Nityánanda replied, "You are Adwaita Acharya. According to the theory of Adwaita system (Monism), the duty is abstract bhakti. He who accepts your theory recognizes only one principle and no second. With such a person as you have I dined! I know not what led me to join your company." So they wrangled, really praising one another in the garb of abuse.
After the dinner, the Vaishnavs rose up shouting Hari loudly enough to split earth and heaven. The Master gave to each of them a garland with His own hand. Next the waiters, Swarup and the other six, sat down to their repast within the room. Govinda laid aside the leavings of the Master's plate, to be given to Haridas. The bhaktas and even Govinda himself took a little of this hallowed food. Various are the sports of the free God, such as this ceremony of washing and cleaning.
For a fortnight the people had been denied sight of the god Jagannath [while his image was being painted anew]; and their grief changed into joy when, at the expiry of the period, the eye-painting (i.e., the last stage) being over, they could again see him. The Master went thither with all His followers. First marched Kashishwar, making a lane through the crowd, next went Govinda with a bowl of water. In front of the Master walked the Puri and the Bhárati, and by His side Swarup and Adwaita, the other bhaktas bringing up the rear. Anxiously did He go to Jagannáth's temple and in passion of longing stepped beyond the rules, asking to see the fair face of the god in the dining room. The thirsty eyes of the Master ardently drank in the face of Krishna, like a pair of bees sucking in a lotus. The god's eyes surpassed the blooming lotus in beauty, his cheeks flashed radiance like a polished turquoise mirror, his lower lip was sweet as the Bandhuli flower, a light smile spread a ripple of nectar over his form. As the bhaktas gazed on, the charm of the god's countenance increased every moment; their thirst increased with its gratification; their eyes could not move from that face. Thus did the Master with His following gaze at the god till noon, perspiring, trembling, weeping incessantly, and again checking these outbursts in order to have a clearer view of the deity. At the time of bhog He began to sing kirtan, forgetful of everything else in the bliss of gazing. The bhaktas led Him back to His quarters at noon. The servitors offered to the god a double quantity of prasád, knowing that the Car Festival would take place next morning. [Text, canto 12.]
[[1]] A quadrangle in front of the inner shrine, where the worshippers stand when gazing on the idol.
CHAPTER XI
The Dance before Jagannáth's Car.
Next day the Master took care to bathe with His followers before it was dawn. Pratap Rudra himself accompanied by his Court showed the Master's bhaktas the ceremony of Jagannáth leaving his throne to take his seat in the car. Girt round by Adwaita, Nityánanda and other bhaktas, the Master delightedly witnessed the scene. The stout pándás [attendants on an idol] like so many wild elephants, conveyed Jagannáth in their arms, some holding the god's neck and some his feet. A strong thick rope was fastened to his waist, and the pándás raised the image by pulling at the two ends of the rope. Thick and high heaps of cotton were placed at different points, and the god was raised from one and quickly rested on another of them; but the touch of his feet broke up the heaps and scattered the cotton with a loud sound. (In fact) Jagannáth supports the universe; who can move him? He moves of his own will, to disport himself. Shouts of "Great Lord! Master! Master!" rose up, but nothing could be heard amidst the clang of many instruments of music. Then Pratap Rudra, with his own hands, swept the path with a golden broom-stick, and sprinkled sandal water on the ground. He was a king accustomed to sit on the throne, but in as much as being so high he did such lowly services, he gained Jagannáth's grace. The Master rejoiced at the sight, and this lowly service of the king gained for him the Master's regard.
Men marvelled as they beheld the trappings of the car. It was covered with fresh gold and high as the Sumeru mountain. Hundreds of fly-whiskers and polished mirrors hung from it; above were flags and a pure canopy. The ghágar rattled, bells jingled on it. Many coloured silk cloths covered it. Jagannáth mounted one car, Subhadra and Balaram two others.
For fifteen days had Jagannáth remained (behind a screen), dallying in secret with Lakshmi, and now with her leave he came out for a ride in his car to give delight to his adorers. The fine white sand on the road suggested a river bank, and the gardens on both sides made the place look like Brindában. Jagannáth went along in his car, pleased with what he saw on both sides. Bengali athletes dragged the car joyfully. It sped at one time, slackened at another, and sometimes stopped altogether. In fact it moved of its own will, and not under the force of men.
Then the Master with His own hands gave to the bhaktas sandal paste and garlands Then He divided the chanters (kirtaniás) into four parties, consisting in all of 24 singers and eight men playing on the khol, their chiefs being Swarup and Shribas. Then He bade Nityánanda, Adwaita, Haridas, and Vakreshwar dance. In the first party Swarup was the leading singer, while the other five were Damodar, Náráyan, Govinda Datta, Raghav Pandit and Shri Govindananda; with them danced Adwaita. Of the second party the spokesman was Shribas, his followers being Gangadas, Haridas, Shriman, Shuvananda, and Shri Ram Pandit. Here danced Nityánanda. Mukunda led the third party, consisting of Vásudev, Gopinath, Murari, Shrikánta, and Vallabh Sen, with Haridas Thákur as the dancer. The fourth party was composed of Haridas, Vishnudas, Raghav, Madhav Ghosh and his brother Vásudev Ghosh, their leader being Govinda Ghosh, and their dancer Vakreshwar Pandit. Other parties of kirtan singers were formed by the pilgrims from the Kulin village, (with Rámánanda and Satyaraj as their dancers), the Acharyas of Shantipur (with Achyutánanda as their dancer), the men of Khand (with Narahari and Shri Raghunandan as their dancers). In short four parties preceded the car of Jagannáth, two walked on the flanks, and one in the rear. These seven parties played on 14 khols in all, the music of which maddened the Vaishnavs present. The cloud of Vaishnav enthusiasm melted in showers, their eyes dropped tears along with the nectar of kirtan. The shout of kirtan filled the three worlds and drowned all other sounds. The Master visited the seven positions shouting "Hari" and "Glory to Jagannáth!" with uplifted arms.