More Gaudiya Vaishnava Nectar

The Life of Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur

(Birth)
SBT was born on 2 Sept. 1838 on a Sunday in Biranagara (Ulagrama) in 
the Nadia district. He was the seventh son of Raja Krsnananda Datta, a 
great devotee of Lord Nityananda. He was also known as the great 
grandson of Madana Mohana and the third son of his Godfather 
Anandacandra. He would be known as daitya-kulera prahlada (Prahlada in 
the family of demons). This was because Vaisnavism was not very much 
respected in his family; on his mother's side, there was no respect 
for Vaisnavism at all. He was named Kedaranatha by his Godfather.

(Childhood)
His childhood was spent at the mansion of his maternal grandfather 
Mustauphi Mahasaya in Biranagara. His environment at this time was 
very opulent. He got his elementary education at the primary school 
started by his grandmother. Later he attended an English school in 
Krishnanagara, started by the King of Nadia; he left that school when 
his older brother died unexpectedly of cholera.

When he was 11 years old, his father passed away. Subsequently, the 
grant of land that had been conferred upon his grandmother changed 
owners; at this time the family fell into a condition of poverty - 
their great wealth proved to be illusory. Still, Kedaranatha Datta 
passed over these difficulties with great endurance.

(Marriage and studies) 
His mother arranged a marriage for him when he was 12 (1850) to the 5 
year old daughter of Madhusudana Mitra Mahasaya, a resident of Rana 
Ghata.

Around this time Kasiprasada Ghosh Mahasaya Thakur (KD's uncle), who 
had mastered British education, came to Ulagrama after the death of 
his maternal grandfather. He schooled young KD at his home in 
Calcutta; this was at first resisted by KD's mother, but by the time 
he was 13 he was allowed to go. The house was situated in the Heduya 
district of central Calcutta. Kasiprasada was the central figure of 
the literary circle of his time, being the editor of the Hindu 
Intelligencer; many writers came to him to learn the art of writing in 
correct English. KD assisted KP by judging manuscripts submitted to 
the newspaper. KD studied KP's books and also frequented the public 
library. He attended Calcutta's Hindu Charitable Institution high 
school and became an expert English reader, speaker, and writer.

He became ill from the salty water of Calcutta. He returned to 
Ulagrama and was treated by a Muslim soothsayer who predicted that the 
village of Biranagara would soon become pestilence-ridden and 
deserted. The Muslim also predicted KD would become recognized as a 
great devotee of Lord Krsna.

(College)
At 18 (1856) KD entered college in Calcutta. He started writing 
extensively in both English and Bengali; these essays were published 
in local journals. He also lectured in both languages. He studied 
English literature at this time extensively, and taught speechmaking 
to a person who later became a well-known orator in the British 
Parliament. Between the years 1857-1858 he composed a two part English 
epic entitled "The Poriade", which he planned to complete in 12 books. 
These two books described the life of Porus, who met Alexander the 
Great.

Dvijendranatha Thakur, the eldest son of Maharsi Devendranatha Thakur, 
was KD's best friend during these years. He assisted KD in his studies 
of Western religious literatures. KD used to call DT "baro dada", or 
big brother.

He was very taken by Christian theology, and found it more interesting 
than Hindu monism. He would spend many hours comparing the writings of 
Channing, Theodore Parker, Emerson and Newman. At the British-Indian 
Society he gave a lecture on the evolution of matter through the 
material mode of goodness.

(Bhaktivinode in Orissa)
At the end of 1858 KD returned to Biranagara and found the Muslim's 
prediction about that place to have come true; the place was ruined 
and deserted. KD brought his mother and paternal grandmother with him 
from there to Calcutta. Soon after he went to Orissa to visit his 
paternal grandfather, Rajavallabha Datta, who used to be a big man in 
Calcutta, who was now living as an ascetic in the Orissan countryside. 
His days were coming to a close. He could predict the future, so he 
knew it himself very well. He wanted KD to be with him when he 
departed this world, which he did in 1859, when KD was 21. After 
receiving his granddad's last instructions, he traveled to all the 
monasteries and temples in the state of Orissa.

Bhaktivinode began to consider the question of the means of his 
livelihood. He was not interested in business, as he'd seen how the 
"necessary dishonesty" of the trade world had morally weakened the 
merchant class. He decided to become a schoolteacher. He established a 
school for English education in the village of Kendrapara near 
Chutigrama, in Orissa, thus becoming a pioneer in English teaching in 
that state. He also could see the oppressive power wielded by the 
landowners of Chutigrama. After some time he went to Puri and passed a 
teachers examination; he got a teacher's post in a Cuttack school and 
later became headmaster of a school in Bhadraka and then in 
Madinipura. His work was noted by the schoolboard authorities.

In Bhadraka, his first son Annada Prasada (Acyutananda) was born, in 
1860. He published a book that year in English that described all the 
asramas and temples in the state; this book received favorable mention 
in the work called "Orissa" by British historian sir William Hunter; 
Hunter praised KD's moral and religious character.

(He examines the Bhakti-sastras)
As the headmaster of the Medinipura high school, KD looked into the 
various religious sects, their philosophies and practices. He could 
see that they were all cheap. He came to understand that the only real 
religion that had ever been established in Bengal was that of Sri 
Caitanya Mahaprabhu; unfortunately, His movement was not 
well-represented. KD could not even get a copy of the C.C., despite 
all his efforts.

(His second marriage and government service)
KD's first wife died, so in the town of Jakapura he married Bhagyavati 
De. In 1861 KD accepted the post of Deputy Magistrate in the 
Government of Bengal. Then he became Collectorate Officer after seeing 
the corruption of the government workers. He established an 
organization called the "Bhratr Samaja". He wrote an English book in 
1863 called "Our Wants." At this time he also constructed a home in 
Rana Ghata. Later in 1863 he stayed at Burdwan, where he composed two 
novel poems in Bengali: "Vijinagrama" (deserted village) and 
"Sannyasi." Volume 39 of the 1863 Calcutta Review praised these poems, 
saying "We hope the author will continue to give his countrymen the 
benefit of his elegant and unassuming pen, which is quite free from 
those objectionable licenses of thought and expression which abound in 
many dramas recently published. The want of the day is the creation of 
a literature for Hindu ladies, and we trust that many more educated 
natives will have the good sense to devote their time and abilities to 
the attainment of this most desirable aim." The rhyme and style of 
these two poems were original; they gave birth to a new way of writing 
poetry in the Bengali language.

(In the post of Deputy Magistrate)
In the year 1866 KD took the position of Deputy Register with the 
power of a Deputy Collector and Deputy Magistrate in the district of 
Chapara. He also became quite fluent in Persian and Urdu. In a placed 
called Saran in Chapara, a clique of tea planters made unjust demands 
of him; he success- fully opposed them. And while at Saran he visited 
the Gautamasrama at Godana; desiring to establish a school for 
teaching nyaya-sastra, he delivered a speech there (in 1866) which was 
well-received. The school was in fact established, the 
foundation-stone being laid in 1883 by Sir Rivers Thomson, after whom 
the school was named. Though KD had no further part in the project 
after his speech, the talk he gave was instrumental in securing public 
aid for the school.

Also in 1866 KD translated the Balide Registry Manual into Urdu, which 
was circulated by the government throughout the United Provinces of 
Agra and Oudh; this manual was used by the registration departments of 
those areas.

KD was transferred to Purniya from Chapara where he took charge of the 
government and judicial departments; he was then transferred to 
Dinajapur (West Bengal) in 1868, becoming the Deputy Magistrate. At 
this time he received copies of the SB and CC from Calcutta.

(Preaching the Gaudiya Vaisnava Dharma)
He read CC repeatedly; his faith in KC developed until he was absorbed 
in KC sastras day and night. He was incessantly submitting heartfelt 
prayers for the Lord's mercy; he came to understand the supreme 
majesty and power of the one and only Absolute Personality of Godhead 
Sri Krsna. He published a song about Lord Caitanya entitled 
Saccidananda-premalankara. In 1869, while serving as deputy magistrate 
under the government of Bengal in Dinajapur, he delivered a speech in 
the form of a treatise he had written on the SB to a big congregation 
of many prominent men of letters from many parts of India and England.

(Ridding Camparana of its ghost)
He was transferred to Camparana, during which time his second son, 
Radhika Prasada, was born. In Camparana, people used to worship a 
ghost in a banyan tree which had the power to influence the mind of 
the local judge to decide in the favor of the worshiper. KD engaged 
the father of Pandita Ramabhai, a famous girl scholar, to read SB 
under the tree; after 1 month, the tree crashed to the ground, and 
many people found faith in the SB.

From Camparana he went to Puri, which engladdened his heart no end.

(Facing Bisakisena)
Near the capital of Orissa, in the town of Kamanala, there lived a 
yogi named Bisakisena, who would lean into a fire while sitting 
closeby, then return to an erect sitting posture; in this way he'd 
rock back and forth over the flames. He could also produce fire from 
his head. He had two companions going by the names Brahma and Siva; he 
claimed to be Maha Vishnu. The small kings of Orissa came under his 
sway and were providing funds for the construction of a temple; they 
also sent him women with whom he engaged in "rasa-lila" enjoyments. BK 
declared he'd drive off the British from ruling Orissa and himself 
would become king. He published such statements which were circulated 
all around Orissa. The British though him a revolutionary, so the 
District Governor of the National Government of Bengal drew up arrest 
orders; but nobody in Orissa dared to act upon these orders, as they 
all feared BK. Mr. Ravenshaw, district commissioner for Orissa, 
requested KD to bring BK to justice. KD went personally to BK; BK 
showed some powers and informed KD that he knew well who he was and 
his mission, but that since he (BK) was the Lord, he'd better not 
interfere with him." KD replied by acknowledging BK's accomplishments 
in yoga and requested him to come to Puri where he could have the 
darsan of Jagannatha. BK haughtily said, "Why should I come to see 
Jagannatha? He's only a hunk of wood; I am the Supreme in person." KD 
became instantly furious and arrested the rogue, brought him to Puri 
and threw him in jail, where he was guarded by 3 dozen Muslim 
constables and 72 policemen from Cuttack day and night. "Brahma" and 
"Siva" avoided arrest by claiming they'd been forced by BK to do as 
they'd done; but Mr. Taylor, subdivision officer at Kodar, later 
prosecuted them. KD tried BK in Puri; the trial lasted 18 days, during 
which time thousands of people gathered outside the courtroom 
demanding BK's release. On day 6 of the trial KD's second daughter 
Kadambini (7) became seriously ill and nearly died; but within a day 
she had recovered. KD knew it was the power of the yogi at work; he 
remarked "Yes, let us all die, but this rascal must be punished." The 
very next day in court the yogi announced he'd shown his power and 
would show much more; he suggested that KD should release him at once 
or face worse miseries. On the last day of the trial KD himself became 
ill from high fever and suffered exactly as his daughter had done for 
one whole day. But KD pronounced the man guilty and sentenced him to 
18 months for political conspiracy. When BK was being readied for 
jailing, one Dr. Walter, the District Medical Officer, cut off all the 
yogi's hair. The yogi drew power from his long hair; he hadn't eaten 
or drunk during the whole trial, so he fell to the floor like a dead 
man and had to be taken by stretcher to jail. After 3 months he was 
moved to the central jail at Midnapura where he took poison and died 
in the year 1873.

(Studying SB and Sat-sandarbha)
In Puri, KD studied SB with the commentary of Sridhara Swami, copied 
out in longhand the Sat-sandarbhas of Jiva Goswami and made a special 
study of Rupa Gosvami's BRS.

(Bhaktivinode as a composer of Vaisnava literature)
Between the years 1874 and 1893, Bhaktivinode Thakur spent much time 
in seclusion chanting the holy name (though he still executed his 
worldly duties perseveringly); he wrote several books in Sanskrit such 
as Sri Krsna samhita, Tattva-sutra and Tattva-viveka; he wrote many 
books in Bengali such as the Kalyana-kalpataru; in 1874 he composed 
Datta-kaustubha (in Sanskrit).

(The Bhagavat-samsat)
While in Puri he established a Vaisnava discussion society known as 
the Bhagavat-samsat in the Jagannatha-vallabha gardens, where Sri 
Ramananda Raya did bhajana. All the prominent Vaisnavas joined this 
group except for Raghunatha dasa Babaji, known as Siddha Purusha. He 
thought that BT was unauthorized, as he did not wear kanthi-mala or 
tilaka; moreover, he advised other Vaisnavas to avoid BVT's 
association. 
 
But soon thereafter RdB contracted a deathly illness. In a dream, Lord 
Jagannatha appeared to him and told him to pray for the mercy of BT if 
he at all wanted release from the illness and death. He did so; BVT 
gave him special medicines and cured him, and also blessed RdB with a 
true awareness of BVT's position.

(Sri Svarupa dasa Babaji)
SdB did bhajana at Satasana near the ocean in Puri; he showed much 
affection for BVT and gave him many profound instructions on the 
bhajana of the holy name.

(Carana dasa Babaji)
CdB preached and printed books advising that one should chant the HKM 
in japa and Nitai Gaura Radhe Syama Hare Krsna Hare Rama in kirtana. 
BVT preached long and hard to him; after a long time CdB came to his 
senses and begged forgiveness from BVT, admitting his fault in 
spreading this nonsense mantra all over Bengal; 6 months later he went 
mad and died in great distress.

(The Bhakti Mandapa in the Jagannatha Temple)
BVT became manager of JP Mandir; he used his government powers to 
establish regularity in the worship of the Deity. In the JPM courtyard 
he established a Bhakti Mandapa, where daily discourses of SB were 
held. BVT would spend long hours discussing Krsna and chanting the 
holy name, especially at Tota Gopinatha Mandir, the tomb of Haridasa 
Thakur, the Siddha Bakula and the Gambhira. He made notes on the 
Vedanta-sutra which were used by Sri Syamalala Goswami in the edition 
of the Govinda Bhasya by Baladeva Vidyabhusana that he published.

(An Acarya appears)
Near the Jagannatha-vallabha gardens, in a large house adjacent the 
Narayana Chata Matha, on the 5th day of the dark fortnight of Magha in 
the year 1874, the 4th son of BVT took birth. He was named Bimala 
Prasada (later known as Om Visnupada Paramahamsa Sri Srimad 
Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Prabhupada). Two years earlier, Kamala 
Prasada, the 3rd son of BVT, had taken birth.

(The scandal of the king of Puri)
In 1874 BVT discovered the Raja of Puri had misappropriated Rs 80 
thousand for sense gratification. This money belonged to the temple, 
so BVT forced the Raja to give Lord Jagannatha bhoga 52 times daily. 
This diminished the money quickly; the raja was angry at BVT and 
began, with the help of 50 pandits, a yajna meant for killing BVT 
which went on for 30 days; when the last oblations were poured, it was 
the kings son and not BVT who died.

(Bhaktivinoda Thakur returns to Bengal)
He left Puri on special business; returned to Bengal and saw 
Navadvipa, Santipura and Kalana. He was put in charge of the 
subdivision Mahisarekha in Haora. After that he was transferred to 
Bhadraka. In August 1878 he was made head of the subdivision Naraila 
in the Yasohan district.

(Sri Krsna-samhita and Kalyana-kalpataru)
While in Naraila his two famous books SKs and Kk were published. In a 
letter dated april 16, 1880, Dr. Reinhold Rost wrote to BVT: "By 
representing Krsna's character and his worship in a more sublime and 
transcendental light than has hitherto been the custom to regard him, 
you have rendered an essential service to your co-religionists, and no 
one would have taken more delight in your work than my departed friend 
Goldstuecker, the sincerest and most zealous advocate the Hindus ever 
had in Europe." These two works brought the devotional attention of 
many of India's pandits and educated men.

In 1877 Varada Prasada was born, BVT's fifth son; in 1878, Viraja 
Prasada was born, the sixth son: both appeared at Rana Ghata.

(Acceptance of Initiation)
He took pancaratrika initiation from Bipin Bihari Gosvami, descended 
from the Jahnava family of Baghnapara. At the same time, his seventh 
son, Lalita Prasada, appeared at Rana Ghata.

Many people had adopted Vaisnavism at Haraila, but they could not tell 
who was a Vaisnava and who not; BVT gave them shelter and instructed 
them on this matter most exactingly.

In 1881 BVT began publishing Sajjanatosani, his Vaisnava journal.

(Pilgrimage to Vraja Mandala and his curbing of the Kanjhara Bandits)
BVT had previously pilgrimaged to Kasi, Prayaga, Mathura and Vrndavana 
in 1866. At the close of his stay in Naraila he desired to again see 
the land of Vraja. He took three months for this purpose. He met Srila 
Jagannatha dasa Babaji there, who moved every 6 months between 
Navadvipa and Vrndavana. Meeting him, BVT accepted him as his 
eternally worshipable siksa guru. During his pilgrimage at this time 
he dealt with a gang of dacoits known as the Kanjharas who robbed and 
killed pilgrims; he gave evidence to the government and a commission 
was formed to wipe out this scourge.

(Establishing the Bhakti-bhavana in Calcutta)
From Vrndavana he came to Calcutta and bought a house at 181 Maniktala 
Street, now called Ramasa Datta Street, near Bidana Park. He started 
daily worship of Sri Giridhara and called the house Bhakti-bhavan. He 
was appointed head of the subdivision of Barasa.

(Bankim Candra's book)
The well-known novelist Bankim Candra met BVT at Barasa. BVT had 
written a book about Krsna and showed it to BVT, who preached to BC 
for four days, taking little food and hardly any sleep; the result was 
BC changed his ideas (which were mundane speculations about Krsna) and 
his book to conform with the teachings of Sri Caitanya. BVT used to 
say, knowledge is power.

(BVT publishes the Bhagavad-gita)
During the last year of his stay at Barasat (1886), BVT published an 
edition of the Bg with the Sanskrit commentary of Visvanatha 
Cakravarti Thakur, which he translated into Bengali (the 
"Rasika-ranjana" translation). BVT had undertaken this task at the 
request of Babu Sarada Carana Mitra, ex-judge of the the Calcutta High 
Commission. Bankima Candra wrote the preface, acknowledging his own 
indebtedness to BVT; he noted that all Bengali readers would be 
indebted to BVT for his saintly work.

(More literary productions)
From Barasat, BVT was transferred to Sriramapur. He visited the 
residence of Uddharana Datta Thakur, a great associate of Lord 
Nityananda, at Saptagram. At Khanakula he visited the place of 
Abhirama Thakur, and saw the place of another great devotee of 
Mahaprabhu, Vasu Ramananda, at Kulinagrama.

The Life of Bhaktivinode Thakur, Part 2

(More literary productions)
BVT was transferred from Barasat to Sriramapura. There he took 
opportunity to visit the home of the great associate of Nityananda, 
Uddharana Datta Thakur, at Saptagrama. And at Khanakula he visited the 
place of Abhirama Thakur, and at Kulinagrama, he saw the home of Vasu 
Ramananda.

At Sriramapura he composed and published his masterly writing, Sri 
Caitanya Siksamrta, and also the Vaisnava-siddhanta-mala, 
Prema-pradipa and Manah-siksa. He was also publishing Sajjanatosani on 
a regular basis. In Calcutta he set up the Sri Caitanya Yantra, a 
printing press at the Bhakti Bhavana, upon which he printed 
Maladhara's Sri Krsna-vijaya and his own Amnaya-sutra and the 
Caitanyopanisad of the Atharva Veda.

Finding the Caitanyopanisad was a difficult task. Hardly anyone in 
Bengal had heard of it. BVT traveled to many places in Bengal looking 
for it; finally, one devoted Vaisnava pandita named Madhusudana dasa 
sent an old copy he'd been keeping with him at Sambalapura to BVT; BVT 
wrote a Sanskrit commentary on the book and called it Sri 
Caitanya-caranamrta. Madhusudana dasa Mahasaya translated the verses 
into Bengali; this translation was called Amrta-bindu. It was a 
sellout when published.

In Calcutta BVT started the Sri Visva-Vaisnava Sabha, dedicated to the 
preaching of pure bhakti as taught by Lord Caitanya. To publicize the 
work of the society, BVT published a small booklet entitled 
Visva-Vaisnava-kalpavi. Also he published his own edition of the Sri 
Caitanya caritamrta, with his Amrta-prabhava Bhasya commentary. And he 
introduced the Caitanyabda or Caitanya-era calendar, and gave 
assistance to the propagation of the Caitanya Panjika, which 
established the feast day of Gaura Purnima.

He lectured and gave readings on books like the BRS in various 
Vaisnava societies; he published in the Hindu Herald, an English 
periodical, a detailed account of Sri Caitanya's life.

It was at this time that the learned Vaisnavas recognized KD as BVT.

(His dream of Sri Caitanya)
In the year 1887 BVT resolved to quit government service and go to 
Vrndavana with Bhaktibhringa Mahasaya for the rest of his life. One 
night in Tarakesvara, while on government service, he had a dream in 
which sri Caitanya appeared to him and spoke, "You will certainly go 
to Vrndavana, but first there is some service you must perform in 
Navadvipa, so what will you do about that?" When the Lord disappeared, 
BVT awoke. BBM, hearing of this dream, told BVP to apply for a 
transfer to Krishnanagara; he did, even turning down offers of 
personal assistanceship to the chief Commissioner of Assam and the 
seat of the Minister of Tripura State. He even tried to retire at this 
time, but his application was not accepted. Finally, in December of 
1887 he arranged for a mutual exchange of personnel: himself for Babu 
Radha Madhava Vasu, Deputy Magistrate of Krishnanagara.

(The discovery of Sridhama Mayapura)
During his stay at Krishnanagara, BVP used to go to Navadvipa and 
search for the birthsite of SCM. One night he was sitting on the roof 
of the Rani Dharma- sala in Navadvipa chanting on his beads, when he 
spotted a very tall Tala tree with some very strange substance 
attached to it; near the tree was a small building that gave off a 
remarkable effulgence. Soon afterwards, he went to the Krishnanagara 
Collectory where he began to study some very old manuscripts of CB and 
Navadvipa Dhama Parikrama by Narahari Sarkar, and some old maps of 
Nadia. He went to the village of Ballaladighi and spoke with many 
elderly people there, and uncovered facts about the modern-day 
Navadvipa; in the year 1887 he discovered that the place he'd seen 
from the dharmasala rooftop was in fact the birthplace of Mahaprabhu. 
This was confirmed by Jagannatha dasa Babaji, the head of the Gaudiya 
Vaisnava community in Nadia. A great festival was held there. BVP 
published the Navadvipa Dhama Mahatmya.

Also in 1887, BVP renovated the house of Jagannatha dB at Ravasghata. 
He took leave from office for two years and acquired a plot of land at 
Sri Godrumadvipa, or Svarupaganga. He built a retirement house there 
for his bhajana, and called it Surabhi Kunja; in 1890 he established 
the "Nama Hatta" there. Sometimes JdB would come there and have 
kirtana. Lord Nityananda had established His Nama Hatta at the same 
place; BVP considered himself the street sweeper of the NH of Nitai.

When the birthplace was uncovered, BVP and JdB would worship LC there. 
Once one of BVP's sons contracted a skin disease; JdB told the boy to 
lie down at the birthsite of LC for the night - he did so, and the 
next morning he was cured.

(In Mayamanasimha)
In 1888 he took charge of the village of Netrakona in the district of 
Mayamanasimha, because he could not keep good health in Krishnanagara 
and had requested transfer to a more healthful region. From Netrakona 
he came to Tangaila and from there he was transferred to the district 
of Vardhamana. There he would have kirtana with the devotees from a 
place called Amalajora, headed by Ksetra Babu and Vipina Babu; they 
would sing poems like Soka-satana written by him.

He was put in charge of the Kalara subdivision in 1890, and from there 
would often visit such holy places as Godrumadvipa, Navadvipa, 
Campahati, Samudragana, Cupi, Kasthasali, Idrakapura, Baghanapara, 
Pyariganga (the place of Nakula Brahmacari) and the place of Vrndavana 
dasa Thakur at Denura. Soon BVP was transferred for a few days to 
Ranighata, from where he came to Dinajapura again. Sailaja Prasada was 
born there, his youngest son. In Dinajapura BVP wrote his 
Vidva-ranjana commentary and translation of the Bhagavad-gita; it was 
published in 1891 with the commentary of Baladeva.

1891 was the year BVP took leave from the government service for two 
years. He desired to preach hari nama. His base was at Godrumadvipa; 
from there he used to visit such places as Ghatala and Ramajivana to 
lecture in clubs, societies and organizations. This he'd also often do 
in Krishnanagara. He traveled and preached in March of 1892 in the 
Basirahata District together with some other Vaisnavas. All the while 
he was writing also. He opened many branches of Nama Hatta in 
different districts of Bengal. The NH became a self-sustaining success 
which continued to spread even after his return to government service.

Also from Basirahata he set out on his third trip to Vrndavana; he 
stopped off at Amalajora to celebrate the Ekadasi day with Jagannatha 
dasa Babaji. In Vraja, he visited all the forests and places of 
pastimes; he continued to give lectures and readings on Hari Nama in 
various places in Bengal when he returned to Calcutta. 

(Establishing Gaura-Visnupriya Deities at the Yogapitha) 
In February 1891 he gave a lecture on his investigation into the 
whereabouts of the actual birthsite of Sri Caitanya; his audience 
included highly learned men from all over Bengal, who became very 
enthusiastic at the news. Out of this gathering the Sri Navadvipa 
Dhama Pracarini Sabha was formed for spreading the glories of 
Navadvipa-Mayapura. That year, on Gaura Purnima, a big festival was 
held that witness the installation of Gaura-Visnupriya Deities at the 
Yogapitha. All the learned pandits, having deliberated fully on BVP's 
evidence, agreed that the Yogapitha was the true birthsite of 
Mahaprabhu.

(He retires to Godruma)
In October 1894, at age 56, he retired from his post as Deputy 
Magistrate, though this move was opposed by his family and the 
government authorities. He stayed at Surabhi Kunja and preached, as 
well as revised his old writings. Sometimes he went to Calcutta; there 
he begged door to door for building the Yogapitha temple.

(In Tripura)
In July 1896 BVT went to Tripura at the request of the the king, who 
was a Vaisnava. He stayed in the capital for 4 days and preached hari 
nama. His lecture on the first day amazed all the local panditas; on 
the next 2 days the royal family and general public thrilled to his 
talks on the pastimes of Mahaprabhu.

(Outreach to the West)
Back in Godruma, BVT sent out a small booklet, written in Sanskrit, to 
Sri Gauranga-lila-smarana-mangala-stotram, with a commentary by Srila 
Sitikantha Vacaspati of Nadia. The intro, "Caitanya Mahaprabhu, His 
life and precepts", was in English. This book found its way into the 
library of the Royal Asiatic Society in London, the library of McGill 
University in Canada and other respectable institutions. It was review 
in the Journal of the RAS and Mr. F.W. Fraser, an erudite European 
scholar.

In the rainy season of 1896, requested by the Maharaja of Tripura, BVT 
went to Darjiling and Karsiyam. In 1897 he went to many villages such 
as Medinipura and Sauri to preach.

(Sisira Kumara Ghosa and BVT)
SKG was the founder of the Amrta Bazar Patrika and the author of the 
Sri Amiya Nimai-carita. He had great respect for BVT; he also took up 
the preaching of the holy name throughout Calcutta and in many 
villages in Bengal. He published the Sri Visnu Priya O Ananda Bazar 
Patrika under the editorship of BVT. In one of his letters to BVT he 
wrote, "I have not seen the 6 Gosvamis of Vrndavana but I consider you 
to be the seventh Goswami."

(Return to Puri)
Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati had been residing at Puri as a naisthika 
brahmacari and was engaged in bhajan at the Gandharvika Giridhari 
Matha, one of seven mathas near the samadhi tomb of Haridasa Thakur. 
BVT, desiring to help his son, had the monastery cleaned and repaired 
when he came to Puri himself at the beginning of the 20th century. 
After Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati left Puri for Sri Navadvipa Mayapur, 
BVT constructed his own place of bhajana on the beach, calling it 
Bhakti Kuti; Krsnadasa Babaji, BVT's devoted assistant and disciple, 
joined him there at this time, and he became very dear to BVP and was 
his constant attendant up to the end of BVT's life. He began solitary 
bhajan at this time; he had many visitors at this place, and some of 
them simply wanted to disturb him, whereas others were sincere and 
benefited greatly from his spiritual inspiration.

(Sir William Duke)
In 1908, 3 months before he took sannyasa, a son of BVT who was 
working in the writers building in Calcutta, came home to inform BVT 
that Sir William Duke, chief secretary to the government, was in 
Calcutta; formerly BVT had served under him as a magistrate. BVT made 
an appointment to meet him the next day at the writers building. SWD 
met BVT on the street outside the building and personally escorted him 
into his office. With folded hands, he asked forgiveness for having 
once planned to remove BVT from office of district magistrate; this 
was because he thought that if such qualified Indians take up such 
posts, the British would not last much longer in India. In those days, 
while studying BVT's activities, he'd come to his house and would be 
fed puri, luchi and sweets by BVT's wife. But now he was begging 
forgiveness as he was getting on in life; BVT answered, "I consider 
you to be a good friend and a well wisher all along." BVT was pleased 
with him and gave him his blessings. Later BVT admitted he was 
astonished that Duke wanted to harm him in some way.

(Accepting Paramahamsa Sannyasa)
In 1908 BVP took the "vesa" of a babaji at Satasana in Puri; until 
1910 he would move between Calcutta and Puri, and was still writing 
books; but during that year he shut himself up and entered samadhi, 
claiming paralysis.

(Disappearance)
On June 23, 1914, just before noon at Puri, BVP left his body; this 
day was also the disappearance day of Sri Gadadhara Pandita. Amidst 
sankirtana his remains were interred in Godruma after the next 
solstice; the summer solstice had just begun when BVP had left his 
body. 

(His divine character)
About BVP, Sarada Carana Mitra, Calcutta High Court Judge, wrote: "I 
knew Thakur Bhaktivinode intimately as a friend and a relation. Even 
under the pressure of official work as a magistrate in charge of a 
heavy subdivision he could always find time for devotional 
contemplation and work, and whenever I met him, our talk would turn in 
a few moments to the subject of bhakti and dvaitadvaita-vada and the 
saintly work that lay before him. Service of God is the only thing he 
longed for and service under the government, however honorable, was to 
him a clog."

(His schedule)
7:30-8:00 PM - take rest
10:00 PM - rise, light oil lamp, write
4:00 AM - take rest
4:30 - rise, wash hands and face, chant japa
7:00 - write letters
7:30 - read
8:30 - receive guests, or continue to read
9:30-9:45 - take rest
9:45 - morning bath, breakfast of half-quart milk, couple capatis, 
fruit
9:55 - go to court in carriage
He would wear coat and pants to court, with double-size tulasi 
neckbeads and tilaka. He was very strong in his decisions; he would 
decide immediately. He did not allow any humbug in his court; no 
upstart could stand before him. He would shave his head monthly. He 
never allowed harmonium and he never had any debts.
10:00 - court began.
1:00 PM - court finished. He'd come home and bathe and refresh.
2:00 PM - return to office.
5:00 PM - translate works from Sanskrit to Bengali
Then take evening bath and meal of rice, couple of capatis, half-quart 
of milk.

He always consulted a pocket watch, and kept time very punctually. He 
was always charitable to brahmanas, and equally befriended other 
castes. He never showed pride, and his amiable disposition was a 
characteristic feature of his life. He never accepted gifts from 
anyone; he even declined all honors and titles offered by the 
government to him on the grounds that they might stand against his 
holy mission of life. He was very strict in moral principles, and 
avoided the luxurious life; he would not even chew betel. He dislike 
theaters because they were frequented by public women.

He spoke Bengali, Sanskrit, English, Latin, Urdu, Persian and Oriya.

He started writing books at age 12, and continued turning out a 
profuse number of volumes up until his departure from this world.

