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286 Brahmins, the extent of which might he conceived from the fact that these Brahmins hissed and clapped their hands when the dead body of Narottam was being carried for cremation. Narasingha, the Raja of Pakkapalli was incited by the orthodox Brahmins to undertake a regular expedition against Narottam and his followers. All these have been elaborately treated by me in my 'Medieval Vaisnava Literature of Bengal.' The lay Vaishnavas would not now excuse any man if he would ask as to what caste they had belonged before adopting Vaishnavism. One of their writers says "if a Mahomedan or a low Sudra turns a Vaishnava he is better than an ordinary Brahmin."

The inspiration of this great revolution came of course from Chaitanya himself under whose instructions Nityananda organised the Vaishnava community in Bengal. It is on these topics that Chaitanya frequently, talked in private with Nityananda, and it is for the object of leaving the latter undisturbed in the course of his reconstruction of society that Chaitanya gave him no permission to leave Bengal and pay him a visit at Puri. Owing, however, to his great love for Chaitanya he frequently violated this order and came to interview him. Chaitanya knew perfectly well that Nityananda had not the least vanity of caste or learning and, devoted entirely to God as he was, he was pre-eminently