Buddhism, as presented to us on the eve of its downfall, combined sceptical views with gross superstition. The light that it had given to India, had spent itself in ages gone by, and in the shape in which it existed latterly, could scarcely commend itself to the Indian people, accustomed as they were, to live in a highly spiritual atmosphere. Dharma and Çiva in the popular notions of the period, appeared as very humble deities, whose function suited the requirements of the rustic folk who worshipped them.
The oldest songs of Çiva.The oldest songs relating to Çiva, which fall within the scope of this chapter, shew nothing of that high conception of him which distinguished the period of the Paurāṅik Renaissance. They were meant for Bengali villagers, and Çiva figures in them as assisting in the work of the rice-fields, and even ploughing them himself like any peasant. Even in the Çuṅya Purāṅa, there is a song devoted to Çiva in his agricultural capacity, from which we may take the following extract[1]:—
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জখন আছেন গোসাঞি হয়া দিগম্বর।
ঘরে ঘরে ভিখা মাগিয়া বুলেন ঈসর॥
রজনী পরভাতে ভিক্খার লাগি যাই।
কুথাএ পাই কুথাএ না পাই॥
হর্ত্তকী বএড়া তাহে করি দিনপাত।
কত হরস গোসাঞি ভিক্খাএ ভাত॥
আহ্মার বচনে গোসাঞি তুম্মি চস চাস।
কখন অন্ন হএ গোসাঞি কখন উপবাস॥
পুখরি কাঁদাএ লইব ভুম খানি।
আরসা হইলে জেন ছিচএ দিব পানি॥
ঘরে ধান থাকিলেক পরভু সুখে অন্ন খাব।
অন্নর বিহনে পরভু কত দুঃখ পাব॥
