Diagnosis and Remedy Your heart, Most holy dame, though from the world estranged, Is softened still with pity and affection Towards these thy children; and thy active love, Howe’er opposed to penance and devotion, Shall like the will of destiny prevail.²⁸⁹ Unmarried girls, widows and ascetics lived together in the Parivrajika Math. Young unmarried girls were taught the Kama Shastra. But if a woman desired a union with a man, that could only take place in the Vihar Math. Only married couples could live in the Vihar Math. Usually a widow presided over the Parivrajika Math. She had to be one who had experienced all three stages—young girl, married hermit and widow—and was learned. A married couple that was learned, generous, ascetic and knowledgeable in the Shastras was appointed as the head of the Vihar Math. At one time Chandravali and Viharpuri were married and they presided over the Vihar Math. Both of them decided to live an ascetic life. Viharpuri joined Vishnudas and Chandravali became the head of Parivrajika Math. After a time Chandravali gave up residing on Sundargiri and made the island her home. Mohini had taken her place as the head of the Parivrajika Math. If any young girl was struck by the arrow of love and desire, she had to be cared for till her marriage; sometimes a companion was arranged for her and if necessary even a messenger was appointed to carry her messages. All these were part of the duties of the head. The appointment of companion and messenger was deemed fit only if the love was both bodily and spiritual. The texts on love and desire generally pertain to bodily, sensual pleasure. But the learned men and women of this hermitage had added an aspect of subtle or spiritual love to it. They believed that sensual love must eventually lead to spiritual love just as the worship of the manifest form leads to devotion to the Unmanifest One. Chandravali was skilled and well-versed in this art. At one time she took delight in this art and appreciated its beauty. Vishnudas was appointed Master of all the three maths. Under his guidance the monastery and the path of Alakh rose to new heights. He wished to appoint a worthy successor. A householder was not considered worthy of this responsibility and none of the ascetics living under his tutelage were learned enough to take his place. Vishnudas felt that Viharpuri was a suitable successor, but he was married. Chandravali came to know about this. So, to fulfill the desire of the Master, to ensure that her husband could respond to his true calling and to ensure the continuation of the sect and the hermitage, Chandravali expressed her wish that both of them should become ascetics; Viharpuri should go and become a disciple of the Master and she would live in the Parivrajika Math. The couple forsook their desire for each other as easily as a snake sheds its skin. They blessed each other and separated.