Page:The Autobiography of Maharshi Devendranath Tagore.djvu/55

DEVENDRANATH TAGORE 7 way. When the time came for the performance of the funeral obsequies (Shraddha), my father, as the eldest son, had to take a leading part in the ceremony. But all our domestic ceremonies had become interwoven with idolatrous symbols. What was to be done? The Brâhmic Covenant imposed upon him the duty of discountenancing all idolatrous rites. Great pressure, however, was brought to bear on him in connection with his father's obsequies. Raja Radhakanta Dev's advice was that he should "perform the Shraddha strictly in accordance with the prescribed ritual." But the Maharshi was firm. "I have embraced Brâhmaism," he said, "I cannot do any thing which is in conflict with the vow I have taken. But you may rest assured that I shall do nothing which is not sanctioned by our highest authorities." "No, no," said the Raja, "that won't do. That would be against custom. Do as I say, and all will go well." My father took counsel with his brother Girindranath. But my uncle Girindra was for a compromise. "If we go against custom," he pointed out, "our own kith and kin will desert us." My father was thus left all alone, but he stood firm and triumphed. He refused to take part in any rites which seemed to him idolatrous, and performed the Shraddha according to a form which he had himself prepared for the occasion, in which had been retained all the prescribed Vedic texts. This measure of reform raised a storm of