SRILA BHAKTIVINODA THAKURA

This article is written by Daivi Shakti Devi dasi for the appearance day of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura last year. It is pointing out the glories of an important Acharya in our sampradaya. Images used in this article are from the upcoming ‘BHAKTIVEDANTA’, an authorized biography of Srila Prabhupada, compiled and edited by His Grace Purujit Dasa.

Image taken from 'Bhaktivedanta'

Bhaktivinoda Thakur is a great acharya in our Vaishnava philosophy. He said that the second chapter of the Bhagavad Gita was the conclusion of the entire book and was also a great inspiration for his son, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur. One of our spiritual master, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur, derived all his inspiration from his Vaishnava father.

Bhaktivinoda Thakur is a representative of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the Six Goswamis, and all the acharyas who have transmitted the Vedic philosophy to us. Through their pure devotional service, these acharyas can deliver all people from the material world and its sufferings.

Generally, in the grihastha ashram, there is competition and envy. But for a paramahamsa, these feelings are not present. A paramahamsa is a liberated soul who has no desire other than to serve God, Krishna, and is fully engaged in Krishna consciousness. At this stage, there is no room for envy. Like Kardama Muni centuries ago, Bhaktivinoda Thakur also desired to have a child who could preach the philosophy and teachings of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.

In our Vaishnava philosophy, it is said that if someone does not act on the spiritual level but on a material platform, they act like a dead man or a ghost. Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur, who wrote many important and powerful songs in our philosophy, composed one that translates as: “Oh, living entity, wake up! How long will you sleep in the arms of Maya? Now you have the opportunity to possess a human form, so try to wake up and realize who you are.” In this song, Bhaktivinoda Thakur addresses himself to set an example of how one should speak to one’s mind and intelligence to finally awaken and realize our true nature.

Bhaktivinoda Thakur, being a realized soul, was never imprisoned by the illusory energy. He also gives the following advice: “My friend, you are being tossed by the waves of material nature. Try to understand that you are an eternal servant of God, and then everything will stop and you will be eternally happy.” Srila Prabhupada, our spiritual master, also cites Bhaktivinoda Thakur in the Bhagavatam, where he says: “My dear Lord, whatever I have, even my mind, the center of all my material activities, my house, my body, and everything connected with this body, now I surrender to You. You are now completely free to act as You wish. If You want, You can kill me or save me, but in any case, I am Your eternal servant, and You have every right to do whatever You want with me.”

As mentioned earlier, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the Lord, predicted that His glorious names and the Hare Krishna Mahamantra would be propagated in every town and village of the world. Bhaktivinoda Thakur, the father of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur, desired to fulfill this great prediction. We follow in their footsteps under the instructions of an authentic spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada.

The various acharyas show by their example the different ways to serve the Lord. For example, an advanced person in Krishna consciousness will not have the desire to engage their senses in temporary sexual pleasures. Bhaktivinoda Thakur, although married and having ten children, showed that a household can become as pure as Vaikuntha, even in the material world, by being absorbed in Krishna consciousness. By installing the Lord’s deities and serving them, and following the instructions of the Shastras, the desire for sexual pleasures will not be awakened.

The goal of Krishna consciousness is to control the senses. Bhaktivinoda Thakur indicated in a song that the tongue is the greatest enemy of all other senses. If someone can control their tongue, they can easily control their other senses. Krishna tells us that we can control our tongue by honoring prasadam offered to the deities.

In our youth, we are often under the illusion that we will always remain young and energetic, but this illusory pleasure disappears quickly with age. Bhaktivinoda Thakur reminds us that all material pleasures vanish over time.

To free ourselves from the chains of material energy, we must accept an authentic spiritual master and question him submissively. We must accept all his instructions, even if they seem difficult, because the spiritual master has seen the truth. Bhaktivinoda Thakur sang that a true Vaishnava must surrender to his spiritual master like a loyal dog, always ready to protect and serve his master.

Bhaktivinoda Thakur also criticized material studies as obstacles to spiritual progress. In our modern civilization, people are proud to exploit the resources of material nature through various sciences, but this does not represent true advancement of civilization. On the contrary, it hinders spiritual progress.

Bhaktivinoda Thakur emphasized that the most auspicious place to live in this universe is this planet, and on this planet, the land of Bharat Varsha is the best. In Bharat Varsha, Bengal is even better, and in Bengal, the district of Nadia is the best. In Nadia, Navadvip is the best place because it is where Chaitanya Mahaprabhu appeared and initiated the sacrifice of chanting the Hare Krishna Mahamantra.

Upon discovering Vedic philosophy and our eternal position as servants of Krishna, and experiencing the happiness of Krishna consciousness, a Vaishnava will naturally want to share this spiritual happiness. Bhaktivinoda Thakur explains that a true Vaishnava helps others become Vaishnavas.

In the Shreemad Bhagavatam, Srila Prabhupada often uses Bhaktivinoda Thakur’s analogy to describe how we are tossed by the waves of material nature. The mind is always agitated, sometimes accepting things and then rejecting them. Bhaktivinoda Thakur sang in his Gitavali: “My dear mind, under the influence of Maya, you are carried away by the waves of acceptance and rejection. Take refuge in Krishna.” By meditating on Krishna’s lotus feet, we will be saved from the waves of Maya.

It is a misconception to think that a devotee can live alone. A devotee is never alone because the Supreme Personality of God resides in their heart. Bhaktivinoda Thakur prayed to be born as an insignificant insect in the association of devotees. Living with devotees, always engaged in the service of the Lord, is living in Vaikuntha, a realm without anxiety.

Bhaktivinoda Thakur was a great magistrate and a great Vaishnava. He was also the shikshaguru of Gora Kishora Das Babaji, a realized soul who nevertheless accepted Bhaktivinoda Thakur as his spiritual guide. This shows that even a realized soul can receive guidance from other Vaishnavas. Bhaktivinoda Thakur ordered his son, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur, to accept Gora Kishora Das Babaji as his spiritual master.

After the departure of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, religious principles were somewhat lost. Bhaktivinoda Thakur reintroduced the disciplic succession and left behind many books and songs. In 1896, he sent the teachings of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu to McGill University in Canada, manifesting his desire to propagate Krishna consciousness, especially in America. It is touching to know that Srila Prabhupada was born in 1896, the year Bhaktivinoda Thakur was praying to see people from the East and West united in the worship of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.

The various acharyas in our disciplic succession are perfect examples of devotional life. Their lives and prayers inspire us to surrender to Krishna and engage in His devotional service. By following their teachings, we can achieve perfection. In the material world, there are no greater personalities than the acharyas representing Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.

This article might conclude here, but there could be more articles about Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur, as his life and teachings are very rich. Hare Krishna.