Early History of the Vaishnava Faith and Movement in Bengal, from Sanskrit and Bengali Sources c8.s3.84.2

c8.s3.84.2

The corrective is, no doubt, supplied by theologically representing the erotic relationship as the sport of the Śaktimat with his own Śaktis or Energies, in their Hlādinī or blissful state; but, however figuratively or philosophically the doctrine is interpreted, the erotic emotionalism is essential and prominent in the devotional writings as a literal fact. In the hands of these erotic emotionalists there is a fresh accession and interpretation of romantic legends; and the Purāṇic life of Kṛṣṇa being brought to the foreground, the older Epic figure of Vāsudeva-Kṛṣṇa is transformed beyond recognition. The ancient epic spirit of godly wisdom and manly devotion is replaced by a new spirit of mystical and theological fancy, of tender rapture over divine babyhood, and of sensuous and erotic passion of ecstasy over the loveliness of divine adolescence; and its god is moulded accordingly. The essential truth of the doctrine of Vṛndāvana-līlā, no doubt, lies in its appeal for a more emotional religion and in its protest against the unsatisfying intellectuality of mere metaphysics; and the whole theory of Bhakti-rasa appeals to the exceedingly familiar and authentic intensity of human moods and sentiments. But we have also a marked development of the dubious erotic possibilities of the attitude in an atmosphere of highly passionate and sensuous life and literature. In Bengal Vaiṣṇavism the tendency goes a step further.