Overview
‘Śrī Śyāmānanda Gosvāmī’ was published in Sajjana Toṣaṇī, Vol.2, Issue 6 in 1885. Ṭhākura Bhaktivinoda gives a brief biography of Śyāmānanda Gosvāmī and finally calls upon the devotee community to give support so that Sajjana Toṣaṇī magazine may continue to publish the glories of great Vaiṣṇava personalities.
(translated by Swami B.V. Giri)
This edition’s name is ‘The Śyāmānanda Edition.’ The observance of Śyāmānanda Gosvāmī’s disappearance is on Wednesday 4th of the month of Aṣāḍha this year. Śyāmānanda was born on the full moon day of the month of Caitra in the Karaṇa Dynasty in the village of Daṇḍakeśvara in the province of Utkāla (Orissa).(1) He stayed at home from childhood to adolescence, leaving home as a young man and taking shelter of renunciation. Observing his renunciation, the devotees of Lord Śrī Śrī Gaurāṅga, gave him the name, Duḥkhī Kṛṣṇa Dāsa. Understanding that bhajana is fruitless without initiation, he took dīkṣa from Śrī Hṛdaya-Caitanya, the beloved disciple of the Lord’s associate, Śrī Gaurī Dāsa Paṇḍita. (2)
After receiving dīkṣā and knowing that it is one’s duty to serve the guru, he stayed in the presence of the guru for some time and served him, and with the permission of the guru, went to visit Śrī Vṛndāvana. (3) After coming to Vṛndāvana, he soon received the special mercy of Śrī Raghunātha Dāsa Gosvāmī and other Prabhupādas. (4)
Śyāmānanda’s endeavours in renunciation were extremely wonderful. Everyone was struck with wonder by observing his strict vairāgya. He joined with Ācārya Śrīnivāsa, Ṭhākura Narottama and others, and he remained in Bengal for a long time, delivering many foolish atheists by propagating śrī-kṛṣṇa-bhakti. All these topics are beautifully described in the Vaiṣṇava texts. It is our great desire to publish and spread the glories of all these mahā-puruṣas (great personalities). But we have no way to fulfill that desire; this is because Sajjana Toṣaṇī – she is a beggar with a very frail body. If the devotee community ever nourishes this beggar, then our wish will be fulfilled.
(1) Caitra pūrṇimāte janmilena śyāmānanda (‘Śyāmānanda was born on the Caitra Pūrṇimā’ – Bhakti-ratnākra)
(2) Hṛdaya-caitanya ṭhākurera śiṣya haila (‘He became the disciple of Hṛdaya Caitanya Ṭhākura.’ – Bhakti-ratnākra)
(3) Calilena vṛndāvana iṣṭa-ājñā paiyā (‘He went to Vṛndāvana with the permission of his worshippable guru.’– Bhakti-ratnākra).
(4) Śrī-dāsa gosvāmī ati anugraha kailā (‘Śrī Dāsa Gosvāmī gave great mercy.’ – Bhakti-ratnākra)
(‘Śrī Śyāmānanda Gosvāmī’ by Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura was first published in Sajjana Toṣaṇī, Vol.2, Issue 6 in 1885, 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. 
