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 Kṛṣṇa Bhajanāmṛtam – The Process of Bhajana
The book ‘Śrī Kṛṣṇa Bhajanāmṛtam’ by Śrīla Narahari Sarakāra Thākura, the associate of Mahāprabhu, deals with various controversies, and in particular the guru-disciple relationship. In 1899, Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Thākura published this work along with his Āsvāda-vistāriṇī Bhāṣya (‘The commentary that expands transcendental relish’) in Bengali in Sajjana Toṣaṇī, Vol. 11 Issues 1-4. The Ṭhākura’s commentary is an expanded translation of Narahari’s work. During the time of Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura, the Bhajanāmṛtam was a very rare book, and he searched in various places to find a copy. The text that came to him has several grammatical mistakes in the Sanskrit. There are other versions of Kṛṣṇa Bhajanāmṛtam, with a number of extra paragraphs, however, we have translated the version used by Bhaktivinoda.
Śrī Kṛṣṇa Bhajanāmṛtam – Objections C-H
The book ‘Śrī Kṛṣṇa Bhajanāmṛtam’ by Śrīla Narahari Sarakāra Thākura, the associate of Mahāprabhu, deals with various controversies, and in particular the guru-disciple relationship. In 1899, Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Thākura published this work along with his Āsvāda-vistāriṇī Bhāṣya (‘The commentary that expands transcendental relish’) in Bengali in Sajjana Toṣaṇī, Vol. 11 Issues 1-4. The Ṭhākura’s commentary is an expanded translation of Narahari’s work. During the time of Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura, the Bhajanāmṛtam was a very rare book, and he searched in various places to find a copy. The text that came to him has several grammatical mistakes in the Sanskrit. There are other versions of Kṛṣṇa Bhajanāmṛtam, with a number of extra paragraphs, however, we have translated the version used by Bhaktivinoda.
A Simple Verse Translation of Śrī Śrīmad Bhagavad-gītā
Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura evaluates a poetic rendition of the Bhagavad-gītā in Bengali, providing a brief summary of the Gītā’s contents and offering his assessment of the author’s literary efforts. First published in Sajjana Toṣaṇī, Vol. 12, Issue 11, 1901.
Garbha Stotra Verse Ten
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.
Pañca Saṁskāra (The Five Purificatory Processes) – 2
This article provides detailed exposition of the pañca-saṁskāra (five purificatory processes), with particular emphasis on the meaning and definition of each practice. As Bhaktivinoda’s second treatment of this subject, the article offers refined analysis of the terminology and spiritual significance of pañca-saṁskāra. A notable development from his earlier work appears in the Ṭhākura’s definition of the third process, namely nāma, which represents an important refinement in his understanding of this essential practice.
First published in Sajjana Toṣaṇī, Vol. 4, Issue 1, 1892.
Śrī Daśa-Mūla (The Ten Foundational Principles)
The Daśa-Mūla represents an important contribution of Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura to the Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava sampradāya, comprising ten foundational principles that summarise the teachings of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu as found in the Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta. This article provides a concise 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)
Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura provides a detailed report of the annual Gaura Pūrṇimā festival celebrated in Māyāpura, and describes how Śrīla Jagannātha Dāsa Bābājī offered guidance regarding the Deity configuration at Śrī Yogapīṭha and Śrīvāsāṅgana. First published in Sajjana Toṣaṇī, Vol. 4, Issue 12, 1893.
‘The Avatāra’ Biṣakiṣen
In 1871 a self-styled avatāra was deceiving the people of Orissa — until the Deputy Magistrate of Jagannātha Purī, Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura, brought him to justice. First published in 1897, this account by his associate Śrī Nitya Sakha Mukhopadhyāya is the most detailed telling of that famous episode.
Remembrances of Śrīpāda Paramānanda Vidyāratna Prabhu
What was it like to keep the company of Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura? Śrī Paramānanda Vidyāratna Prabhu — one of the first disciples of Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī — recalls his personal association with the Ṭhākura in these remembrances drawn from the 19th and 21st chapters of Sarasvatī Jayaśrī (1935).
A Final Darśana of the Ṭhākura
A devoted disciple recounts the last time she beheld her spiritual master. First published in Sajjana Toṣaṇī in 1918, this tender article recalls a final darśana of Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura at Godrumadvīpa, with reflections on his 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.
Remembrances of Śrīmad Bhakti Pradīpa Tīrtha Mahārāja
From a first meeting to initiation and the blessings of Gaura Kiśora Dāsa Bābājī — a direct disciple of the Ṭhākura shares his intimate remembrances of Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura, drawn from chapters 25 and 26 of Sarasvatī Jayaśrī.
Samādhi Observance
When Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura departed this world, his samādhi ceremony was observed with deep solemnity. Published in Sajjana Toṣaṇī, Vol. 18, Issue 1, this eyewitness account preserves that sacred occasion and the mood of separation among the assembled devotees.
The Disappearance of Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura
The final hours of a great ācārya's life on earth. Excerpted from Chapter 4 of the biography Param-Gurudeva Prabhupāda Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī, this brief and moving account describes the last moments of Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura before his departure.
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.