Page:History of Bengali Language and Literature.djvu/72

42 Chaṅdīdās himself loved a washer-woman following the rules of the Sahajiā cult, for according to Gupta Sādhan Tantra, a book of authority with the sect, a washer-woman amongst others, is a legitimate subject of such love for a Vāmāchārī Tāntrik. Here is the text of the above Tantra.

"A dancing girl, a girl of the Kapali caste, a prostitute, a washer-woman, a barbarbarber [sic]'s daughter, a Brāhmin girl, a Çudra girl, a milk-maid, a girl of the Mālākar caste—these nine are recognised as the legitimate subjects for Tāntric practices; those that are most clever amongst these, should be held as pre-eminently fit; maidens endowed with beauty, good luck, youth and amiable disposition are to be worshipped with care and a man's salvation is attained thereby."

In purity and edifying influence, Chaṅdīdās's sentiments made a near approach to spiritual love; and he literally worshipped the washer-woman with the ardour of a devotee, though he himself was a good Brāhmin. Her name was Rāmī, and Chaṅdīdās says of her:—

"O my love, I have taken refuge at theythy [sic] feet, knowing, they have a cooling effect (on my burn-