History of Bengali Language and Literature c9.s2.89

c9.s2.89

People took Chaitanya as an incarnation of God, and his image is now worshipped by the Vaiṣṇavas of Bengal and Orissa. He was always unsparing however during his life time, in his condemnation of such attempts to deify him. Rām Rāy the Prime Minister of Pratāp Rudra of Orissa, asked him why he was so cautious in his conduct. "We all know you to be god in human flesh, you may act as you like; why observe, so many restraints?"—he said. Chaitanya replied in firm tones "I am a man and I have taken the ascetic's vow. In body, in mind, in speech, and in all my dealings I must be spotless. As in a white cloth a dark spot becomes conspicuous, so a trifling fault in an ascetic's character, is prominent in the eyes of men. He is shunned like the pitcher of milk with a drop of wine in it." Vāsu Deva Sarbabhoum, the veteran scholar, with folded palms bowed down to him on his return from Southern India, and said "I know you, O Lord! to be God on earth" Chaitanya indignantly answered "Sir! why do you talk nonsense? Speak on other subjects." So in Chandipur when Içvar Bhārati prayed to him as to a God, he was offended. In the historic garden of Sribas' house at Navadwip, the party assembled, instead of singing and reciting the name of God, one day sang. "Praises to you O Chaitanya"—and when Chaitanya heard it, he stopped the singing, and asked the party to retire for the night. Such instances are numerous in his several biographies.