Early History of the Vaishnava Faith and Movement in Bengal, from Sanskrit and Bengali Sources c11.s2.5

c11.s2.5

The Sanskrit biographies of Caitanya share most of these general characteristics of Sanskrit biographical or historical literature ; but since they record contemporary impressions felt, witnessed or believed with intense faith, they represent, to a greater extent, a proper step towards biographical writing. The picture is, no doubt, much exaggerated and obscured by credulous legends, and luxuriously poetical descriptions are freely inserted ; but the general outline is clear and vivid. The life which they deal with is rich in inward religious passion rather than in external acts and incidents, but it affords opportunities of really impassioned and poetical treatment. With great zest, therefore, they concentrate upon the inward life of Caitanya and elaborately describe its passionate expression in devotional ecstasies, trances, visions and frenzies.