| Chandidas was
born when the high incidence of Vaishnavism was as its peak. It is in this area that
another immortal bard Jayadeva composed Geet Govinda. The advent of Chandidas towards what
may be loosely described as the end of the Hindu age and the beginning of the Muslim age
has a special significance. Chandidas was a tantrik and belonged to the Sahajiya
cult of Tantricism but he had been inspired to write and sing lyrics which are marked by
the stamp of universal appeal and which transcended the limits of any particular cult. The padavalis of Chandidas have inspired the later poets and
philosophers of Bengal. It may be mentioned that Rabindra Nath Tagore was very much
influenced by Chandidas. Bansuli Devi is one of the Mahavidyas according to the tantras.
The image that is worshipped as Bansuli or Bishalakshmi Devi at Nannur is really a
Bagiswari image. Bagiswari and Saraswati are other Mahavidyas according to the tantras.
Birbhum district is full of scattered images of Kali, Bhadra Kali and Chandi
images.Chandidas being born and brought up at Nannur, which was a centre for the Sahajiya
cult, became eclectic and came to be an ardent worshipper ofBishalakshmi Devi.
Pilgrims who visit Kenduvilva village and purify themselves
by seeing the temple hallowed with the memory of Jayadeva also visit Nannur to hear the
recitals of the padavalis of Chandidas.Chandidas was a landmark not only for his lyrical
poetry but also for his contribution to Vaishnavism by his songs based on Parakiya Rasa.
It is necessary to describe briefly what this is. Parakiya Rasa has been described to form
the essence of Vaishnava theology. Parakiya Rasa is also akin to the Sahajiya cult, which
means the romantic worship of a woman other than one's own wife. |
