(From Sajjana Toṣaṇī, Vol. 18. Issue 1, published in 1915)

Last Saturday on 11th of the month of Pauṣa at Śrīdhāma Navadvīpa on the island of Godruma, a large number of pure devotees from different parts of Bengal gathered to attend the memorial service and samādhi ceremony of the crest-jewel of the Vaiṣṇava community, Śrī Śrīmat Kedaranātha Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura.

The children of Śrīmad Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura, his disciples, followers from various branches, and many other mahātmās devoted to Hari were present. Only Śrīla Ṭhākura’s third son, Babu Kamalā Prasāda Datta M.A.B.L., due to unavoidable reasons, could not be present despite his unparalleled affection.

In the memorial ceremony, following the proposal of Śrīyukta Ray Radhikacharan Dutt Bahadur, M.A.B.L., and with the approval of Śrīyukta Prabodh Narayan Bandyopadhyay, M.A.B.L., Śrīyukta Lalita Lal Ghosh, an eminent devotee aged seventy, graciously assumed the position of president of the memorial ceremony. At the request of the respected president, the best of scholars, Śrīyukta Bimala Prasad Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Mahodaya, recounting several incidents from the life of Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura, provided the assembled devotees with a brief introduction to the Ṭhākura’s teachings. The Memorial Committee was created after the Ṭhākura’s disciple Bhajana-śila Paṇḍita Śrīyukta Sītānātha Dāsa Mahāpatra Bhakti-tīrtha Mahodaya narrated the details of his Prabhupāda. After that, the committee was formed.

Prabhupāda Śrī Madhusūdana Gosvāmī Sārvabhauma Mahodaya of the family of Śrīmad Gopāla Bhaṭṭa Gosvāmī was unable to attend the gathering at Śrī Godruma due to several reasons, and a letter of his was read out. Madhva Gauḍeśvarācārya Prabhupāda Hīrālāl Gosvāmī of the family of Śrīmad Gopāla Bhaṭṭa, endorsed the proceedings of the memorial committee.

Unable to attend the memorial and samādhi observance, the best of scholars, Śrīyukta Rāsa-viharī Sāṅkhya-tīrtha Mahāśaya, sent a heartfelt letter showcasing his devotion and scholarship, which was read out at the event.

Unable to attend due his physical disposition, Paṇḍita-pravara Śrīyukta Vaikuṇṭhanātha Vacaspati Mahāśaya composed letters and poems, which were announced during the event. A number of Sanskrit poems written by the Paṇḍita-pravara Śrīyukta Vaikuṇṭhanātha Kavi-ratna on the occasion of the Ṭhākura’s samādhi observance were also read in the meeting.

The king of Kashim Bazaar the king of Uttarpāḍā, Śrīyukta Pyāri-mohana Mukhopādhyāya M.A., B.L.C.I.E., expressed their regret for not being able to attend the memorial ceremony and samādhi observance, conveying their sorrow through written letters, which were also read out at the event.

The English Literature professor, of Krishnanagar College, Lokpriya Śrīyukta Hemchandra Sarkar M.A., was unable to attend due to his trip abroad. However, the heartfelt letters he wrote containing special proposals for the memorial ceremony were particularly appreciated and approved by the dignified gentlemen present at the event. His first proposal was to publish the biography and collected works of Ṭhākura Bhaktivinoda simultaneously. Secondly, a suitable and sturdy samādhi-mandira was proposed to be constructed at the site of his samādhi. Thirdly, the sole aim of the Ṭhākura’s life, which was to propagate the practice of sādhana for the eternal life of the jīva, was proposed to be disseminated. Fourthly, it was suggested to establish a seat for the propagation of the true teachings of Śrī Mahāprabhu. In addition, a proposal was put forth by the honourable Dr. Deb Prasad Sarbadhikari M.A. D.L., C.I.E., the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calcutta, along with Śrīyukta Hema Babu and other respected individuals, suggesting that if a chair for the study of bhakti-śāstras in memory of Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura were established at the university, it would ensure the appropriate preservation of his memory.

When discussing Śri Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura’s unmatched humility, extraordinary simplicity, universal acceptance, firm commitment to renouncing undesirable associations, avoidance of prestige, devotion to the Supreme Lord, selfless service for the welfare of the people, unwavering faithfulness, and love for truth etc, all these necessary and exemplary qualities are seen in very few people. Following such an ideal character is indispensable for the ultimate welfare of society. Members of society should consider it to be their duty to maintain the memory of such great personalities and show their gratitude.

The next day, in the morning of the 17th of Pauṣa, under the supervision of Madhva Gauḍeśvarācārya Prabhupāda Hīrālāl Gosvāmī of the family of the Vaiṣṇava-smṛtyācārya, Śrīpāda Gopāla Bhaṭṭa Gosvāmī, the holy samādhi rituals were successfully completed according to the method given in Saṁskāra Dīpikā written by Śrīpāda Gopāla Bhaṭṭa Gosvāmī. Śrīpāda Bhaktivinoda was a personality designated by Śrī Mahāprabhu and His intimate associate. He had immense faith in worshiping His dear Lord, Śrī Gaurasundara, by making every aspect of his life a form of bhajana. He who rejected bad association, who only considered service to Gaura propagated by Śrī Gaursundara’s associate-devotees to be unalloyed bhajana and served them accordingly, that foremost expert in the kingdom of śrī–gaura-bhakti who was inclined towards unceasing Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa bhajana – may the last remains of Śrī Bhaktivinoda Gosvāmī’s paramahaṁsa form become a transcendental example, a true seat of bhajana in Śrīdhāma, and remain as a most supremely auspicious place for the society of devotees in future.

On the occasion of the samādhi festival of Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura, thā-patra or mālasā-bhoga etc. * was offered to Śrī Mahāprabhu and His devotees according to the injunctions of the sampradāya. Furthermore, the assembled devotees honoured the samādhi observation by accepting śrī-mahāprasāda. Also, the organiser of the samādhi ceremony, param-pūjyapāda Śrīyukta Kṛṣṇa Dāsa Bābājī Mahodaya, the model of equipoised Vaiṣṇava impartiality and the respected sun of the bhaktivinoda-parivāra, will be serving both the physical samādhi and the true internal samādhi accordingly. Due to this, he is the recipient of love for the Ṭhākura’s disciplic succession and the pure Vaiṣṇavas.

Śrī Paramānanda Dāsa Brahmacārī

NOTE
* Ṭhā-patra is a presentation of various items such as fruits, sweets, flowers, incense, and sometimes money. Mālasā-bhoga is special prasāda made with yoghurt, flat rice, puffed rice, dry-fried rice, ghee and jaggery and kept in open clay pots.