Dutt, Romesh Chunder: The literature of Bengal: being an attempt to trace the progress of the national mind in its various aspects, as reflected in the nation’s literature from the earliest times to the present day ; with copious extracts from the best writers (Calcutta, 1877)

BID^APATI THAKUR AND CHANDIDAS. THAKUR. 49

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the Tantrikas, and was a libertine and a drunkard. yIt

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appears that these have been the prevailing vices of the
Saktas from very remote times to the present day; and

> as we shall go downward in the history of Bengali litera-
ture, we shall have frequent occasions to point out the
connection. Bakta, poets have sung the praises of spiri-
tual drinking, i. e. being drank with the faith of Sakti;
and the essence of their religion is a total disregard of
the world and worldly affairs, a deep and complete abs-
traction of the soul from all sublunary things an intern!-
cation with the faith of Sakti. These are very high and
impracticable tenets; and in practice therefore, the
spiritual intoxicatiou is exchanged for drunkenness, and
a sense of the vanity of all we see around us,,s-;' ih as the
Sakta faith teaches, often leads to utter disregard of all
rules of society and morality. And yet, by a strange

' combination, these vices are often found, combined with*
great candour, kindliness of heart, and an overwhelming »
love and faith in Sakti. These are among the most nota-
ble vices and virtues that distinguish, as we shall see
hereafter, the Tantrikas and their religion.

In his early youth, Chandidas worshipped an image
of Sakti which was called Bishalakshmi, and the poet
often apostrophizes the goddess in his works. As may
well be imagined, the conversion of Chandidas to Vaish-
uavism is connected with many tales. It is said that, on
a certain day, he saw a beautiful flower floating on the
river where he had gone to bathe. He took it up and
went to worship Bishalakshmi. The goddess appeared in
person, and asked for the flower that she might place it