("The Moon of Wisdom Rises")
Krishna Mishra wrote a Sanskrit play in the second part of the eleventh
century.
The drama, which is clearly allegorical, celebrates the
victory of Vaishnava piety, or that of the deity Vishnu's worshippers (bhakta).
The third act of the play is especially noteworthy, since it
has members from four non-Vaishnava sects: a materialist, a Jain monk, a
Buddhist monk, and a Kapalika (a member of an ascetic com munity that worshiped
the god Shiva).
The last character is shown as completely perverted, delighting
in meat, booze, and sexual fulfillment, as well as a penchant for violence.
All four heretical characters conspire to kidnap another
character, Faith, for their king, Passion, in the play.
They soon learn, however, that Faith is a Vishnu follower
who is beyond their control.
Faith is reunited with her son Tranquillity and a figure
called Compassion at the conclusion of the film.
Although the reader may reasonably infer that this drama is
written from a prejudiced viewpoint, the views it displays against ascetics and
other non-Vaishnava religious groups are instructive.
