Chaitanya and the Vaishnava Poets of Bengal | Page 5

(who is) joy (personified)! Hail to
him who destroys the fear of good men, the object of the hope of
Gobind Das!"
I would call attention here, once for all, to what is one of the principal
charms of Vaish.nava hymns, the exquisitely musical rhythm and
cadence. They seem made to be sung, and trip off the tongue with a lilt
and grace which are irresistible.
This hymn is interesting as shewing how completely Chaitanya is by
his followers invested with the attributes of, and identified with,
K.rish.na; it has no other special merits; nor anything specially
interesting from a philological point of view as it is nearly all Sansk.rit.
The next six are in praise of the sect itself, of Adwaita, and the
principal disciples. That on Adwaita by his contemporary Brindaban
Das gives a lively picture of the old Brahman, then follow seven in
praise of the Kirtanias or the old master-singers--Bidyapati, Jayadeva,
Cha.n.di Das; then four on K.rish.na and Radha, containing only a
succession of epithets linked together by jay! jay!

The twenty-third begins the adhibas or consecration, and is curious less
for its language than for the description it gives of the ceremonies
practised. It is by the old masters Parameshwar and Brindaban, with the
concluding portion by a younger master Bansi. The poem is in four
parts and takes the form of a story how Chaitanya held his feast. It runs
thus:--
23. Atha sankirtanasya adhibasa.
"One day coming and smiling, sitting in Adwaita's house, spake the son
of Sachi, having Nityanand with him and Adwaita, sitting in enjoyment,
he planned a great festivity. Hearing this, smiling with joy, Sita
Thakurani coming spoke a sweet word: hearing that with joyful mind
the son of Sachi spoke somewhat in regard to arranging the festival.
'Listen, Thakurani Sita,[Footnote: Sita was the wife of Adwaita.] bring
the Baishnabs here; making pressing invitation to them: whoso can sing,
whoso can play, invite them separately, man by man.' Thus Gora Rai
speaking gave orders for an assembly: ' Invite the Baishnabs! Bring out
the cymbal and drum, set out full pots painted with aloes and
sandal-paste: plant plantains, hang on them garlands of flowers, for the
Kirtan place joyfully. With garlands, sandal, and betelnut, ghee, honey,
and curds consecrate the drum at evening-tide.' Hearing the lord's word,
in loving manner she made accordingly various offerings with fragrant
perfumes: all cried 'Hari, Hari!' thus they consecrate the drum;
Parameshwar Das floats in enjoyment."
Of the remainder of the adhibas I give merely a paraphrase ommiting
the numerous repetitions.
2. Having prepared the entertainment she invites them, "kindly visit us,
to you and Vaish.navas, this is my petition, come and see and complete
the feast;" thus entreating she brought the honoured guests, they
consecrate the feast. Joyfully the Vaish.navas came to the feast:
"to-morrow will be the joy of the great festivity, there will be the
enjoyment of the singing Sri K.rish.na's sports, all will be filled with
delight." The merits of the assembly of the devotees of Sri K.rish.na
Chaitanya singeth Brindaban Das.

3. First set up the plantains, array the full pots, adorned with twigs of
the mango; the Brahman chants the Vedas, the women shout jay! jay!
and all cry Hari! Hari! Making the consecration with curds and ghi, all
display their joy; bringing in the Vaish.navas, giving them garlands and
sandal-paste, for the celebration of the Kirtan; joy is in the hearts of all,
hither come the Vaish.navas, to-morrow will be Chaitanya's kirtan; the
virtue of Sri K.rish.na Chaitanya's name, and the indwelling of Sri
Nityanand singeth Das Brindaban. [Footnote: The poet's name is
inverted to make a rhyme for Kirtan in the preceding line.]
4. Jay! jay! in Nawadwip; by Gorang's order Adwaita goes to prepare
the consecration of the drum. Bringing all the Vaish.navas with sound
of "Hari bol," he initiates the great feast. He himself giving garlands
and sandal-paste, converses with his beloved Vaish.navas, Gobind
taking the drum plays ta-ta-tum tum, Adwaita lightly clashes the
cymbals. Hari Das begins the song, Sribas keeps time, Gorang dances
at the kirtan celebration. On all sides the Vaish.navas crowding echo
"Hari bol," to-morrow will be the great feast. To-day consecrate the
drum and hang it up, joyfully saith Bansi sound victory! victory!!
Having thus concluded the initiatory ceremonies in the lst Pallab, the
2nd Pallab begins the real "Kirtan." It contains 26 hymns by masters
who are mostly of comparatively recent date. Of the old masters
Gobind Das and Cha.n.di
/ Das alone appear in this Pallab. We now
commence the long and minutely described series of emotions and
flirtations (if so lowly a word may be used) between Radha and
K.rish.na, and this Pallab and in fact the whole of the first Sakha is on
that phase called "purbaraga" or