Topic: Biography

This article was first published in 1897 in Sajjana Toṣaṇī Vol.8, Issues 6, 7, 8 and 11 and was written by Śrī Nitya Sakha Mukhopadhyāya, an associate of Bhaktivinoda Thakura who lived in Balasore, Orissa. In his autobiographical letter, ‘Svalikhita Jīvanī, ’Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura wrote about this famous event wherein he brought a bogus avatāra to justice in 1871. However this account by Nitya Sakha Mukhopadhyāya is undoubtedly the most detailed version of the incident. It is not known whether the author was personally present or if Bhaktivinoda himself had narrated it to him in detail. Throughout the article, the author refers to Bhaktivinoda as ‘Deputy Babu’ denoting his government position as the Deputy Magistrate of Jagannātha Purī. It is possible that, out of humility, the Ṭhākura had requested the author not to mention his name.

The following is from the 19th and 21st Chapters of Sarasvatī Jayaśrī, published in 1935 by Śrī Gauḍīya Maṭha. This is an account given by Śrī Paramānanda Vidyāratna Prabhu (one of the first disciples of Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Prabhupāda) of his association with Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura.

This article 'A Final Darśana of the Ṭhākura', written by a female disciple of Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura named Vidyullatā Devī, was first published in Sajjana Toṣaṇī, Vol.20, Issue 8 in 1918. Śrīmatī Vidyullatā tells the readers of her last darśana of Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura in Godrumadvīpa, and also discusses some of the Ṭhākura’s unique contributions.

Śrīla Bhakti Pradīpa Tīrtha Mahārāja was a direct disciple of Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura. In Chapters 25 and 26 of Sarasvatī Jayaśrī, he shares some of his remembrances of Ṭhākura Bhaktivinoda, including his first meeting, his receiving the blessings of Gaura Kiśora Dāsa Bābājī, his initiation and some of the instructions he received from Bhaktivinoda.

'Samādhi Observance' is a recounting of the Samādhi ceremony following the departure of Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura written by Śrī Paramānanda Dāsa Brahmacārī and published in Sajjana Toṣaṇī, Vol. 18. Issue 1.

'The Disappearance of Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura' is an excerpt from Chapter 4 of ‘Param-Gurudeva Prabhupāda Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī’ by Śrī Harikṛpā Dāsa. It gives a brief account of the last hours of Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura.

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.

The Biography of Śrīla Saccidānanda Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura by Bhakti Ballabh Tīrtha Mahārāja from the book 'Śrī Caitanya - His Life and Associates'.