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RELIGIOUS SECTS
KRISHNA are current, but the most popular are the Vishnu Padas, stanzas in Bháshá, in praise of VISHNU, attributed to VALLABHA himself; the Braj Vilás, a Bhákha poem of some length, descriptive of KRISHNA'S life, during his residence at Brindavan, by BRAJ Vásí Dás; the Ashta Chháp, an account of VALLABHA'S eight chief disciples, and the Várttá, or Bárttá, a collection in Hindústání of marvellous and insipid anecdotes of VALLABHA and his primitive followers, amounting to the number of eighty-four, and including persons of both sexes, and every class of Hindus. The Bhakta Málá also contains a variety of legends regarding the different teachers of this sect, but it is less a text-book with this sect than any other class of Vaishnavas, as the Várttá occupies its place amongst the worshippers of Gopal. The following are specimens of this work, and by no means the most unfavourable:
DAMODAR DÁS, of Kanoj, was a disciple of ŚRÍ ÁCHÁRYA (VALLABHÁCHÁRYA). Like the rest of the members of this sect, he had an image of KRISHNA in his house. One day it was exceedingly hot, and when night came, Śrí Thákur jí (the image) woke the maid servant, and desired her to open the doors of his chamber, as it was very warm. She obeyed, and taking a pankha, fanned him- Early in the morning, DAMODAR DAs observed the doors of the chamber open, and enquired how this had happened: the girl mentioned the circumstance, but her master was much vexed that she had done this, and that Śri Thákur ji hat not called him to do it. Sri Thakur ji knowing his thoughts said: I told her to open the doors, why are you displeased with her? you shut me up here in a close room, and go to sleep yourself on an open and cool terrace. Then DAMODAR Dás made a vow, and said: I will not taste consecrated food until I have built a
