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
Prayāsa (Over endeavouring)
This article "Prayāsa (Over-endeavouring)" is the second of a series of articles published in the 10th Volume of Sajjana Toṣaṇī which deals with the six things that are favourable to bhakti and the six things that are unfavourable according to the second and third verses of Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī’s Upadeśāmṛta. This second article deals with Prayāsa – Over-endeavouring and how it can become a serious obstacle to the free flow of bhakti.
Utsāha (Enthusiasm)
This article Utsāha (enthusiasm) is the seventh in a series of articles published in the 10th Volume of Sajjana Toṣaṇī which deals with the six things that are favourable to bhakti and the six things that are unfavourable according to the second and third verses of Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī’s Upadeśāmṛta. This seventh article deals with Utsāha – enthusiasm – Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura explains that without genuine enthusiasm (utsāha) one becomes negligent in bhakti.
Who is a Māyāvādī? (Māyāvādī Kāhāke Bali?)
In Māyāvādī Kāhāke Bali? (Who is a Māyāvādī?), published in Sajjana Toṣaṇi, Vol.5, Issue 12 in 1894, Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Thākura explains in detail why māyāvādīs are considered to be offenders to Kṛṣṇa, and why their so-called displays of devotion are useless.
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. 
