Page:History of Bengali Language and Literature.djvu/312

 Chand worships Manasa Devl, Sixty works on Manasa Devi. Their import- ance, 276. BENGALI LANGUAGE & LITERATURE. [ Chap. ‘Once more the seven sons stood near their sorrow-stricken parents, and the tears that were shed were holy, for Behula’s wonderful devotion more than anything else caused them to flow. Chand could not resist all this. Events had been too much for him. He saw in the sweet and resigned countenance of Behulg that Manasa Devi's victory was complete, and that it would be impos- sible for him to resist the appeal silently expressed in the eyes of his beloved daughter-in-law. Chand worshipped Manasa in the month of Sravan on the 11th day of tue waning moon. Some say that he offered flowers to Manasa Devi with his left hand as a mark-of contempt, turning his face away from her all the while. But however this be, Manasa Devi was pleased and granted him wealth and prosperity. His friend, Sankoor Garudia was restored to life. Behula and Laksmindara, who were Usha and Aniruddha in Heaven, and had been obliged to take a mortal frame under a curse, went back after a while to their celestial home. Manasa Devi’s, claims to obtain puja among mortals have ever since been an_ established fact.* O About sixty works on. Manasa Devi, written by different writers at various times, but all before the 18th century have been brought to light by the researches of scholars within the last 15 years. Vijay Gupta’s work, published by lhe Adarga_ press story is now reprinted. i
 * Originally written for the Modern Review from which the