Vaiṣṇava Nimantraṇa (Invitation to the Vaiṣṇavas)
'Vaiṣṇava Nimantraṇa' is a rare Bengali poem written by Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura in Bihar in 1870. This was unpublished during the Ṭhākura's lifetime and was first printed in Sajjana Toṣaṇī Vol. 19, Issue 2 in 1916. In Vaiṣṇava Nimantraṇa, Bhaktivinoda laments not having been born during the time of Caitanya Mahāprabhu to personally witness His pastimes, His deliverance of the impersonalists, and the flood of divine love that He distributed through the Holy Name. The poem then transforms into an impassioned spiritual call - abandon dry karma, dry logic, and impersonal speculation, and instead fill the heart with Mahāprabhu’s prema. Through the holy name, the soul awakens to its eternal nature as loving service to Kṛṣṇa, attaining peace, one’s spiritual identity, and ultimately limitless divine love.
Rasa Saṅketa (The Indications of Rasa)
This is a rare poem by the Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura called Rasa Saṅketa (‘Indications of Rasa’). This was printed as an appendix to the first edition of his songbook, Kalyāṇa Kalpataru, published in 1880, but was not included in subsequent editions. This poem gives a synopsis of the blossoming of rasa according to the rasa-śāstras of the Gosvāmīs, and includes footnotes written by the Ṭhākura himself. This was later published in 'The Gauḍīya' magazine of Śrīla Sarasvatī Ṭhākura, and has now been translated into English for the first time.
Reflections
Reflections by Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura This English poem 'Reflections' was written by Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura in 1871. The poem was prefaced by the words, “Thoughts on popular topics or occasional notes by Baboo Kedar Nauth Dutta, Dy. Collector and Magistrate.”Alas for those who spend their daysIn festive mirth and joy:The dazzling, deadly, liquid formsTheir hearts fore’er employ.The shining bottles charm their eyesAnd draw their heart’s embrace;The slaves of wine can never riseFrom what we call disgrace.Was man intended to beA brute in work and heart?Should man, the Lord of all around,From common sense depart?Man’s glory is in common Read More...
Madhyāhna-līlā (Afternoon Pastimes)
'Sevā Lālasā' (Hankering for Service) is a rare work by Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura, which was first published by Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura in Sajjana Toṣaṇī, Vol.21 Issues 3 and 5 in 1918, after the departure of the Ṭhākura. This esoteric song describes the desire of Bhaktivinoda in his mañjarī-svarūpa to serve Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī during the various times of the day. It is possible that the latter half of this text was missing or it was left unfinished since the narration ends abruptly at the afternoon pastimes (madhyāna-līlā).
Pūrvāhna-līlā (Late Morning Pastimes)
'Sevā Lālasā' (Hankering for Service) is a rare work by Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura, which was first published by Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura in Sajjana Toṣaṇī, Vol.21 Issues 3 and 5 in 1918, after the departure of the Ṭhākura. This esoteric song describes the desire of Bhaktivinoda in his mañjarī-svarūpa to serve Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī during the various times of the day. It is possible that the latter half of this text was missing or it was left unfinished since the narration ends abruptly at the afternoon pastimes (madhyāna-līlā).
Prāta-līlā (Early Morning Pastimes)
'Sevā Lālasā' (Hankering for Service) is a rare work by Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura, which was first published by Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura in Sajjana Toṣaṇī, Vol.21 Issues 3 and 5 in 1918, after the departure of the Ṭhākura. This esoteric song describes the desire of Bhaktivinoda in his mañjarī-svarūpa to serve Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī during the various times of the day. It is possible that the latter half of this text was missing or it was left unfinished since the narration ends abruptly at the afternoon pastimes (madhyāna-līlā).
Niśānta-līlā (Pastimes at the End of Night)
'Sevā Lālasā' (Hankering for Service) is a rare work by Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura, which was first published by Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura in Sajjana Toṣaṇī, Vol.21 Issues 3 and 5 in 1918, after the departure of the Ṭhākura. This esoteric song describes the desire of Bhaktivinoda in his mañjarī-svarūpa to serve Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī during the various times of the day. It is possible that the latter half of this text was missing or it was left unfinished since the narration ends abruptly at the afternoon pastimes (madhyāna-līlā).
Śrī Kṛṣṇacandra
'Śrī Kṛṣṇacandra' is a rare Bengali song written by Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura in Purī in 1871. This was unpublished during the Ṭhākura's lifetime and was first published in The Gauḍīya, 18th Vol. July, 1940.
Śrī Gīta Govinda Introduction
This is a rare early work in Bengali prose written by Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura in 1868 which was included in a copy of Gīta Govinda. Bhaktivinoda uses the pen-name of Śacchidānanda Premālaṅkara as this was before he became known as ‘Bhaktivinoda’.
Siddhi Lālasā – Song Ten – ‘śrī-kṛṣṇa-birahe’
Siddhi Lālasā - Song Ten ('śrī-kṛṣṇa-birahe') of Gītā-mālā (‘A Garland of Songs’) written by Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura in 1893.