Nāḍā
Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura addresses the question of Advaita Ācārya’s physical appearance, examining whether he possessed a beard and whether he was bald. Drawing upon evidence from various śāstra, the author elucidates the true meaning of the word nāḍā and provides a scholarly analysis of this traditionally debated topic. First published in Sajjana Toṣaṇī, Vol. 7, Issues 9–11, 1896.
The Instructions of Śrīmad Rāmānuja Svāmī – the Ācārya of the Śrī Sampradāya (Śrī Sampradāyera Ācārya Śrīmad Rāmānuja Svāmīra Upadeśa)
Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura presents the teachings of Śrīmad Rāmānuja Svāmī, the preeminent ācārya of the Śrī Sampradāya, through a carefully selected series of Sanskrit verses drawn from Chapter 65 of the Prapannāmṛta-tarpaṇa, an ancient hagiographical text of the Āḷvārs and ācāryas of the Śrī sampradāya composed by Anantarāya. Recognising that few Śrī Vaiṣṇavas were present in Bengal at the time, Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura sought to acquaint his readers with the philosophical teachings of Śrī Rāmānuja, which bear considerable affinity to Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇavism. Each Sanskrit verse is accompanied by an English translation of Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura’s Bengali explanations, making these profound teachings accessible to a wider audience. First published in Sajjana Toṣaṇī, Vol. 7, Issues 3 & 4, 1895.
Śrīman Nimbāditya
Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura presents an introductory overview of prominent Vaiṣṇava ācāryas and their philosophies, then recounts how he obtained a copy of Nimbāditya’s ‘Daśa-śloki’ whilst in Vṛndāvana. The article includes a brief narration of Mahāprabhu’s meeting with Keśava Kaśmīri and establishes the historical period of Nimbāditya. Bhaktivinoda then presents all ten verses of the ‘Daśa-śloki’ with concise explanations for each, concluding with an announcement that he will provide a fuller commentary on the text in a subsequent publication. It is noteworthy that Bhaktivinoda later returned to the subject, offering an alternative exposition of the ‘Daśa-śloki’ in a further article on Nimbāditya. First published in Sajjana Toṣaṇī, Vol. 1, 1881.
Śrī Acyutānanda’s Departure (Śrī Acyutānandera Niryāṇa)
Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura narrates the miraculous passing of his eldest son, Annadā Prasāda Datta, also known as Acyutānanda. The account is written in the third person and presents a remarkable record of the spiritual circumstances surrounding the departure of this significant figure in the life and work of Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura. First published in Sajjana-toṣaṇī, Volume 7, Issue 2, 1895.
British Rule and the Vaiṣṇavas (Britis-rājya u Vaiṣṇava-vṛnda)
Herein, Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura praises British rule in India as favourable for Vaiṣṇavas when compared to previous regimes. The article examines the relationship between Vaiṣṇava communities and colonial governance, arguing that the British administration provided conditions more conducive to religious practice and scholarly pursuit than earlier periods. First published in Sajjana Toṣaṇī, Vol. 1, Issue 1, 1881.
The Society of Śrī Gaurāṅga (Śrī Gaurāṅga Samāja)
Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura deliberates upon what constitutes the actual society of Śrī Gaurāṅga and explains the true meaning of iṣṭa-goṣṭhi according to Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta. This article was first published in Sajjana Toṣaṇī, Vol. 10.
The Temple of Jagannath at Puri
This essay examines the history of the establishment of the great temple in Purī, Orissa, whilst also addressing the hypocrisy of temple priests in contrast to sincere devotional worship in pure love of God. The piece presents a critical analysis of institutional religious practice and the corruption of priestly authority, emphasising the importance of authentic bhakti over ritualistic formalism. First published as “The Temple of Jagannath at Puri” in 1871.
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