THE TEMPLES IN BIRBHUM

It is said that in his early youth, Chandidas worshipped an image of Sakti, which was called Bishalakshmi, and the poet often
addresses the goddess in his works. As may well be imagined, the conversion of Chandidas to Vaishnavism has given rise to 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 Bisha- lakshmi.

The goddess appeared in person, and asked for the flower that she might place it on her head. The worshipper was awe- struck, and enquired what strange virtue the flower could possess, so as to induce the goddess to appear in person, and to wish to keep it on her head, instead of allowing the poet to place it at her feet. The goddess replied: "Foolish child, my master has been worshipped with the flower; it is not fit for my feet; let me hold it on my head." "And who may thy Master be?" enquired the poet. "Krishna," was the reply;and from that day the poetexchanged the worship of the goddess for that of Krishna.

It is scarcely necessary to and that later Vaishnava writers have taken advantage of Chandidas's conversion to prove the superiority of their 'deity, and haveinvented this fable. One thing, however, is plain, namely, that the rivalry between the two creeds has prevailed in Bengal, as else where in India, from remote times.

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