Early History of the Vaishnava Faith and Movement in Bengal, from Sanskrit and Bengali Sources c6.s2.51

c6.s2.51

Viśvambhara now became the centre of the devout Vaiṣṇava group in the city,¹ and came to be regarded as the very incarnation of their spirit of devotion. His extraordinary capacity for emotion had the power of evoking similar emotion in others, and the very reality of his spiritual experience and the irresistible charm of his gifted personality soon made him the natural leader of the group. One of his first and most important act was the stimulation, if not the introduction,² of an emotional and unritualistic mode of musical worship, known as Kirtana, in the daily devotional meetings which were held in the courtyard of Śrīvāsa's house³. At first these meetings were private, and the strange doings of the Vaiṣṇava devotees met with scorn and ridicule; but the increasing fervour displayed in the Kirtana parties proved contagious by creating a highly emotionalised atmosphere. This method of congregated devotional excitement,⁴ by means of enthusiastic chorus singing to the accompaniment of peculiar drums and cymbals, along with rhythmical bodily movements ending in an ecstatic abandon of dancing, proved very fruitful indeed in utilising group-emotion, and soon became a distinctive feature of the faith. Grotesquely absurd as the practice may seem, it succeeded in creating a whirlpool of emotionalism from which there was no escape. As the tireless exertions of Kīrtana grew higher and higher, they worked upon the emotions as well as on the senses, and produced ecstatic thrills and copious perspiration, wild fits, trembling and weeping, hysterical orgy of dancing, raving, stupefaction or dementia, until they brought on exhaustion and unconsciousness, ending in mystic trances. Viśvambhara soon realised its possibilities; and under his guidance it became something more than the highly emotional service of a secluded band of devotees. Its enthusiastic physical and emotional appeal was not only congenial to the essentially emotional faith, but it was also utilised effectively for spreading the contagion of Bhakti. Very soon Kīrtana processions (Nagara-kīrtana) were organised for parading the streets with lusty music, singing and dancing, and carrying the appeal from door to door.