Overview
Samālocanā (A Critique of the book 'Vanamālā') was first published in Sajjana Toṣaṇi, Vol.1 in 1881. In this short book review, Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura warns his readers about mixing jñāna with bhakti.
(translated by Swami B.V. Giri)
Vanamālā – Śrī Chiranjiva Sharma has written this spiritual padyāvalī (an anthology of verses). Printed on a press, the book costs 4 Annas, and is complete with 58 pages.
We have read many parts of this book. The verses are composed in new metres. There is some depth, but it is not sweet. The book is written about the Supreme Lord, but the author has given no sign of any bhakti. There is hari-nāma in almost all the verses, but the unfortunate thing is that the pursuit of knowledge is so prevalent everywhere, that not even a trace of pure prema can be found. Hari-bhakti must naturally be devoid of any trace of karma, jñāna etc. Wherever karma or jñāna dominate, bhakti disappears from there. Only pure devotees of Hari can understand how far the following verse goes against bhakti:
bhautika padārtha jīva-deha bheda kari
paśe viśvāsīra cakṣu brahma rūpā-dhare
dekhe se sarvatra cidānandera laharī
kona vyavadhāna tathā tiṣṭibāre nā-re
(“One Distinguishes the body of the jīva to be comprised of material elements, then the eye of one with faith beholds the form of Brahman. Seeing Him, he feels waves of divine bliss, understanding that there is no division between them.”)
This sort of thing is seen in many verses. It is clear that the author has no realisation of bhakti-rasa, especially after discussing the Karma Śāstra, Jñāna Śastra and Bhakti Śāstra. Although the phrase, viśvāsīra cakṣu (‘the eye of one with faith’) may be understood as coming from a theistic intelligence, this verse is not consistent everywhere else. Kona vyavadhāna tathā tiṣṭibāre nāre (‘There is no division between them’) – it seems that by applying such a phrase, the specific eternal distance between the jīva and Brahman will also be removed. If that is so, then Advaitavāda, which is opposed to bhakti-tattva, becomes victorious.
(Samālocana – ‘A Critique of the Book ‘Vanamālā’ by Śrīla Bhaktivinod Ṭhākura was first published in Sajjana Toṣaṇi, Vol.1 in 1881 and translated into English by Swami B.V. Giri)
More Articles by Bhaktivinoda Thakura
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‘Brāhmo Dharma Prakṛta Unnati' (Genuine improvement within Brahmo Dharma) was first published by Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura in Sajjana Toṣaṇī Vol.2. issue 3 in 1885. In this article, the Ṭhākura rejoices in the news that the ācārya of the Brāhmos (a sect of impersonalists in Kolkata founded by Raja Ram Mohan Roy) is favouring the concept of prema over jñāna.
Sad-guṇa and Bhakti
Sad-guṇa and Bhakti was first published in 1893, in Volume 5 of Sajjana Toṣaṇī, this article describes the many auspicious qualities found in the personality of a Vaiṣṇava, and Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura points out how all such qualities naturally appear wherever bhakti is found.
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Praśnottara (A Question and Answer Concerning Śrī Kṛṣṇa Saṁhitā) is an undated article by Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura which was republished in the 18th volume of the Gauḍīya Magazine in 1939. Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura answers a question concerning the Bhāgavatam’s narration of kṛṣṇa-līlā, as found in his work, Śrī Kṛṣṇa Saṁhitā.
On 18th August 2012, on the occasion of his Vyāsa Pūjā, Śrīla Bhakti Gaurava Narasiṅgha Mahārāja announced to the devotees that he had a strong desire to create a website called “Bhaktivinoda Institute” in honour of Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura and his teachings in order to preserve and propagate them. 
