Topic: Tributes

Viraha-guṇa-gāna is an anonymous Bengali song of sixteen verses in praise of Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura. It hails him as the eternal associate of Gaurahari who descended in compassion to bestow kṛṣṇa-prema, and celebrates his teaching that the Holy Name is both goal and means. Enumerating the scriptures he gave, it closes praying that devotees worldwide worship his lotus feet for a particle of his mercy.

Delivered by Śrīla A.C. Bhaktivedānta Swami Prabhupāda in London on 3rd September 1971, this lecture honours Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura's appearance day. Prabhupāda extols him as an ideal ācārya who, though a householder and magistrate, showed that anyone who knows the science of Kṛṣṇa may become guru. He closes that Bhaktivinoda left his work unfinished so that his descendants might have the mercy of completing it.