Once ShriMaharaj had gone to a village called Hulkoti in Karnataka. There a prostitute came to see ShriMaharaj. On seeing ShriMaharaj a sublime sentiment sprang up in her heart. She said, "Maharaj, please impart nama to me. I will conduct myself the way you tell me." Obtaining an assurance from her that she would give up the ignoble profession, and turn a florist, ShriMaharaj imparted nama to her. A bigoted pandit objected that this was in contravention ofShastric dictates. ShriMaharaj said in reply,' Believe me, Panditjee, I never disregard the Shastras. Let us remember, however, that the Shastras exist for man, not the other way round. Let us first give this woman a human status, and then apply the Shastric rules to her. Show me the person whose mind has never conceived sin; but the person who does not give in to it by using human discrimination and controls action on the desire is, practically, considered a good person. By practising namasmarana unholy desires gradually weaken, and one begins to feel that one wants God. When that goes on increasing, sublimity increases, and ultimately desire gets eradicated.' Later that woman used to work at selling flowers and garlands made out of them. But because of her constant chanting of nama, her condition became like that of a sadhaka.
