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Revision as of 03:12, 16 June 2014
| Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | September 2, 1838 |
| Died | June 23, 1914 |
| Predecessor | Srila Jagannatha dasa Babaji |
| Successor | Gaurakisora Dasa Babaji |
| Children | Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura |
Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur (September 2, 1838 – June 23, 1914), a prominent figure among the Gaudiya Vaishnavas of Bengal, was born Kedarnath Datta in the town of Birnagar, Bengal, India. He was the son of Raja Krsnananda Datta and Jagat Mohini Devi. Professionally, he was a High Court judge in Jagannath Puri in Odisha.
Bhaktivinoda married and had several children, including Bimal Prasad ( later Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura), the founder of the Gaudiya Math and the guru of A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. ) Bhaktivinoda was also the father, as well as the initiating guru, of Lalita Prasad Thakur. The two brothers had substantial disagreements on how their father's spiritual heritage was to carry on, Bimal Prasad more inclined for preaching and the establishment of Varnashrama-dharma, Lalita Prasad more inclined for the esoteric mode of raganuga-worship.
He revived the Sankirtan Movement started by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.
Bhaktivinoda was among the first Vaishnava scholars to present the teachings of Caitanya Mahaprabhu and the principles of Gaudiya Vaishnava Theology to the English speaking world.
Bhaktivinoda took initiation (diksha) from Bipin Bihari Goswami, a descendant of the family dynasty of Vamsivadananda Thakur, a companion of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's, and an initiate in the lineage descending from Sri Jahnava Thakurani, the wife of close associate of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Nityananda. In his autobiography entitled Svalikhita-jivani, Bhaktivinoda narrates how he had long prayed for a suitable guru, and felt his prayers were responded to in a dream as Sri Chaitanya himself directed him to Bipin Bihari.
From the very beginning of Chaitanya's bhakti movement in Bengal, Haridasa Thakur and others Muslim or Hindu by birth were the participants. It is said that this openness received a boost from Bhaktivinoda Thakura's broad-minded vision in the late 19th century and was institutionalized by Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati in his Gaudiya Matha in the 20th century.
He predicted coming of the day when fortunate non-Indian Vaishnavas would perform Harinama Sankirtan in different cities of the world. This prediction was fulfilled by A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.
Bhaktivinoda later accepted his siksa guru as Srila Jagannatha dasa Babaji Maharaj, who is said to have lived for 135 years. Bhaktivinoda accepted the babaji vesh (cloth) in 1908 and adopted the lifestyle of a Vaishnava recluse. He continued to travel between Kolkata and Puri until 1910. Then he spent most of his time living quietly at home unable to travel much due to poor health until his death June 23, 1914. His remains were interred at Godruma, one of the nine islands of Navadwip.
Predictions
Many Gaudiya followers believe that Thakura predictions laid the foundation of the worldwide spread of the bhakti yoga movement. He predicted the coming of the day when fortunate non-Indian Vaishnavas would perform Harinama Sankirtan in different cities of the world.
In one of his articles entitled "From Moses to Mahaprabhu" he remarked:
It has been seen that any rasa that appears in India eventually spreads to the western countries, therefore madhurya rasa will soon be preached throughout the world. Just as the Sun first rises in India and gradually spreads its light to the West, the matchless splendor of spiritual truth appears first in India and gradually spreads to the Western countries.
He also envisioned that many devotees from all nationalities would assemble at Mayapur to sing the names of Krishna and Chaitanya. He predicted that a great acharya would come to create a worldwide movement to propagate the sankirtana mission.
His works
Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura has broadcast the teachings of Sriman Mahaprabhu in many different languages. He has written approximately one hundred books in Sanskrit, Bengali, Oriya, Hindi, Urdu and English, listed in Bhaktivinoda Thakur bibliography.
See also
References
- Edwin Bryant, The Quest for the Origins of Vedic Culture: The Indo-Aryan Invasion Debate. Oxford University Press, 2001, p. 53, citing Shukavak Das, "Bhaktivinode and the Problem of Modernity." Journal of Vaishnava Studies, 5:127-150 (1996).
- Bipin Bihari Goswami, Dasamula-rasa (pp.1216-1219)
- Svalikhita-jivani 299-300
- Sherbow, P.H. (2004). "AC Bhaktivedanta Swami's Preaching In The Context Of Gaudiya Vaishnavism". The Hare Krishna Movement: the Postcharismatic Fate of a Religious Transplant: p.139.
{{cite journal}}:|pages=has extra text (help) - ^ Sajjana Tosani 4.3, 'Nityadharma Suryodoy'
- Satsvarupa dasa Goswami (1991). "Appreciating Srila Prabhupada In Parampara". Prabhupada Appreciation. sdgonline.org. ISBN 0-911233-77-6.
External links
- The Bhaktivinoda Chronicles including his autobiography
- Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur - biography
- A Garland of Vaishnava Truths by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura (1892)
- Nonsectarian Religion by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura (1880)