Hare Krishna,

PAMHO, AGTSP

Kindly glorify the pastimes of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura on his appearance day
on 26th Setp. and Srila Haridasa Thakura on his disappearance day on 27th Sept.

Kindly use font type 'Balarama' or 'Sca Goudy' to read the text below.

your servant in mission of Srila Prabhupada

Nanda Gopal Dasa

Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura
(Appearance on 26th Sept.)


Srila Saccidananda Bhaktivinoda Thakura appeared in 1838 in a wealthy family in
the Nadai district, West Bengal. He revealed that he is an eternal associate of
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu by his extraordinary preaching activities and prolific
writing. Living as mahabhagavata Vaisnava, he stayed in the grhasta ashram
until the last few years of his life. Then he renounced everything, accepted
babaji, and entered samadhi, totally absorbed in the loving service of
Gaura-Gadadhara and Radha-Madhava.

'He had a responsible government position as the District Magistrate (high
court Judge), maintained a Krishna conscious family, and wrote almost one
hundred books on Krishna consciousness. At the same time, he served the Supreme
Lord in so many ways. That is the beauty of his life. After a full day of
government service he would sleep four hours, get up at midnight and write
until morning. That was his daily program.'



Thakura Bhaktivinoda took Vaisnava diksa from Srila Vipinvihari Goswami in the
line of Sri Jahnava Mata. Afterwards, he received spiritual inspiration and
direction from Srila Jagannatha Dasa Babaji. Holding an exalted government
post, vast erudition, and spiritual accomplishment never disturbed Bhaktivinoda
Thakura. He remained prideless, Always humble, friendly to all. Charity seekers
at his home always left happy and satisfied. A well-wisher to everyone, he
never kept grudges, even with opponents to his preaching. In fact, he never
spoke a word that would hurt another's feelings. 'The Thakura was always
courageous and acted for everyone's welfare. Keeping personal needs to a
minimum, he led the simplest of lives,' said one pandit. In the following entry
from Saranagati, Srila Bhaktivinoda, who had all pure divine qualities, takes
the role of a conditioned soul to teach us how to advance in Krishna
consciousness. 'you should always absorb your mind in attentively chanting
Krishna's glories. By performing Krishna kirtana you'll gain mastery over the
mind. Give up all false pride. Always think yourself to be worthless,
destitute, lower than straw in the street. Practice forgiveness like the tree.
Giving up all violence toward other living beings, you should never give
anxiety to others. But do good to them, make them happy, and forget about your
own happiness.'



Thus when you become a pious good soul by possessing all good qualities, you
should give up desires for fame and honor. And just make your heart humble.
Knowing that Lord Krishna lives within all living beings, you should respect
and honor everyone at all times. You will attain virtue by being humble,
merciful, respecting others, and renouncing desires fro fame and honor. In such
a state, you should sing the glories of the Supreme Lord. 'O Lord, when will
You give such qualities as these!'



Always anxious to use every moment in loving service of Krishna he followed a
strict austere daily schedule:

8.10 p.m. Rest (two hours)

10-4 a.m write

4-4.30 a.m. chant japa

7-7.30 Correspondence

7.30-9.30 Study sastra

9.30-10 Bath prasadam (half-liter milk, fruit, 2
chapattis)

10-1 p.m. court duties

1-2 p.m. refresh at home

2-5 p.m. court duties

5-7 p.m. translates Sanskrit sastras to Bengali

7-8 p.m. Bath, prasadam (half liter milk, rice, 2chapatis)



Summary daily schedule:

Sleep: 3 hours

Write: 8.5 hours

Japa, study: 4.5 hours

Work: 6 hours



Srinivasa Acarya praises the six Goswamis of Vrndavana, nana
sasrta-vicaranaika-nipunau sad-dharma samsthakapau, lokanam hita karinau. 'the
six Goswamis deeply studied all the sastras in order to establish eternal
religious principles for the benefit of everyone.' Similarly, Thakura
Bhaktivinoda made unlimited preaching contributions to help humanity. And for
this he's known as the 'Seventh Goswami.'



Biographers list three major preaching achievements of Srila Bhaktivinoda
Thakura:

1.. Wrote100 authorized spiritual books
2.. Discovered appearance place of Lord Caitanya.
3.. Introduced preaching innovations.
Besides books (in Bengali, Oriya, English) reviving and explaining Mahaprabhu's
message, he wrote hundreds of poems and songs full of spiritual sentiments and
sastric siddhanta (philosophical conclusions).

'His writings have made the sacred teachings of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu fully
available to everyone modern reader. And they are presented in a form which
carries irresistible conviction and devotion,' said a late disciple of Thakura
Bhaktivinoda.

Sri Krishna-smite, Kalian Kalpa-taru, Sri Caitanya-siksamrta, Sri
Navadvipa-dhama mahatmyam, Jaiva Dharma, Sri Harinama-cintamani,
Bhajana-rahasya, Gita-mala, Gitavali, Sarnagati, and commentaries of
Bhagavad-Gita and Caitanya-caritamrta are some of his works. The following
quote comes from Thakura Bhaktivinoda's Gitavali: 'He who has failed to
carefully worship the lotus feet of Sri Radhika, which are the abodes of all
auspiciousness. He who has not taken shelter in the transcendental abode of
Vrndavana, which is decorated with the lotus flower named Radha. He who in this
life has not associated with the devotees of Radhika, who are full of wisdom
and love for Radhika. How will such a person ever feel the bliss of bathing in
the ocean of Lord Syamasundara's sublime mellows!'



Please understand this most attentively. Sri Radhika is the teacher of madhurya
rasa

(Mellows of conjugal love). Radha-Madhava madhurya prema is meant to be
discussed and meditated upon. He who cherishes the lotus feet of Srimati
Radharani obtains the lotus feet of Madhava, which are priceless jewels.
Without taking shelter of Radha's lotus feet one can never meet Krishna. The
Vedic scriptures declare that Krishna is the property of the maidservants of
Sri Radha. Give up wife, sons, friends, wealth, followers, and speculative
knowledge, all materialistic actions. Just become absorbed in the sweetness of
serving the lotus feet of Srimati Radharani. This is Bhaktivinoda's solemn
declaration.'



During the last 500 years, the original appearance place of lord Caitanya had
vanished under the indomitable Ganges River. In 1888, Srila Bhaktivinoda
Thakura revealed Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's janmasthana at the yogapitha in
sridhama Mayapur. Srila Jagannatha Dasa Babaji Maharaja, a famous saint, and
paramahamsa rasika Vaisnava, confirmed the Thakura's discovery. This most
auspicious event delighted the Gaudiya Vaisnavas from Gaura-mandala to Vraja-
bhumi. He established the worship of lord Gauranga and Srimati Vishnupriya at
yogapitha. In the mood of innovation, in 1896 he sent to universities around
the world a book of slokas, Sri Gauranga-lila smarana which had a forty-seven
page English introduction:"Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu: His life and Precepts."
This act rose from a keen desire to spread lord Caitanya's teachings in Western
countries. Bhaktivinoda Thakura made three predictions concerning a person and
phenomena: "A personality will soon appear," wrote Bhaktivinoda Thakura," and
he will travel all over the world to spread the teachings of lord Caitanya."



His second prediction: 'Very soon the chanting of harinama sankirtana will
travel all over the world. Oh when will that day come when people from America,
England, France, Germany, Russia will take up Karatals and mrdangas and chant
Hare Krishna in their towns!' The third prediction: 'when will that day come
when the faired-skinned foreigners will come Sri Mayapur-dhama and join the
Bengali Vaisnava to chant, Jaya Sacinandana, Jaya Sacinandana. When will that
day be!' Srila Prabhupada said it's spiritually significant that he himself
appeared in 1896, the same year Bhaktivinoda Thakura sent his book overseas.
The will of Lord Caitanya, desire of Thakura Bhaktivinoda, and the mercy of
Srimati Sarasvati Thakura empowered Srila Prabhupada to spread Sri Caitanya's
teachings and chanting of Hare Krishna all over the world. Prabhupada fulfilled
the Thakura's three predictions! Devoid of pride, full of humility, radiant
with pure love for Radha-Govinda, Srila Prabhupada gave all credit to the
previous Acarya. 'We should take it,' said Srila Prabhupada, 'that Srila
Bhaktivinoda Thakura was the origin of the Krishna consciousness movement -
ISKCON in its pure form.'



In 1986, just one-hundred years after Bhaktivinoda Thakura's third prediction,
three-thousand 'fair-skinned devotees' from America, England, France, Germany,
Russia, and fifty other countries gathered at the ISKCON Mayapur Chandrodaya
Mandir in Sridhama Mayapura. They joined one thousand 'Bengali Vaisanava' to
rock the universe by chanting Jaya Sacinandana, Jaya Sacinandana, Gaura Hari.
Srila Sacinandana Bhaktivinoda Thakura ki jai!



In his book Çaraëägati, Bhaktivinoda Öhäkura states, ye-dina gåhe, bhajana
dekhi', gåhete goloka bhäya (Çaraëägati 31.6). Whenever a householder glorifies
the Supreme Lord in his home, his activities are immediately transformed into
the activities of Goloka Våndävana, spiritual activities taking place in the
Goloka Våndävana planet of Kåñëa. Activities exhibited by Kåñëa Himself at
Bhauma Våndävana, the Våndävana-dhäma existing on this planet, are not
different from His activities on the planet Goloka Våndävana. This is proper
realization of Våndävana anywhere. In our Kåñëa consciousness movement we
inaugurated the New Våndävana activities, wherein devotees are always engaged
in the transcendental loving service of the Lord, and this is not different
from Goloka Våndävana. The conclusion is that one who acts strictly in the line
of Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu is competent to offer blessings to sannyäsés, even
though he be a gåhastha householder.



In 1914, on the tirobhava tithi (disappearance) of Sri Gadadhara Pandit (the
incarnation of Sri Radha), Thakura Bhaktivinoda entered the eternal pastimes of
Gaura- Gadadhara and Radha-Madhava. In Godrumadvipa (Navadvipa) Sri Sri
Gaura-Gadadhara, the worshipable Deities of Thakura Bhaktivinoda await to
bless any visitors to Svanand-sukhada-kunja. In Radha-Madhava's nitya-lila
Bhaktivinoda Thakura takes the form of Kamala-manjari to serve Srimati
Radharani. His pushpa samadhi is in his bhajana kutir at Radha-kunda.



Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura ki jay jay !!



SRILA HARIDASA THAKURA (Disappearance day on 9th Sept.)


As Prahlada Maharaja appeared in a family of demons and Hanuman appeared as a
monkey; Srila Haridasa Thakura appeared amongst the lower caste. Haridasa had a
handsome form with all aristocratic features. Highly intellectual, he won all
debates in Sanskrit and philosophy. Yet, he never lost his temper. In his
youth, he became famous for his extreme devotion and ascetism. Though born in a
Muslim family, when he became a Vaisanava, even brahmanas would eagerly smear
their bodies with the dust of his lotus feet.



The Supreme Lord Anantadeva Himself praises Haridasa Thakura, 'even Lord Brahma
and Lord Siva always desire to associate with such devotees as Haridasa. And
the demigods desire to touch the transcendental body of Haridasa. Simply by
saying his name, Haridasa one will be promoted to Krishna's abode.' Navadvipa
was full of gross materialists and Kali worshipers guided by smarta brahmanas
before Mahaprabhu began His sankirtana movement. The smartas forbid loud
chanting by the Vaisnavas on the plea that ''t might awaken Lord Vishnu, who
would become angry and curse Navadvipa with a famine.' But it was Haridasa's
habit to chant Hare Krishna while wandering along the Ganges bank. Every day
before taking his one and only meal he would finish 192 rounds (300,000 holy
names of Krishna).



One time a rascal brahmana challenged Haridasa Thakura. The brahmana said that
the proper method is to chant Hare Krishna silently within one's mind. Quoting
the Vedas, Srimad Bhagavatam, and Naradiya Purana, Haridasa conclusively proved
that loud chanting of Krishna's names gives one hundred times more result than
silent chanting. Yan-nama grhann akhilan, srotrn atmanam eva ca, sadayah
punati... 'Anyone who chants Your name purifies all who hear his chanting, as
well as himself.' SB 10.34.17 Haridasa concluded with. 'Which is better to
feed yourself, or to feed yourself, or to feed yourself and simultaneously feed
a thousand others!' Some people mistakenly think, Since Haridasa Thakura always
chanted Hare Krishna he wasn't relishing the mellows of Radha-Madhava's
pastimes.' Krishna's name is a wish-fulfilling gem (nama cintamani) and the
very embodiment of rasa vigraha. So, by purely chanting the holy names Haridasa
Thakura definitely tasted the transcendental mellows of loving devotion to
Radha-Madhava. Haridasa Thakura, the connoisseur of the holy name, taught
everyone how to enter the rasa sastras through the door of Mahaprabhu's mercy,
received by purely and constantly chanting the holy names of Krishna.



Felling threatened by Haridasa Thakura's conversion to Vaisnavism, the Muslim
ruler arrested him. To enlighten the Kazi Haridasa said, 'All living entities
in creation are inspired by the Lord in the heart to act in different ways.
People of different religions praise the Lord's holy names and qualities
according to the view of their scriptures. The Supreme Lord accepts everyone's
mood. If anyone shows malice towards another's religion he actually shows
malice to the Lord Himself, who is worshipped by that religion. Since God is
one, that person becomes envious of the same Supreme Lord that he himself is
worshipping. Haridasa replied firmly, 'If my body is hacked to pieces and even
if I am still killed - still I will keep chanting Hare Krishna.' The infuriated
Kazi ordered Haridasa Thakura publicly whipped to death. He was brutally
beaten, dragged through twenty-two markets, and thrown in the Ganges. Absorbed
in remembering Lord Hari, he miraculously survived by God's grace. The Kazi,
the brahmanas, and his rivals ran to Haridasa. They gave Haridasa Thakura an
enthusiastic welcome and begged forgiveness for their offences. He forgave them
and blessed them with devotion. Haridasa thought the ordeal was fit punishment
for his having heard Vaisnava blasphemy from the mouth of the Kazi.



Prema-vilasa says Haridasa took diksa from Sri Advaita Acarya. Haridasa Thakura
exerted immense influence from the start of Sri Caitanya's sankirtana movement.
Teaming up with Lord Nityananda, he spread Krishna consciousness in Bengal.
When Haridasa Thakura came to Jagannatha Puri Lord Caitanya gave him a room in
the garden next to His. Every day the Lord sent prasadam to Haridasa. They also
met regularly to discuss Krishna-katha. While, seeing Lord Caitanya's lotus
face, holding His feet upon his chest, and chanting Sri Krishna Caitanya,
Haridasa left the world. Lord Caitanya personally carried the body of Haridasa
to the sea. And with His own hands buried him in the sand. Then Mahaprabhu
begged alms for a festival to honour Haridasa Thakura's departure. Lord
Caitanya paid tribute to His pure devotee: 'Let us all sing the glories of
Haridasa Thakura. Haridasa was the crest-jewel of the world. By his death the
earth has lost its treasure. Out of His great mercy Krishna had given me his
association. And now He has taken him away. When Haridasa himself wished to
leave the world I could not hold him back. Just like Bhismadeva, Haridasa gave
up his life at his own will.' CC Antya lila 11.93-98



The samadhi of Haridasa Thakura is located by the sea in Jagannatha Puri.



SRILA HARINAMA ACARYA SRILA HARIDASA THAKURA KI JAI JAI !!



HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA KRISHNA KRISHNA HARE HARE

HARE RAMA HARE RAMA RAMA RAMA HARE HARE