Topic: Religion

Articles on the topic of Religion by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura

Genuine improvement within Brahmo Dharma (Brāhmo Dharma Prakṛta Unnati)

‘Brāhmo Dharma Prakṛta Unnati' 
(Genuine improvement within Brahmo Dharma) was first published by Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura in Sajjana Toṣaṇī Vol.2. issue 3 in 1885. In this article, the Ṭhākura rejoices in the news that the ācārya of the Brāhmos (a sect of impersonalists in Kolkata founded by Raja Ram Mohan Roy) is favouring the concept of prema over jñāna.

Considerations for Non-Vegetarians (Āmiṣabhojī-digera Jñātavya)

'Āmiṣabhojī-digera Jñātavya (Considerations for Non-Vegetarians)' was first published in Sajjana Toṣaṇi Vol.8. issue 4 in 1896. In this short article, Bhaktivinoda Thākura gives a list of quotes from zoologists, scientists and physicians of his day, in order to make the point to his countrymen that meat eating is not natural for humans.

Philosophical Treatise (Darśana-Śāstra)

Darśana-Śāstra (Philosophical Treatise) was written by Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura in 1895 for Sajjana-Toṣaṇi, Vol.7. Issue 1. In this short article, Bhaktivinoda discusses the link between the Six Darśanas of India and the philosophies of the Ancient Greeks. He also briefly discusses the origins of Egyptian mummification.

The Hindu Idols

This thirty-two page English letter "The Hindu Idols" written in 1899 was in response to the Christian Tract Society of Calcutta who had previously published an article entitled, "Prof. Max Muller on Durgā", in which Kālī, Durgā and Śiva were slandered from an evangelistic viewpoint. Bhaktivinoda wrote an exhaustive response on the true identity of the personalities in question. He concludes by briefly mentioning Mahāprabhu and discusses the true Christian attitude of universal love, devoid of sectarian dogmatism, and discusses the nature of prema. It is interesting to note that, due to the academic nature of this letter, he signs off as ‘Kedarnatha Vidyavinoda’ rather than Bhaktivinoda. In 1901, he rewrote and summarised the same article for Dawn Magazine and renamed it, ‘On Durga, Siva and Kali in Their Exoteric Aspects: A Criticism on Max Muller’.

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