Page:History of Bengali Language and Literature.djvu/450

 The people wanted faith and a great personality to teach it. Such a personality came, ve রি 414 BENGALI LANGUAGE & LITERATURE. [ Chap and the religion of the new school, became the monopoly of the Brahmins as if it were a commo- dity of the market-place. The human mind in Bengal, as I have already said, was ready for a great faith. The people were unconsciously waiting for a democratic move- ment of reaction against the school of religious — monopoly. They desired to be taught that an intricate system of rigid monastic rites 75 not needed for the attainment of salvation. A simple life, with the name of God on the lips, holy absti- nence, and a pure faith, are better than all that” was ever said by school-men. To say this in a society ridden by the Brahmin as Sinduavada—the © sailor by the Old Man of the Sea—in a society where theological dogmas ruled over ignorant men — with iron sway, menacing those who dared any opposition, would obviously require a unique personality. That Bengal had the strength of producing not only the great man who was_ needed, but also the society that could recognise and appreciate him, is fully seen in the life of | Chaitanya Deva. who was born in 1486 A.D. ; [ As the Vaishnava literature to be dealt with ink this chapter was inspired throughout by admira- tionfor Chaitanya Deva, and bore the stamp of his influence in all its various departments, I shall here give an account of his life at some length. ii. The Life and Teachings of Chaitanya Deva. Chaitanya Deva was botn at Minapur in Navas dwipa in 1486, ‘This Mifapur has now been transe