Topic: Sajjana Toṣaṇī

Articles originally published in Bhaktivinoda Thakura’s Sajjana Toshani magazine.

The Instructions of Śrīmad Rāmānuja Svāmī – the Ācārya of the Śrī Sampradāya (Śrī Sampradāyera Ācārya Śrīmad Rāmānuja Svāmīra Upadeśa)

Śrī Sampradāyera Ācārya Śrīmad Rāmānuja Svāmīra Upadeśa (The Instructions of Śrīmad Rāmānuja Svāmī - the Ācārya of the Śrī Sampradāya) was published by Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura in Sajjana Toṣaṇī, Vol.7, issues 3 &4 in 1895. Due to the fact that there were not many Śrī Vaiṣṇavas in Bengal, the Ṭhākura wanted to familiarise his readers with the teachings of Śrī Rāmānuja, which are very akin to Gauḍīya Vaiṣnavism. The ślokas that he has included in this article are from Chapter 65 of the Prapannāmṛta-tarpaṇa, an old hagiography of the Āḷvārs and ācāryas of the Śrī sampradāya, written by Anantarāya. The Sanskrit verses from Prapannāmṛta-tarpaṇa are followed by an English translation of Bhaktivinoda's Bengali explanations.

The Dharma of Charity and Padre Dall Saheb (Dāna Dharma u Pādrī Dāl Saheb)

In this article, Dāna Dharma u Pādrī Dāl Saheb (The Dharma of Charity and Padre Dall Saheb), from Sajjana Toṣaṇī, Vol.1, Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura discusses a speech made by Charles Henry Appleton Dall (1816–1886) on the subject of charity in India, and he explains how Dall’s statements are ‘unscientific’ and mistaken. Dall was the first American Unitarian missionary in Calcutta and stayed in India for 31 years until he passed away. He was well-known to Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura who was, for a while, part of his church congregation. Bhaktivinoda met daily with Dall and they had many discussions on religion and philosophy together. Under the direction of Dall, Bhaktivinoda studied the Bible and Unitarian works. Dall had hoped to convert the young Bhaktivinoda to Christianity, but their talks on theology eventually gave more of an impetus to Bhaktivinoda to study the path of bhakti.

Śrīman Nimbāditya

The article “Śrīman Nimbāditya” was written by Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura in 1881 and published in the first volume of Sajjana Toṣaṇī. Bhaktivinoda gives a short introduction about the Vaiṣṇava ācāryas and their philosophies, then explains how he attained a copy of Nimbāditya’s ‘Daśa-śloki’ in Vṛndāvana. He also gives a short narration of Mahāprabhu’s meeting with Keśava Kaśmīri and informs the reader of the date of Nimbāditya.After the introduction, Bhaktivinoda presents the ten verses of Nimbāditya’s ‘Daśa-śloki with a brief explanation for each. At the end of the article, he states that in future, he will present a short commentary on the Daśa-śloki. It should be pointed out here that later, in Sajjana Toṣaṇī Vol. 7, issue 7, Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura wrote another article on Nimbāditya and gave another explanation of the Daśa-śloki.

Śrī Acyutānanda’s Departure (Śrī Acyutānandera Niryāṇa)

In this amazing article, 'Śrī Acyutānandera Niryāṇa (Śrī Acyutānanda's Departure)' from Sajjana-toṣaṇī, Volume 7, Issue 2 from May 1895, Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura narrates the miraculous passing of his eldest son, Annadā Prasāda Datta, also known as Acyutānanda. In this article, Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura writes in the third person.

Bhakta Manovedanā (The Anguish of a Devotee)

In this short editorial, Bhakta Manovedanā (The Anguish of a Devotee) published in Sajjana Toṣaṇī, Vol.10, issue 7 in 1899. Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura decries the killing of animals in Jagannātha Purī, especially monkeys, and laments the local governments decision to build a latrine next to the sacred temple of Lord Jagannātha.

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