Śrī Artha Pañcaka (Five Essential Principles)
This overview of Śrī Pillai Lokācārya’s ‘Artha Pañcaka’ (Five Essential Principles) by Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura was first published In Sajjana Toṣaṇī, Vol.7, Issue 3 in 1895. Composed in the 13th century, this concise work on Śrī Vaiṣṇava siddhānta outlines five key philosophical principles that a jīva must grasp in order to progress in their spiritual journey.
Pañca Saṁskāra (The Five Purificatory Processes) – 2
Pañca Saṁskāra (The Five Purificatory Processes) was published in Sajjana Toṣaṇī, Vol.4, Issue 1 in 1892. This was the second article written by Bhaktivinoda on this subject (the first being in Sajjjana Toṣaṇī, Vol. 2, Issue 1). This shorter article gives more details on the meaning of pañca-saṁskāra. One specific point that differs with the previous article is how the Ṭhākura defines the third process of pañca-saṁskāra, namely nāma.
Jñāna (Knowledge)
Jñāna (‘Knowledge’) was first published in Sajjana Toṣaṇī, Vol.8, Issue 7 in 1897. Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura analyses what is jñāna and then defines the various types of jñāna specifically in relation to the jīva - in particular, he explains svabhāvaja-jñāna (inherent knowledge) and prasādaja-jñāna (knowledge born from mercy).
Śraddhā and Śaraṇāgati
‘Śraddhā and Śaraṇāgati’ was first published in Sajjana Toṣaṇī Vol. 4, Issue 9 in 1892. In this article, Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura explains the difference between śraddhā and bhakti, the nature of śaraṇāgati, and the six limbs of surrender.
The Association of Sādhus (Sādhu-jana-saṅga)
Sādhu-jana-saṅga (The Association of Sādhus) was first published in Sajjana Toṣaṇi, Vol.10 issue 4 in 1898. Here in this article, Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura describes the different categories of humans, and how everyone is in need of sādhu-saṅga in order to advance in their spiritual lives.
Epilogue to Śrī Kṛṣṇa Karṇāmṛta
The Epilogue to Śrī Kṛṣṇa Karṇāṁrta was first published in Sajjana Toṣaṇi, Vol.10 issue 5 in 1898. Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura gives a brief synopsis of rāgānugā-bhakti and then lists various ślokas within Kṛṣṇa Karṇāṁrta that describe certain characteristics of rāgānugā-bhakti sādhana.
Śrī Mahāprasāda Vitarka (A Dispute Concerning Mahāprasāda)
Śrī Mahāprasāda Vitarka (A Dispute Concerning Mahāprasāda) was first published in Sajjana Toṣaṇī, Vol.10 issue 8 in 1898. Herein, Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura describes the different opinions between the smārtas and the Vaiṣṇavas concerning Jagannātha’s mahāprasādam.
Śraddhā
Śraddhā was first published in Sajjana Toṣaṇi, Vol.9, issue 8 in 1897. In this article, Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura examines the important topic of śraddhā and its vital importance in the life of a practicing devotee.
Asat Saṅga (Materialistic Association)
Asat Saṅga (Materialistic Association) was first published in Sajjana Toṣaṇī Vol. 11, issue 6 in 1899. In this article, Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura specifically defines two types of asat-saṅga, namely the strī-saṅgī (one attached to women) and kṛṣna-abhakta (one who is not a devotee of Kṛṣṇa)
Saṁśaya Nivṛtti (Dispelling Doubts)
Saṁśaya Nivṛtti (Dispelling Doubts) was first published in Sajjana Toṣaṇī Vol. 4, issues 11 &12 in 1893. Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura tells a story of a Vaiṣṇava who approaches a pure devotee with two doubts in relation to Kṛṣṇa giving bhakti to those who have material desires.
