Kavi-Indra Parivara

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This article is an extract from

THE TRIBES and CASTES of BENGAL. By H.H. RISLEY, INDIAN CIVIL SERVICE, OFFICIER D'ACADÉMIE FRANÇAISE. Ethnographic Glossary. CALCUTTA: Printed at the Bengal Secretariat Press. 1891. .

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Kavi-Indra Parivara

This title is assumed by a small sect of Vaishnavas claiming to be the Parivara, or attendants, of Vishnu Das Kavi-Indra, one of the original sixty-four Mahants who preached the doctrine of Chaitanya after his decease. Vishnu Das was a Sudra, and the Mahants have since his day been Sudras.

As the story goes, Vishnu Das was a special favourite of Chaitanya, evincing to humility and faith by daily partaking of the leavings of the Mahaprabhu's meal. Unfortunately, one day he found no orts, but looking into the spittoon he detected a grain of rice, tinged with blood, which had been ejected by Chaitanya when rinsing his mouth. Vishnu Das swallowed it, but his proceeding did not escape the watchful eye of an enemy. The Mahaprabhu was appealed to, and decided that any disciple tasting the blood of his Guru must be excommunicated. Chaitanya was grieved at the loss of his devoted follower, but having once given his decision it was irrevocable, so Vishnu Das went forth to organise a dissenting society of his own. The doctrines of this sect are almost identical with those of the Chaitanya Vaishnavas, and the only differences in the internal economy are, that the Mahant, or religious head, discharges the duties of an elective, not of a hereditary, office, and that he is always a Sudra.

The only Akhara of the sect in the Dacca district is situated at Sanara, twenty miles north of the city; and it is calculated that the society consists of not more than forty families. Many, however, are rich Sunri bankers, and merchants, who contribute liberally to its maintenance. This sect is peculiar in having no Udasi, or Vairagi grade, the members from the Mahant downwards being Grihi, or married men. All castes are freely admitted into its ranks, and it is said that even Srotriya Brahmans are occasionally enrolled.