Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura
Pranam Mantra:
namo bhaktivinodaya sac-cid-ananda-namine
gaura-sakti-svarupaya rupanuga-varaya te
“I offer my respectful obeisances unto Saccidananda Bhaktivinoda, the ethereal energy of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He is a strict follower of the Goswamis, headed by Sri Rupa.”
Appearance & Genealogy:
Srila Sacchidananda Bhaktivinoda Thakur is the person who discovered the real Birthplace of Lord Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in Sridham Mayapur, Nadia, West Bengal. He is the equal to Gaudiya Math himself, appeared in the lineage of Purushottama Dutta, one of the five foremost Kayasthas who came to Bengal from Kanyakubja being invited by King Adisura. In this same lineage, Srila Narottama Dasa Thakura appeared as the son of King Krishnananda Datta. Rajavallabha Datta, Thakura’s grandfather belonged to this lineage. Ananda Chandra Dutta was his son and Thakura’s father. Jaganmohini Devi was Thakura’s mother. Srila Bhakti Vinoda Thakur appeared at his maternal grandfather’s place at Ulagram (Birnagar) on September 2, 1838 AD, 18th Bhadra, 1245 Bengali era, 352 Gaura era, on the thirteenth day of the bright fortnight. His parents named him Sri Kedarnath Datta. Later he was known as Srila Bhakti Vinoda Thakura in the Vaishnava community.
The Thakura’s Miraculous Pastimes in Childhood:
At the age of just two years, the Thakura started reciting poetry. His poetic genius flourished during his adulthood. Every word used by Bhakti Vinoda Thakura in his poetry is full of the nectarine mellow of Bhakti. At the age of just six years, the Thakura learned the entire Ramayana and Mahabharata. Without the mercy of Bhagavan, mundane scholarship never comprehends the inner meaning of Bhakti scriptures. All the scriptures revealed themselves in the heart of Srila Bhakti Vinoda Thakura. He studied astrology at the age of nine. The Thakura wrote in his autobiography that at the age of ten, “tattva jijnasa” (queries for spirituality) arose in his mind. Although he was always situated on the spiritual platform, he acted like an ordinary man to teach mundane people. He started mixing with common people to find out what keeps them busy and how they think. He was a very gentle and soft-spoken person. He always spoke very politely and gently with everyone.
As a Student:
The Thakura started learning Sanskrit at the age of six years at a local tola. Then, at the age of seven, he was admitted to Krishnanagar College. Later, when the English High School was established in Ula, Thakura joined it at the age of eight. When his maternal grandfather died in Ula, the Thakura came to Calcutta with his mother and stayed in the house near Hedua and Biddon Streets. He resumed his education at the Hindu Charitable Institution in Calcutta. After studying there for four years, he was admitted to Hindu School in 1856 AD. The university was established in Calcutta in the same year. The entrance examination had started and he passed that exam with excellent marks. Srila Bhakti Vinoda Thakura Mahasaya was very proficient in Sanskrit, Bengali, English, and many other languages. Srila Bhakti Vinoda Thakura was the embodiment of the sloka: “sei se vidyāra phala jāniha niścaya ‘kṛṣṇa-pāda-padme yadi citta-vitta raya“
“Know without a doubt that the goal of knowledge is to fix one’s mind on Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet.”
As a Teacher and Author:
At the will of Sri Isvarchandra Vidyasagar, the Thakura worked as a teacher in Cuttack Government High School and as a Headmaster in Bhadrak Government High School. At that time he published a booklet containing information on the monasteries of Odisha titled ‘The Maths of Odisha.’ Sir William Hunter mentioned this book in his writings. Thakura Bhakti Vinod composed a poem named ‘Sri Chaitanya Gita’ where he introduced himself as ‘Sacchidananda Premalankara.’
Lectures:
The Thakura came to Burdwan from Medinipur on a campaign tour. While there he wrote the book ‘Our Wants in English. At the request of the local people, he tried to harmonize two conflicting religious groups: Brahmo Samaj and the Christian community. The Thakura demonstrated the absurdity of their understanding in two speeches. He established the ‘Bhratri Samaj’ society while in Burdwan. One Mr. Healy was profoundly impressed by hearing the Thakura’s discourse in English on ‘The Soul’ in Bhratri Samaj. From Burdwan, the Thakura travelled to Chuadanga, Ranaghat, Bihar, and Chapara. Then he went to Kashi, Mirzapur, Prayag, Agra, etc., and finally reached Vrindavan. In Chapra, the Thakura learned Urdu and Persian languages and became proficient in them. He also delivered a speech on “The Gautama” at a special meeting in Chapra. He went to Purnia from Chapra and came to Dinajpur after accepting the post of Deputy Magistrate.
When disputes arose between Hindus and Brahmos in Dinajpur, he tried to mediate and delivered another speech on ‘The Bhagavata: Its Philosophy, Its Ethics and Its Theology.’ His speech on religion in Sahitya Sabha impressed the eminent people of the society.
As the Head of Jagannath Puri Temple:
In June 1868, the Thakura visited the places of Sri Rupa and Sanatana and visited Rajmahal in Malda. After returning to Calcutta, the Thakura searched a lot to collect the manuscripts of Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita and Srimad Bhagavatam. The Thakura again reached Purushottam Dhama with these manuscripts. He was appointed as the temple head by the government to manage the service of Sri Jagannath temple. He stayed at Puri for more than five consecutive years.
In Nilachal:
During the days at Puri (1869-1874) the Thakura studied Srimad Bhagavatam by Krishna Dvaipayana Vedavyasa Muni, Sat Sandarbha by Jiva Goswami, Govinda bhāṣya, Siddhanta Ratna and Prameya Ratnavali by Srila Vidyabhusana, Bhakti Rasamrita Sindhu by Srila Rupa Goswami and other Goswami literature. Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu mentions ‘Bhagavata Shravana’ (hearing Bhagavatam) among the five most important limbs of devotion. Śrīla Bhakti Vinoda Ṭhākura also established a Vaishnava meeting called “Bhagavat-Samsat” at Śrī Jagannath Vallabh Udyana to propagate the Vaishnava philosophy. As Śrī Gadadhara Pāṇḍita Gosvāmī used to explain Srimad Bhagavatam to Sriman Mahaprabhu, Thakura Bhaktivinoda explained Srimad Bhagavatam to Gopinatha Pandita. Thakura Bhakti Vinoda especially discussed Sri Caitanya Caritamrta by Krishnadasa Kaviraja Goswami and Bhakti Ratnakara by Sri Narahari Chakravarti. In Puri, he discussed religious theology with Siddha Vaishnava Sri Swarupa Dasa Babaji. He wrote ‘Datta Kaustubha’ and many verses of Sri Krishna Samhita during his days in Puri.
Appearance of Srila Prabhupada Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami:
Srila Bhakti Vinoda Thakura lived in a house adjacent to Narayana Chata on the south side of the Grand Road of Puri (the road on which Sri Jagannath Deva’s Ratha Yatra takes place). In February 1874 AD, Bengali month of Magha, a divine child took birth in the lap of Mother Bhagavati Devi. Everyone was surprised to see the child’s umbilical cord appearing as a natural upavita (sacred thread) clinging to the body of the newborn. The Thakura gave the baby the name ‘Bimala Prasada,’ after the name of Lord Jagannatha’s internal consort, Bimala Devi. The rice ceremony (annaprasana) of this child was held with the Mahaprasadam of Lord Jagannatha. Later he became the renowned personality Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Sarasvati Goswami Prabhupada, the founder of Sri Chaitanya Math and Sri Gaudiya Maths worldwide.
Unparalleled Contribution of Thakura Bhakti Vinoda:
Sri Krishna Dvaipayana Vedavyasa Muni is the main guru of all sects of Sanatana Dharma. He has shown the path of eternal peace through his activities in his own life. Sri Vedavyasa authored Vedanta, eighteen Puranas, Mahabharata, and Bhagavad Gita. But even then he could not be happy. Finally, he received the advice of his Guru Sri Narada Muni in Badrika Ashram and compiled the Srimad Bhagavatam. Srimad Bhagavatam has twelve cantos. It sings the glories of Lord Krishna. That excellent Bhagavad Dharma was propagated by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. After the disappearance of Sriman Mahaprabhu and his associates, the flow of Suddha Bhakti faced adverse situations and was halted temporarily. Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura appeared at that time. He wrote numerous books and re-established the mission of Mahaprabhu. With tireless efforts, he refuted all mundane doctrines that somehow polluted and concealed the pure teachings of Mahaprabhu. This is his unparalleled mercy towards the fallen souls. Krishna Bhakti cannot be propagated without the potency of Krishna. Without the mercy of Bhagavan, no one can possess such potential. The Thakura was a top-ranking government officer in the administrative department. Despite this, he authored more than one hundred books and pursued the mission of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. It is a great wonder! Every word in his writings soothes our hearts and raises the hidden Krishna consciousness inside of us. Such writing is not possible even for an erudite worldly scholar. He showered his mercy on all living beings through his books. He wrote books in various languages to propagate Krishna Bhakti.
Resuming the Preaching Campaign and Travelling:
After the appearance of Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Sarasvati, Thakura Bhakti Vinoda returned to Bengal from Puri. He visited many holy places. At that time he started the propagation of the original teachings of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. From 1870 AD to 1910 AD, he preached in many places and visited various places of pilgrimage. He visited the Sripat of Abhirama Gopala Thakura, an associate of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in West Bengal. Later he went to Jessore district in Bangladesh. From there he returned back to Calcutta via Narail. He then went to Prayag and finally arrived at Vrindavan. In Sri Vrindavan Dham he met Sri Jagannatha Dasa Babaji for the first time.
By the efforts of the Thakura, the tyranny of the Kanjhara bandit community came to an end. He returned to Calcutta and started the foundation of Bhakti Bhavan. During the excavation of the foundation of the building, a deity of Kurmadeva was unearthed. The Thakura taught Srila Siddhanta Sarasvati the procedure of worshipping Kurmadeva. He then took the charge of Deputy Collector of Barasat subdivision. In Kulina grama, he delivered a lecture on ‘Nama aparadha, Nama abhasa and Suddha nama.’ He initiated Sarasvati Thakura into Harinama and Narasimha Mantra. He established the Visva Vaishnava Raja Sabha (Association of Vaisnavas worldwide) where he discussed Bhakti Rasamrita Sindhu & Chaitanya Charitamrita. Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura Mahasaya wrote many books and commentaries on the same texts. The list of his commentaries includes Shikshashtakam – Sanmodana Commentary, Manahasiksha – Bhajana Darpana Commentary, Chaitanya Upanishad – Chaitanya Charanamrita Commentary, Srimad Bhagavad Gita – Vidvat Ranjan Commentary, Isopanishad – Vedarka-Didhiti Commentary, Caitanya Caritamrta – Amrta Pravaha Commentary, Sri Krishna Chaitanyodayavali – Manah Santoshini Commentary, Brahma Samhita- Prakashini Vritti and Upadesamrita – Piyusha Varshini Vritti.
Accepting Paramahamsa Vesha:
To cherish and immerse himself in the ocean of intimate pastimes of Sri Radha and Govinda, the Thakura accepted the Bhagavata Paramahamsa Vesha in 1908 AD.
Entering into the Eternal Pastimes of Radha and Krishna:
On June 23, 1914, 9th Ashadha, 1321 Bengali era, Srila Sacchidananda Bhakti Vinoda Thakura departed from the material world. It was the very disappearance day of Gauranga Mahaprabhu’s intimate associate Sri Gadadhara Pandita. It was during the madhyanha (mid-day) pastimes of Sri Radha and Krishna when the Thakura re-entered Their eternal pastimes. Six years after the departure of the Thakura, the venerable Mata Thakurani disappeared in the Bhakti Bhavan.
