he went in a palanquin preceded by two criers to clear his way. Some years afterwards, however, all this show was dropped: he presented himself as a mere spiritual guru, proceeding simply on foot, with a long staff bearing his insignia and two Brahman disciples accompanying him ⁴. All these ceremonies and honours were far from being dear to the heart of the humble missionary, who had joined the Society of Jesus in order to avoid them; but in his Apology he says that a Hindu pandaram had given him the following good advice: "If you desire your own salvation only, you should retire to a desert, where you can live stark naked. But if, as you tell me, you have at heart the salvation of the people of this land, you must surround yourself with splendour: the spiritual man must be like a corpse who wears with equal indifference silk robes and linen rags, riches and poverty, honours and ignominy ” 1.