Topic: Book Review

Articles on the topic of Book Review by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura

A Collection of Jewel-like Verses (Padaratnāvalī)

In this article, Pada-ratnāvalī, first published in Sajjana Toṣaṇī (Vol.2, Issue 9) in 1885, Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura reviews a book on Vaiṣṇava songs edited by the famous Rabindranath Tagore. Although Bhaktivinoda appreciates and encourages the endeavours of Rabindranath, he also points out some philosophical errors, especially in relation to comparing Śrī Caitanya with the French philosopher, Auguste Comte.

Samālocana (A Review of Three Books)

In this book review from Sajjana Toṣaṇī Vol. 6 Issue 4 published in 1894, Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura critiques three books – one on Śrīla Raghunātha Dāsa Gosvāmī, one on present day Vaiṣṇavism, and one on the Vaiṣṇava poet Cāṇḍīdāsa. As always, the Ṭhākura is very analytical in his appraisal and in most cases, provides a very balanced point of view.

Siddhānta-Ratna – Written by Śrīyukta Upendra-mohana Gosvāmī of Khaḍadara

Siddhānta-Ratna – Praṇetā Śrīyukta Upendra-mohana Gosvāmī Nivāsa Khaḍadara (Siddhānta-Ratna – Written by Śrīyukta Upendra-mohana Gosvāmī of Khaḍadara) was published in Sajjana Toṣaṇī, Vol.1 in 1881. In this book review, Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura praises the author of a new book on philosophy, but bemoans the fact that the style of his language is unreadable to most people.

Prabodhānanda and Prakāśānanda

In this article, ‘Prabodhānanda and Prakāśānanda’ first published in Sajjana Toṣaṇī, Vol. 13. issue 1 in 1901 under the title ‘Samālocana’, Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura reviews a book which claims that the Vaiṣṇava ācārya Prabodhānanda Sarasvatī and the māyāvādī Prakāśānanda Sarasvatī are one and the same person.

‘Śrī Muralī Vilāsa’

‘Śrī Muralī Vilāsa’ was first published in Sajjana Toṣaṇī, Vol.6 issue 4 in 1894. Śrīla Bhaktivinoda discusses the book Muralī Vilāsa by Śrī Rāja-vallabha Gosvāmī, a descendant of Śrīla Vaṁśīvadanānanda Ṭhākura, and also explains the concept of kalpa-bheda in harmonising chronological inconsistencies in the ācārya’s works.

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