Disapperance day of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura

[Paramananda das]

Please accept my humble obaisences

All glories to Srila Prabhupada





Caitanyera-simhera
nava-dvipe avatara
simha-griva, simha virya
simhera-hunkara
Sei simha vasuk jivera
hrdaya-kandare
kalmasa-dvirada nase
yanhara hunkare

Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Adi-Lila, 3.30-31 (1)
"Thus the lionlike Lord Caitanya has appeared in Navadvipa. He has the shoulders of a lion, the powers of a lion, and the loud voice of a lion. May that lion be seated in the core of the heart of every living being. Thus with His resounding roar may He drive away one's elephantine vices."



This disappearance day of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura and Srila Gadadhara Pandita is a very holy day and with great significance.

Who is Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura really, his internal spiritual identity is Kamala Manjari that is one of Radha Krsnas eternal associates.To external vision Srila Bhaktivinoda

Thakura may appear to be a sadhana siddha , but this is not correct.There is a selfbiography that Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura wrote to his son Lalit Prasada but this book

can easy confuse a neophyte devotee and one may be misled with the idea that Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura was once a conditioned soul.

In his Navadvipa Bhava Taranga he has explained his real identity:



152 Ananga Manjari Sakhi, the younger sister of Shri Radhika, will show great mercy and personally escort me around the Dhama. To the west of the Rasa Mandala we shall visit Shri Dhira Samira (where the gentle breeze blows), and a little further off see the huge banyan tree called Vamsi Vata and the wide bank of the divine river Jamuna.

153 Being questioned by Shri Rupa Manjari, my mistress Ananga Manjari will reply, "This new dasi will be engaged in Lalita Sakhi's service. Her name is Kamala Manjari, and she is very devoted to Shri Gauranga. Please be merciful now and give her entrance into the flow of spontaneous devotional service to our Lordships.

154 Hearing this statement of my mistress, Shri Rupa Manjari will lightly touch my body with her hand of mercy. Her touch will suddenly and deeply impart to me the sublime spiritual emotion of spontaneous loving devotion and the intense desire to perform rupanuga bhajan, worship that follows in her own footsteps.

155 My complexion is like lightning, my dress sparkles with patterns like the midnight stars, I am adorned with various ornaments, and with a camphor tray in my hand I shall fall flat at Shri Rupa Manjari's feet and beg her for the exclusive shelter of Shri Radha's lotus feet.

156 Shri Rupa Manjari and Shri Ananga Manjari will then take me to the private grove of the most charming Lalita Sakhi, the mistress of Svananda-sukhada-kunja, who is sitting inside perpetually thinking about her service rendered to the divine lotus feet of Radha.

157 I shall fall flat and offer obeisances at Lalita's feet and she will ask Ananga Manjari to explain my identity. Ananga Manjari will reply, "This person is an inhabitant of Navadvipa who begs to become your maidservant and thereby serve the Divine Couple."

158 At this, Lalita will become very pleased and say to Ananga Manjari (the personified potency of fresh feminine youth), "Listen, beloved sprout! Give her a dwelling beside your own grove. Keep her there and attentively arrange her desired service."

159 "At the time of performing your own service take her along and gradually she will receive the mercy of Shri Radha. Without the mercy of Radha, have we ever seen anyone attain the service of the Divine Couple?"

160 Hearing Lalita's words, Ananga Manjari will give me a residence next to her own grove, making me her own maidservant. At the time of going to serve the Divine Couple, she will be very affectionate and graciously allow me to accompany her as a friend.

161 Performing my own duties, I shall catch a glimpse of the beautiful Divine Couple in the distance. And then, perhaps Shrimati Radharani Herself will give me a direct order, show me Her personal mercy, and give me the shade of Her own lotus feet.

162 I will perpetually remain absorbed in performing that service, and gradually I will become skilful in its execution. By my expertise, I shall please Radha and Govinda. As a reward for my services, I will from times to time receive prasad ornaments that They had previously worn...

163 ...My dream suddenly breaks and I shall softly weep and weep. Gazing back at Shri Pulina, I will cross the river Bhagirathi. Living in my private grove next to Isodyana (The Lord's Garden) I will worship the greatest treasure - the Divine Couple Shri Shri Radha and Krishna, Who are non different from the moonlike Shri Gauranga.

164 I will worship Radha and Govinda while staying fixed in my own vows, and shall perpetually gaze upon Radha Kunda and Vrindavan. Remembering the feet of Ananga Manjari Sakhi, and remaining immersed in the bliss attained by my particular services performed for Their Lordships, I will thereby drown in pure ecstatic prema.

165 This Bhaktivinoda, the servant of the servants of Lord Shri Krishna Chaitanya, is begging for residence in Navadvipa Dhama. I am eager for the feet of Rupa Gosvami and Raghunatha Gosvami (Rupa Manjari and Rati Manjari), and from them I anxiously beg to achieve my own desired perfect spiritual body and service.



and at the end of his exalted Gita Mala:

(1)

barane tadit, basa taravali,
kamala manjari nama
sade bara barsa, bayasa satata,
svananda-sukhada-dhama

TRANSLATION

This maidservant has a complexion just like lightning, and she is wearing a sari which has star-like patterns all over it. My name is Kamala Manjari. Eternally appearing to be only twelve-and-a-half years of age, I always live within the abode of Svananda-sukhada-kunja.

Verse 2

(2)

karpura seva, lalitar gana,
radha juthesvari hana
mamesvari-natha, shri nanda-nandana,
amar parana dhana

TRANSLATION

I render the service of preparing camphor within the group of Lalita Sakhi. Sri Radha is the leader of our group, and the center of all our activities. And the Lord of my Queen Radha is the delightful Son of Nanda Maharaja, Who is the treasure of my life.

Verse 3

(3)

shri rupa manjari, prabhrtir sama,
jugala sevaya asa
avasya se-rupa, seva pabo ami,
parakasta su-visvasa

TRANSLATION

I always desire to execute confidential service to the Divine Couple similar to that which is rendered by Sri Rupa Manjari and her associates. Thus I will certainly get this kind of service, for I so intensely desire it with the absolute totality of my faith.

Verse 4

(4)

kabe ba e dasi, samsiddhi labhibe,
radha-kunde basa kori'
radha-krishna-seva, satata koribe,
purva smrti parihari'

TRANSLATION

When will this maidservant thus attain such completely fulfilled spiritual perfection, living by the banks of Sri Radha-kunda? I will eternally serve Radha and Krsna, and all of my previous memories will be long since forgotten.





Kamala Manjari is mentioned to be eternally part of Radha Krsnas groups of manjaris and have been mentioned by Srila Rupa Goswami even hundreds of years before Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura appeared on earth.Wether Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura is a sadhana siddha or nitya siddha is not so important.But his many writtings and instructions are.

Soem devotees asked Srila Prabhupada if it is ok to read Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakuras writtings and Srila Prabhupada stated that they must be read after also having studied his books.Srila Narottama das thakuras has sung:



rūpa-raghunātha-pade hoibe ākuti
kabe hāma bujhabo se jugala-pīriti



4) When shall I be very much eager to study the books left by the Six Gosvami's, headed by Srila Rupa Gosvami and Srila Raghunatha dasa Gosvami? By their instruction I shall be able to properly understand the loving affairs of Radha and Krsna.



In our line from Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Prabhupada we take it that Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura is the "7th Goswami", that offends some, but that does not mean we overlook

the other Goswamis, like Lokanath das Goswami ,Srila Visvanath Chakravati Thakura, Srila Narottama das Thakura etc, but as Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakuras teachings

are so important for modern times ,his given this special honorabel title:



http://nimaipandit.ning.com/profiles/blog/show?id=4087284%3ABlogPos...

I had a discussion with Vaisnava Chandan Goswami from Radha Raman temple the grandson of Visvambhara Goswami , and he believes that Srila Bhaktivinoda thakura invented

Caitanya Upanisad.However the fact is there is more Puranas that the 18 main Puranas and 18 Upa Puranas.And also many other Upanisads besides the 108.That Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura revealed the Caitanya Upanisad was his great mercy.(it is part of Atharva Veda and a hidden Upanisad within that text)



Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura also instructed vaisnavas to chant minimum one lahk holy names daily (64 rounds ) as it is the teaching of Lord Caitanya.He also empahzised this for Grhasthas also and stated if they chant this much they are sat grhasthas.



Sadhu-vritti, Sajjana Toshani 11/12:

tinei sad-grihastha-jini pratyah laksha-nama grahana karena, tanhara grihei shuddha-vaishnava-gana
prasada grahana karibena.

“Only those devotees are sad-grihasthas (true and ideal householders) who chant 1,00,000 names of Krishna (64 rounds) daily. The pure devotees should accept prasada (foodstuffs) only in the homes of these sad-grihasthas and nowhere else



Srila Prabhupada wrote:



"So especially in India, the atmosphere is very good. It is especially meant, within this universe, this plot of land known as Bharatavarsa, India, is the most sacred place within this universe. And of the whole land Bharatavarsa, in Bengal, it is very sacred. And the whole of Bengal, this Nadia is very sacredŠThis is the statement of Bhaktivinoda Thakura. Not that I am manufacturing. We cannot manufacture anything, but we can repeat the words of our predecessors. Bhaktivinoda Thakura, in his Jaiva-dharma, or in Caitanya-siksamrta, he has stated like that." (Srila Prabhupada's lecture in Mayapura, Apr. 8, 1975)



The last instructions of Srila Bhaktivinoda thakura is found in his Sva niyama dasakam:



Sri Sri Sva-niyama-dasakam

"12 Verses of My Own
Self-imposed Regulative Principles"
by Srila Saccidananda Bhaktivinoda Thakura
The 1st Verse
(The Objects of Devotion Birth After Birth)
gurau sri-gaurange tad-udita-subhakti-prakarane
saci-sunor-lila-vikasita-sutirthe nija manau
harer namni presthe hari-tithisu rupanuga-jane
suka-prokte sastre prati-jani mamastam khalu ratih
No matter whenever and wherever I happen to take birth, let my loving affection and attachment remain anshaken throughout each and every lifetime for the following things:

for my divine spiritual master,
for Sri Gauranga,
for the detailed topics of pure devotional service (and the methods of its execution) as personally instructed by Him,
for the holy places of pilgrimage such as Sri Navadvipa, Sri Ksetra, Sri Vrndavana, etc. , which are all blooming with divine sanctity due to His performance of wonderful pastimes therein,
for the diksa mantra bestowed upon me by the divine grace of my spiritual master,
for the holy name of Sri Hari,
for the most beloved eternal associates of the Lord,
for the sacred days of celebration throughout the year such as Sri Ekadasi, Sri Janmastami, Sri Radhastami, and the appearance/disappearance days of the great Vaisnava acaryas etc. ,
for the Lord's dearmost devotees who strictly follow in the sacred footsteps of Srila Rupa Gosvami,
and for the holy scriptures narrated by Srila Sukadeva Gosvami such as the Srimad Bhagavatam, etc.


The 2nd Verse
(The Internal Identity of Lord Caitanya, the Eternal Guide)
sada vrndaranye madhura-rasa-dhanye rasa-mayah
param saktim radham parama-rasa-murtim ramayati
sa caivayam krsno nija-bhajana-mudram upadisan
saci-sunur gaude prati-jani mamastam prabhu-varah
The Supreme Lord Sri Krsna is the personified abode of all divinely ecstatic mellow-tastes. And Sri Radhika is the topmost abode of all His divinely potent energies. Indeed, She is the personified form of the highest mellow of love in separation. Within the forest of Vrnda, which is gloriously rich in the all-pervading treasure of the sweetest madhura-rasa, this Lord Sri Krsna is continuously enjoying as He makes Sri Radhika happy by His loving service rendered to Her 24 hours a day. This very same Lord Krsna is exactly identical to the Son of mother Saci Who eternally lives simultaneously yet separately in Gauda-desa as the Instructor of the process for rendering His own service. May this Saci- nanadana become my Supreme Master and Guide, and may He always appear to me just to lead me on the proper devotional path birth after birth after birdh.


The 3rd Verse
(Rejection of Things Unfavorable for Sri Radha-Krishna's Eternal Service)
na vairagyam grayham bhavati na hi yad bhakti-janitam
tatha jnanam bhanam citi yadi visesam na manute
sprha me nastange hari-bhajana-saukhyam na hi yatas
tato radha-krsna-pracura-paricarya bhavatu me
Let no form of so-called renunciation or asceticism become fit for my acceptance if it does not give rise to the continual expansion of my eternal serving mood of loving devotion. And let no form of so-called knwoledge or intellectual cultivation appeal to me at all if it does not admit the reality of eternal individuality shared by the Lord and His devotees during their everlasting daily pastimes. I have no desire at all for practicing any branch of the eight-fold yoga process, for none of them contain any scope for enjoying the daily plasure of serving Lord Hari such as His confidential worship does. Rather, may I render profuse, uninterrupted confidential service 24 hours a day to Sri Sri Radha-Krsna for all of time to come (such service being the means as well as the end) .


The 4th Verse
(Where to Live, and Where Not to Live)
kutire pi ksudre vraja-bhajana-yogye taru-tale
saci-sunos tirthe bhavatu nitaram me nivasatih
na canyatra ksetre vibudha-gana-sevye pulakito
vasami prasade vipula-dhana-rajyanvita iha
May I continuously reside in a small, lonely cottage at the base of a desire-tree in the most holy abode of Sri Navadvipa-dhama, which is sanctified by the lotus feet of Sri Saci-Nanadana. Such a bhajan-kutir is perfectly suitble for constant remembrance of, and service to the divine daily sports that are always present in Sri Vraja-dhama. Indeed, in contrast to this, I will never live in any other place, even if it is bankered for with great enthusiasm by the most wise sages and demigods of all sorts. As far as all other places in this world are concerned, whether opulent palaces or temples, whether possessing vast riches of enormous wealth or princely kingdoms and property ----- all such places cannot attract me as much as my modest bhajan-kutir in Sri Navadvipa-dhama does.


The 5th Verse
(The Real Principle of Dharma Which Is Devoid of Designations)
na varne saktir me na khalu mamata hyasrama-vidhau
na dharme nadharme mama ratir ihaste kvacid api
param tat-tad-dharme mama jada-sariram dhrtam idam
ato dharman sarvan subhajana-sahayann abhilase
I have no attachment at all to any of those caste divisions of society such as brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya or sudra. And I certainly do not identify with any order of life such as brahmacarya, grhasta, vanaprasta, or sannyasa. I have no fondness or respect at all for the so-called piety of religiosity or even for the so-called impiety of sinful life in this world-----not even the slightest regard. Instead , I truly desire whathever is practically required just to maintain this material body in order to facilitate my performance of pure devotional service. This is the actual righteousness that I will hope for as long as this material body continues to exist.


The 6th Verse
(Favorable, Authorized Practices and Devotional Qualities)
sudainyam saralyam sakala-sahanam manada-danam
dayam svikrtya sri-hari-carana-seva mama tapah
sadacaro sau me prabhu-pada-parair yah samuditah
prabhos caitanyasyaksaya-carita-piyusa-krtisu
My austere vow is costant devotion to the lotus feet of Sri Hari. In order to execute that vow, I have accepted the following qualities by my own endeavor:

I practice great humility in my dealings with everyone;
I try to keep simplicity and purity prominent in all of my practical arrangements:
I maintain extreme tolerance in all types of favoreble or unfavorable circumstances:
I offer all respect unto others, regardless of who they are:
I feel genuine compassion for all living entities and act accordingly

There are many transcendental activities which are recommended by the great devotees who are fixed-up in unalloyed devotional service to the lotus feet of Sriman-Mahaprabhu, and these can be found described in the books that are full of the imperishable character and pastimes of Mahaprabhu Sri Krsna Caitanya. Only such transcendentally nectarean activities, being recommended by great devotees and practiced by Lord Caitanya Himself, are indeed my own.


The 7th Verse
(Repulsion from Those Things Which Are Disconnected from Sri Radhika)
na vaikunthe rajye na ca visaya-karye mam ratir
na nirvane mokse mama matir ihaste ksanam api
vrajanandad anyadd hari-vilasitam pavanam api
kathancin mam radhanvaya-virahitam no sukhayati
I have no attraction for living in Vaikuntha, that part of the spiritual sky presided over by Sri Sri Laksmi- Narayana; nor do I desire useless activities of gross sense gratification in this material world. I will never cherish the desire for attaining the divine bliss of impersonalistic liberation, even for a second. Furthermore, there are many transcendental pastimes of Sri Hari that may be very purifying for all conditioned souls -- yet such pastimes will never ever give me any real happiness at all. This is because such pastimes are quite different from blissful ecstasies of Vraja-consciousness, being complitely devoid of any relationship with Sri-Radhika, Who is the one and and only fountainhead of pure joy.


The 8th Verse
(Renunciation of All Kinds of Bad Association)
na me patni-kanya-tanaya-janani-bandhu-nicaya
harau bhakte bhaktau na khalu yadi tesam sumamata
abhaktanam-anna-grahanam api doso visayinam
katham tesam sangadd hari-bhajana-siddhir bhavati me
I now disown my wife, my daughters, my sons, my mother, and all my friends, If they have no genuine attachment for Lord Hari, for His devotees, or for His devotional service. It is definitely a great sin even to accept foodgrains prepared by such non-devotional, materialistic sense-gratifiers. If I were to remain in the company of such persons, then how will the eternal perfection of my Hari-bajan ever come about?


The 9th Verse
(Avoidance of So-Called 'Devotees' Who Proudly Neglect Sri Radhika)
asat-tarkair-andhan jada-sukha-paran krsna-vimukhan
ku-nirvanasaktam satatam ati-dure pariharan
aradham govindam bhajati nitaram dambhikataya
tad-abhyase kintu ksanam api na yami vratam idam
There are certain persons who appear to very advanced in devotion. Indeed, to increase their service to the Lord, they have long since rejected the evil company of:

those who are completely blinded by faulty arguments arising from so-called intellectual logic,
those who are madly addicted to the fleeting pleasures of the dull material body,
those who are averse to and envious of Lord Sri Krsna,
and those who are very fond of the inferior, distasteful concept of liberation as it is cherished by the impersonalists.

They have thus favorably avoided all kinds of bad association; yet it is seen that such persons worship Lord Govinda without Srimati Radarani being present. This just shows that they are actually puffed-up with excessive pride and conceited arrogance directed against Sri Radika, who is Herself the best worshipper of Govinda. Therefore I will never ever go anywhere near such so-called devotees ----- even for a second. This is my strict vow.


The 10th Verse
(How to Live Simply and Perform Vraja-Bhajana Until Death)
prasadanna-ksirasana-vasana -patradibhir aham
padarthair nirvahya vyavahrtim asangah ku visaye
vasam isa-ksetre yugala-bhajananandita-manas
tanum moksye kale yuga-pada-paranam pada-tale
Passing my life in a simple, practical way----

eating only prasada foodgrains and milk products, the remnants of the Supreme, Lord, His mercy,
wearing only prasad cloth that was offered to the Deity,
using only the pots and utensils sanctified by the Lord's exclusive service,
I will thus remain completely aloof from material sense-gratification.

Living by the side of Sri Radha-kunda (Her very own abode), worshiping the Divine Couple with a blissful mind, the time will come for my to die. At the soles of the devotees's lotus feet, who are themselves serving the lotus feet of the Divine Couple, I will thus give up my body.


The 11th Verse
(How to Worship the Lotus Feet of Sri Radhika's Pure Devotee)
saci-sunor-ajna-grahana-caturo yo vraja-vane
pararadhyam radham bhajati nitaram krsna-rasikam
aham tvetat-padamrtam anudinam naisthika-mana
vaheyam vai pitva sirasi ca muda sannati-yutah
There is a class of pure devotee who is completely expert and experienced in following all the instruction of Sri Saci-nandana. Such a devotee incessantly worships Srimati Radharani exlusively, Who is indeed the most worshipable Personality, and who is deeply absorbed every day in relishing the Divine mellows of Sri Krsna's association.The pure devotee of this calibre definitely performs his confidential worship whole-heartedly and with exclusive surrender unto Sri Radhika. Thus he always lives in Sri Vraja-mandala. I shall take the nectarean water that has washed the lotus feet of such a devotee and carry it on my head. Drinking it with great joy, and with a devout heart, I will then happily offer my full prostration upon the ground in the nicest, most perfect way that I possibly can. This will indeed be my routine each and every day.


The 12th Verse
(Firm Determination to Transcend Maya by Daily Following This Stava)
harer dasyam dharmo mama tu cira-kalam prakrtito
maha-maya-yogad-abhinipatitah duhkha-jaladhu
ito yasyamy urddhvam sva-niyama-suratya prati-dinam
sahayo me matram vitatha-dalani vaisnava-krpa
As a spirit soul, my natural tendency is to be eternally situated in the loving devotional service of Lord Hari; however, due to the strong power and influence of the Lord's maha-maya, I have somehow plunged deeply into the fathomless ocean of material sorrow and grief. I shall transcend this world of maya and go to the spiritual world only by faithfully following these self imposed vows every day. And the only way Iwill get the strength to follow these vows is by attaining the mercy of all the Vaisnava devotees of the Lord. May their causeless mercy and softhearted compassion, which wards off all illusion, become my exclusive friend and guide for all of time everlasting.


The 13 Verse
(Phal-Sruti-the Benediction of Eternal Service Gained by Reading This Stava)
krtam kenapyetat sva-bhajana-vidhau svam niyamakam
parthed yo visraddhah priya-yugala-rupe 'rpita manah
vraje radha-krsnau bhajati kila samprapya nilayam
sva-manjaryah pascad vividha-varivasyam sa kurute
This stava named Sva-niyam Dvadasakam was written by someone to adjust and regulate his own personal mode of performing bhajan. If any other devotee happens to chant this stava with a very special quality of resolute faith, fully offering his mind unto:

the supreme beautiful forms of the Divine Couple, Sri Sri Radha-Govinda, his most dear possession,
or to the Divine beauty of Their Deity form,
or to the beauty or Sri Gaura-Sundara, the combined form of Sri Sri Radha-Govinda,
or to Srila Rupa Gosvami, the dearmost beloved devotee of Sri Sri Radha-Govinda and Sri Gaura-Sundara,

----- then that fortunate reader definitely attains his own place of eternal residence in Sri Vraja-dhama. Always following behind his own manjari-guru, in his own spiritual body of a manjari, he finally renders all kinds of variegated eternal services for the exclusive worship of Sri Sri Radha-Krsna.

Thus ends " SVA-NIYAMA DVADASTAKAM"

Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, his last writing.



and also his letter to his son Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Prabhupada is among his very last instructions:





Letter to Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura (1910)



Saraswati!



"People of this world who are proud of their own aristocratic birth cannot attain real aristocracy. Therefore they attack the pure Vaishnavas, saying, 'They have taken birth in low-class families because of their sins.' Thus they commit offenses. The solution to the problem is to establish the order of daiva-varnasrama-dharma - something you have started doing; you should know that to be the real service to the Vaishnavas. Because pure devotional conclusions are not being preached, all kinds of superstitions and bad concepts are being called devotion by such pseudo-sampradayas as sahajiya and atibari. Please always crush these anti-devotional concepts by preaching pure devotional conclusions and by setting an example through your personal conduct.



"Please make great effort so you can start parikram of Shridham Navadwip as soon as possible. It is by those actions that everyone in this world will receive Krishna-bhakti. Please try very hard to make sure that the service to Shri Mayapur will become a permanent thing and will become brighter and brighter every day. The real service to Shri Mayapur can be done by acquiring printing presses, distributing devotional books, and sankirtan - preaching. Please do not neglect to serve Shri Mayapur or to preach for the sake of your own reclusive bhajan.



"When I am not present any more, please take care to serve Shri Mayapur Dham which is so dear to you. This is my special instruction to you. People who are like animals can never attain devotion; therefore never take their suggestions. But do not let them know this directly or indirectly.



"I had a special desire to preach the significance of such books as Shrimad Bhagavatam, Sat Sandarbha, and Vedanta Darshan. You have to accept that responsibility. Shri Mayapur will prosper if you establish an educational institution there. Never make any effort to collect knowledge or money for your own enjoyment. Only to serve the Lord will you collect these things. Never engage in bad association, either for money or for some self-interest."



signed Kedarnatha Datta Bhaktivinode







In his Sva Niyama Dvadastkam he also writes:

for the sacred days of celebration throughout the year such as Sri Ekadasi, Sri Janmastami, Sri Radhastami, and the appearance/disappearance days of the great Vaisnava acaryas etc. ,



The significance is that these days are to be observed as complete fasting or without grains the same is true for Gaura Purnima,Lord Nityananda Prabhus apperance day,Advaita Acaryas apperance day etc




when he writes :.....for the Lord's dearmost devotees who strictly follow in the sacred footsteps of Srila Rupa Gosvami,



that is significant because as followers of Srila Rupa Goswami one is supposed to chant minimum 64 rounds daily as this was the instruction of Srila Rupa Goswami.

IIt is of great significance that Srila Bhaktivinoda thakura left this world on the disapperance day of Srila Gadhadara Pandita who is Sri Radha Herself



Namo bhaktivinodaya saccidananda namine
gaura-sakti svarupaya rupanuga varaya te.

I offer pranama unto Saccidananda Sri Bhaktivinoda Thakura who is the
foremost of rupanugas and the embodiment (prakasa) of Sri Gauranga
Mahaprabhu's sakti, Sri Gadadhara Pandita.





HH Bhakti Vallabha Tirtha Maharaja has pointed out:



Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Goswami Thakur has written, "Devotees in the line of Srila Rupa Goswami do not preach faith in their own powers, but rather direct attention to the source of their spiritual strength. We also do everything for the sake of Sri Krishna Chaitanya, Sri Rupa, Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur and our divine spiritual master." (From Patravali, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Prabhupada's letters, vol. 3, p. 89.) Devotees of the Brahma-Madhva-Sarasvata-Gaudiya sampradaya pay their respects daily to Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur as follows:

suddha-bhakti-pracarasya mulibhuta ihottamah |
sri-bhaktivinodo devas tat-priyatvena visrutah ||

Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur is a transcendental personality who is the root of the preaching movement of pure devotion. He is renowned as one who is dear to Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.



I offer millions upon millions of obiasences to the lotusfeet of Kamala Manjari, (Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakuras ,nitya svarupa) may she bestow her merciful glance upon us all



your servant

 Paramananda das









http://www.bvml.org/SBTP/index.htm

http://www.salagram.net/parishad116.htm

http://nimaipandit.ning.com/profiles/blogs/jaiva-dharma-is-not-fiction

http://www.vnn.org/editorials/ET0306/ET30-8180.html

[Paramananda das]

Shrimad-Bhaktivinoda-viraha-dashakam

 

(Ten verses describing the feelings of separation from Shrila Bhaktivinoda Thakur written for the occasion of his disappearance day by His Grace Bhakti-rakshaka Shridhara Deva Goswami in 1936)

 

          ha ha bhaktivinoda öhakkura guro dvavimshatis te sama

          dirghad-duhkha-bharad ashesha-virahad duhkhikrita bhur iyam |

          jivanam bahu-janma-punya-nivahakrishöo mahimandale

          avirbhava-kripam cakara ca bhavan shri-gaura-shaktih svayam ||1||

 

Alas! Alas! My guru Bhaktivinoda Thakur! It is now twenty-two long years that the world has been burdened with the grief of your separation. You are the personification of Shri Gauranga’s energy and you mercifully appeared in this world being attracted by many lifetimes of the living beings’ pious activities.

 

dino’ham cira-dushkritir na hi bhavat-padabja-dhuli-kana-

snanananda-nidhim prapanna-shubhadam labdhum samartho’bhavam

kintv audarya-gunat tavati-yashasah karunya-shaktih svayam

shri-shri-gaura-mahaprabhoh prakaöita vishvam samanvagrahit ||2||

 

Being most fallen and possessing nothing but sinful activity in my past, I have not been able to attain the joyful treasure of being bathed in the dust of your lotus feet, which brings all auspiciousness to the surrendered. Even so, you are deservedly renowned for your magnanimity. You are the personification of Lord Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s compassionate powers who have appeared in this world in order to bestow upon it his divine blessings.

 

he deva! stavane tavakhila-gunanam te virincadayo

deva vyartha-manorathah kim u vayam martyadhamah kurmahe |

etan no vibudhaih kadapy atishayalankara ity ucyatam

shastreshv eva na paraye’ham iti yad gitam mukundena ca ||3||

 

O Lord! The gods led by Brahma are frustrated when they endeavor to glorify your unlimited virtues. What then can low-born humans such as we accomplish? This is no rhetorical exaggeration, as some scholars may claim, for even Mukunda himself has said the same to the gopis in the Bhagavat (10.32.22).

 

dharmash carmagato’jnataiva satata yogash ca bhogatmako

jnane shunya-gatir japena tapasa khyati-jighamsaiva ca |

dane dambhikatanuraga-bhajane dushöapacaro yada

buddhim buddhimatam bibheda hi tada dhatra bhavan preshitah ||4||

 

You were sent by the Lord when even the most intelligent people’s wisdom was ruined through religious activities which only sought bodily pleasures, through a constant state of ignorance, in yoga which had sensual enjoyment as its goal, in the idea that the goal of knowledge is the void, in the desire to destroy individual consciousness through prayer and austerity, in arrogant pride in giving charity, and from evil practices spread in the name of raganuga-bhajana.

 

vishve’smin kiranair yatha himakarah sanjivayan naushadhir

nakshatrani ca ranjayan nija-sudham vistarayan rajate |

sac-chastrani ca toshayan budha-ganam sammodayams te tatha

nunam bhumi-tale shubhodaya iti hlado bahuh satvatam ||5||

 

Just as in this universe, the moon gives life to the world’s vegetation, revitalizes the constellations and spreads its own nectar with its rays, so too, your auspicious appearance on Earth brought satisfaction to the holy scriptures, joy to the intelligent and a great amounts of ecstasy to the Vaishnavas.

 

lokanam hita-kamyaya bhagavato bhakti-pracaras tvaya

granthanam racanaih satam abhimatair nanavidhair darshitah|

acaryaih krita-purvam eva kila yad ramanujadyair budhaih

premambhodhi-vigrahasya bhavato mahatmya-sima na tat ||6||

 

Desiring the welfare of everyone in the world, you displayed the method of preaching devotion to the Supreme Lord through writing a variety of books which were appreciated by the saintly. The glorious achievements of all the previous acharyas such as Ramanuja, etc., cannot match yours, for you are the embodiment of the ocean of prema.

 

yad-dhamnah khalu dhama caiva nigame brahmeti samjnayate

yasyamshasya kalaiva duhkha-nikarair yogeshvarair mrigyate |

vaikunöhe para-mukta-bhringa-carano narayano yah svayam

tasyamshi bhagavan svayam rasa-vapuh krishno bhavan tat-pradah ||7||

 

You came to give the Supreme Person Krishna himself, whose body is the form of sacred rapture, the effulgence of whose abode is known in the Veda as Brahman, whose mere partial expansion is the goal of the great yogis’ austere practices, who is the source of Narayan himself, whose lotus feet are surrounded by the most advanced, bee-like liberated souls in Vaikuntha.

 

sarvacintya-maye paratpara-pure goloka-vrindavane

cil-lila-rasa-rangini parivrita sa radhika shri-hareh |

vatsalyadirasaish ca sevita-tanor madhurya-seva-sukham

nityam yatra mada tanoti hi bhavan tad-dhama-seva-pradah ||8||

 

You bestowed service to the completely inconceivable divine abode of Goloka Vrindavan, which lies beyond the other spiritual worlds, where Radha, surrounded by her sakhis, whose pleasure is in the transcendental nectar of the spiritual pastimes, joyfully constantly serves in the erotic mood Shri Hari who is worshiped in the moods of parenthood, etc.

 

          shri-gauranumatam Svarupa-viditam rupagrajenadritam

          rupadyaih pariveshitam raghu-ganair asvaditam sevitam |

          jivadyair abhirakshitam shuka-shiva-brahmadi-sammanitam

          shri-radha-pada-sevanamritam aho tad datum isho bhavan ||9||

 

You are perfectly competent to give the nectar of service to Shri Radha’s feet, which was approved by Gauranga Mahaprabhu, which was understood by Svarupa Damodar, adored by Sanatan Goswami, distributed by Shri Rupa Goswami, relished and enjoyed by Raghunath and the rest of Shri Rupa’s followers, and which is respected by Suka, Shiva and Brahma, etc.,

 

          kvaham manda-matis tv ativa patitah kva tvam jagat-pavanah

          bho svamin kripayaparadha-nicayo nunam tvaya kshamyatam |

          yace’ham karuna-nidhe varam imam padabja-mule bhavat-

          sarvasvavadhi-radhika-dayita-dasanam gane ganyatam ||10||

 

I am a wicked-minded fallen soul, so far from you who purify the entire universe. O Master! Please forgive me all my offenses out of your great compassion. I beg you, O ocean of mercy, to grant me this boon that I be included amongst the followers of Shrila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Goswami Thakur, for whom your lotus feet are everything.