Latest Posts
Here you will find all the latest posts on the Bhaktivinoda Institute in the form of Articles, Book Chapters, Songs & Poems etc.
Śrī Daśa-Mūla (The Ten Foundational Principles)
The Daśa-Mūla is an important contribution of Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura to the Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava sampradāya. These ten foundational principles give a summary of the teachings of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu as found in Sri Caitanya-caritāmṛta. Below is a short explanation and history of the Daśa-Mūla followed by the Sanskrit verses originally composed by Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura delineating each of the ten topics.
The Lord’s Appearance Festival (Avirbhāvotsava)
Avirbhāvotsava (‘The Lord's Appearance Festival’) was first published in Sajjana Toṣaṇī, Vol.4, Issue 12 in 1893. Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura gives a report describing the annual Gaura Pūrṇimā festival in Māyāpura, and how Śrīla Jagannātha Dāsa Bābājī suggested the Deity configuration at Śrī Yogapīṭha and Śrīvāsāṅgana.
‘The Avatāra’ Biṣakiṣen
This article was first published in 1897 in Sajjana Toṣaṇī Vol.8, Issues 6, 7, 8 and 11 and was written by Śrī Nitya Sakha Mukhopadhyāya, an associate of Bhaktivinoda Thakura who lived in Balasore, Orissa. In his autobiographical letter, ‘Svalikhita Jīvanī, ’Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura wrote about this famous event wherein he brought a bogus avatāra to justice in 1871. However this account by Nitya Sakha Mukhopadhyāya is undoubtedly the most detailed version of the incident. It is not known whether the author was personally present or if Bhaktivinoda himself had narrated it to him in detail. Throughout the article, the author refers to Bhaktivinoda as ‘Deputy Babu’ denoting his government position as the Deputy Magistrate of Jagannātha Purī. It is possible that, out of humility, the Ṭhākura had requested the author not to mention his name.
Remembrances of Śrīpāda Paramānanda Vidyāratna Prabhu
The following is from the 19th and 21st Chapters of Sarasvatī Jayaśrī, published in 1935 by Śrī Gauḍīya Maṭha. This is an account given by Śrī Paramānanda Vidyāratna Prabhu (one of the first disciples of Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Prabhupāda) of his association with Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura.
A Final Darśana of the Ṭhākura
This article 'A Final Darśana of the Ṭhākura', written by a female disciple of Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura named Vidyullatā Devī, was first published in Sajjana Toṣaṇī, Vol.20, Issue 8 in 1918. Śrīmatī Vidyullatā tells the readers of her last darśana of Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura in Godrumadvīpa, and also discusses some of the Ṭhākura’s unique contributions.
Viraha-Gītikā (A Song of Separation)
Viraha-Gītikā (A Song of Separation) was first published in June 1952 in The Gauḍīya, Vol.3, Issue 5, on the occasion of Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura’s disappearance. In this Bengali song, Śrīla Purī Mahārāja narrates the position and achievements of Ṭhākura Bhaktivinoda, and prays to him for his mercy. This song has been translated into English by Swami B.V. Giri.
Remembrances of Śrīmad Bhakti Pradīpa Tīrtha Mahārāja
Śrīla Bhakti Pradīpa Tīrtha Mahārāja was a direct disciple of Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura. In Chapters 25 and 26 of Sarasvatī Jayaśrī, he shares some of his remembrances of Ṭhākura Bhaktivinoda, including his first meeting, his receiving the blessings of Gaura Kiśora Dāsa Bābājī, his initiation and some of the instructions he received from Bhaktivinoda.
Samādhi Observance
'Samādhi Observance' is a recounting of the Samādhi ceremony following the departure of Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura written by Śrī Paramānanda Dāsa Brahmacārī and published in Sajjana Toṣaṇī, Vol. 18. Issue 1.
The Disappearance of Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura
'The Disappearance of Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura' is an excerpt from Chapter 4 of ‘Param-Gurudeva Prabhupāda Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī’ by Śrī Harikṛpā Dāsa. It gives a brief account of the last hours of Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura.
Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura at the Bhajana Kuṭīra of Śrīla Jagannātha Dāsa Bābāji
Should one constantly chant or just do service? This eternal question on the lips of every sādhaka is answered by Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura Prabhupāda in this instructive pastime concerning some errant disciples of Jagannātha Dāsa Bābāji and Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura. This article is extracted from the hari-kathā of Sarasvatī Ṭhākura originally spoken at Śrī Caitanya Maṭha on the evening of December 21st, 1927.
The Biography of Śrīla Saccidānanda Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura
The Biography of Śrīla Saccidānanda Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura by Bhakti Ballabh Tīrtha Mahārāja from the book 'Śrī Caitanya - His Life and Associates'.
Bhāgavatārka Marīci Mālā – Second Ray
In 1901, Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura published the Bhāgavatārka Marīci Mālā (‘A Garland of Rays from the Sun-like Bhāgavatam’). The Ṭhākura took over a thousand quintessential verses from the 1800 verses of Śrīmad Bhāgavatam and complied them into 20 chapters, or ‘rays’ which expound upon various aspects of the Bhāgavata philosophy. Along with the verses, Bhaktivinoda wrote a commentary called the Marīci Prabhā (‘An Illumination on the Rays’). This follows along the same lines as his Gītā commentaries in that his commentary is incorporated within the verse translation. Translated into English by Swami B.V. Giri.
The Inclination to Engage in Pāpa on the Strength of the Name (Nāma Bale Pāpe Pravṛtti)
The Inclination to Engage in Pāpa on the Strength of the Name (Nāma Bale Pāpe Pravṛtti) was first published in Sajjana Toṣaṇī, Vol. 8, Issue 9 in 1896. Herein, Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura gives a clear definition of pāpa (sin) and why sometimes the inclination for pāpa remains in a devotee. He also discusses pāpa in relation to nāma-aparādha.
Śrī Śrī Raghunātha Dāsa Gosvāmī Prabhu, Śrī Śrī Kṛṣṇa Dāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmī Prabhu and Śrī Śrīnivāsa Ācārya Prabhu
'Śrī Śrī Raghunātha Dāsa Gosvāmī Prabhu, Śrī Śrī Kṛṣṇa Dāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmī Prabhu and Śrī Śrīnivāsa Ācārya Prabhu' was first published in Sajjana Toṣaṇī, Vol.2 issues 10 and 11 in 1885. Herein, Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura gives a short biography of each of these famous Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava ācāryas.
Garbha Stotra Verse Nine
In 1870, Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura wrote a commentary to the Garbha Stotra of Śrīmad Bhāgavatam (10.2.26-40) wherein the Demigods pray to Kṛṣṇa within the womb of Devakī. His commentary, the Sambandha Tattva Candrikā (‘That Moon which Reveals the Reality of One’s Relationship with the Lord’) was based upon that of the famous Vaiṣṇava commentator, Śrī Śrīdhara Svāmī.
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. 
