Page:History of Bengali Language and Literature.djvu/493

নি রী V.] BENGALI LANGUAGE & LITERATURE. 457 went, people thronged round him, in large numbers ; scholars admired his profound learning, and the common people his ecstasies of love. And here in Bengal the village artists still paint him as standing in a trance, with his hands uplifted towards heaven and his eyes shedding tears. His followers, who inspite of their earnest entreaties to be permitted to accompany him on his tour were all left at Puri, grieved at the separa- tion and waited eagerly there for his return, longing | } ] | | for the happy meeting. Chaitanya wandered through Southern India all this time, like a mad man, reduced to a skeleton by the fatigues of the journey, by fasts and by vigils,—all borne with a gladsome heart because of his great love. Children used to throw dust at him, sometimes taking him to be a mad man as he passed by; but when he spoke, the wandering gaze of thousands fell upon him and they saw his face glow with a celestial light, which is a never-failing sign of spirituality, vouchsafed to one, who, in a pure heart rests on His great love. Govinda’s description of the meeting of Chaitanya Deva with his followers, when he came back to Puri, vividly pictures the animation and joy of the event. Murari Gupta fell on his knees before him ; with clasped palms the veteran Vasu- deva said ‘‘ My heart is made of stone, or it would have broken long ago, at being separated from you.” Narahari met him in great joy carrying a flag in his hand, and Khanjan Acharyya though lame came swiftly before all others because of his great love for Chaitanya. The news of his arrival 58 Joy at the re-union.