Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur Samadhi
namo bhaktivinodaya sac-cid-ananda-namine
gaura-sakti-svarupaya rupanuga-varaya te
I offer my respectful obeisances unto Saccidananda Bhaktivinoda, who is transcendental energy of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He is a strict follower of the Gosvamis, headed by Srila Rupa.
Information - Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura (1838-1914) is a prominent preceptor acharya in our succession of spiritual masters and disciples coming from Lord Krishna. He was a pioneering spiritual leader, a householder, a magistrate working in colonial India under the British rule, a prolific preacher, writer, and poet. He wrote volumes of books reintroducing the pure teachings of Lord Chaitanya at a time when those teachings had practically become lost.
Prabhupāda: …that Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura’s aspiration that the Europeans, Americans, and Indians all together dance jubilantly and chanting “Gaura Hari.” So this temple, Māyāpur Chandrodaya temple, is meant for transcendental United Nation. What the United Nation has failed, that will be achieved here by the process recommended by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu,
pṛthivīte āche yata nagarādi grāma
sarvatra pracāra haibe mora nāma
So you have come from all parts of the world and living together in this temple.
(760115 – Lecture Excerpt – Mayapur)
Bhaktivinode Thakura has sung, “Krsna sei tomara, krsna dite para, tomara sakati ache. Ami ta’kangala, krsna krsna boli, dhai tava pache pache.” “Krsna is yours and you have the power to give Him to anyone you wish. I am poor and wretched and running behind you shouting Krsna, Krsna!” Krsna is unlimited, no one can catch Him, but if someone follows the parampara, he agrees to be captured. Everyone is afraid of Krsna, but Krsna is afraid of Mother Yasoda. That is Krsna’s special mercy.
(760814 – Letter to Sons and Daughters written from Bombay)
Fortunately, at that time, we got a great Vaiṣṇava savant and scholar, Ṭhākura Kedāranātha Bhaktivinoda, who wrote widely and successfully created an interest among the educated public in Vaiṣṇava religion and literature. His discovery of Śrīdhāma Māyāpur, the birthplace of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, which was so long hidden from the public eye, gave a new impetus to its propagation. The age of Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇavism set in. Thereafter, Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Gosvāmī Ṭhākura took hold of Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇavism with a vow to propagate it in its true perspective, even as it was practiced with unparalleled and unprecedented transcendentalism by Śrī Rūpa and Śrī Sanātana Gosvāmīs, followers of Śrī Caitanya. In proper time, he got a great personality who readily shouldered the . . ."
(760119 - Conversation - Mayapur)
Prabhupāda: That is our purpose that, "Europeans and Americans will come, and they will dance here with the chanting, ' Jaya Śacīnandana!' " So that is being done.
So when they chant and dance, I simply remember Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura. That's all. I pray to Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura, "Now they have come to your shelter. Give them protection." That's all. What can I do more? I cannot do anything more.
(740306 - Morning Walk - Mayapur)
“Of the seven holy places giving salvation – Ayodhya, Mathura, Gaya, Kashi, Kanchi, Avanti and Dwaravati – Sri Mayapur is the most important place of pilgrimage. Sriman Mahaprabhu with His advent made His own Svetadvipa descend here, and after four centuries after the disappearance of Sriman Mahaprabhu this place of pilgrimage Svetadvipa will be superior to all other places of pilgrimage of the world. Living in this place removes all sin and offenses and helps pure devotion to grow.”
(Jaiva Dharma – Bhaktivinoda Thakur)
Śrī Gokula, the highest of all, is also called Vraja, Goloka, Śvetadvīpa and Vṛndāvana.
(CC Adi 5.17)
Bhaktivinod Thakur has written this song ”Ohe Vaisnava Thakura”. The official Name for this song is ”Bhajana Lalasa Song 7″. This song is taken from the book Saranagati. Bhaktivinoda Thakura prays to the pure devotees to bless him so that that he can control his senses. He prays that he should continue having faith in Hare Krishna Mantra. He pleads that let Krishna be his. This can be possible only by the mercy of a pure Vaishnava.