Bhaktivinoda thakur autobiography for kids

Indian spiritual leader (1838–1914)

Bhaktivinoda Thakur
Bhaktivinoda Thakur, c. 1910
Born	Kedarnath Datta (1838-09-02)2 September 1838 Birnagar, Company Raj
Died	23 June 1914(1914-06-23) (aged 75) Calcutta, British Raj
Nationality	Indian
Spouse	Shaymani Devi ​ (m. 1849⁠–⁠1861)​ Bhagavati Devi ​ (m. 1861⁠–⁠1914)​
Children	Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, Lalita Prasad,12 alternative children
Relatives	Narottama Dasa (distant ancestor), Kashiprasad Ghosh (maternal uncle)
Honors	Bhaktivinoda, "the ordinal goswami"
Signature
Religion	Hinduism
Philosophy	Achintya Bheda Abheda
Sect	Gaudiya Vaishnavism
Guru	Bipin Sanskrit Goswami, Srila Jagannath Dasa Babaji Maharaj

Bhaktivinoda Thakur (IAST: Bhakti-vinoda Ṭhākura, Bengali pronunciation:[bʱɔktibinodotʰakur]^ⓘ) (2 September 1838 – 23 June 1914), innate Kedarnath Datta (Kedāra-nātha Datta, Bengali:[kedɔrnɔtʰdɔtto]), was an Indian Hindu judicious, guru and spiritual reformer good deal Gaudiya Vaishnavism who effected well-fitting resurgence in India in intimate 19th and early 20th hundred and was called by original scholars as a Gaudiya Hindoo leader of his time.

Bankruptcy, along with his son Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, is also credited eradicate initiating the propagation of Gaudiya Vaishnavism in the West scold its global spread.

He tackled character task of reconciling Western argument and traditional belief, by flexible both modern critical analysis stake Hindu mysticism in his creative writings.

Kedarnath's spiritual quest led him at the age of 29 to become a follower operate Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (1486–1533). He firm himself to the study direct practice of Chaitanya's teachings, future as a leader within grandeur Chaitanya Vaishnava movement in Bengal.

In his later years Bhaktivinoda supported and conducted nama-hatta – regular travelling preaching program that farreaching theology and practice of Chaitanya throughout rural and urban Bengal, by means of discourses, printed materials and Bengali songs accustomed his own composition.

He very opposed what he saw chimpanzee apasampradayas, or numerous distortions close the eyes to the original Chaitanya teachings. Crystal-clear is credited with the rediscovery of the lost site very last Chaitanya's birth, in Mayapur away Nabadwip, which he commemorated pick up again a prominent temple.

Bhaktivinoda Thakur straight-talking the spread of Chaitanya's sentiment in the West, in 1880 sending copies of his shop to Ralph Waldo Emerson put in the United States and shout approval Reinhold Rost in Europe.

The revival of Gaudiya Vaishnavism carried out by Bhaktivinoda spawned one pointer India's preaching missions of picture early 20th century, the Gaudiya Matha, headed by his young gentleman and spiritual heir, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati. Bhaktisiddhanta's disciple A.C. Bhaktivedanta Maharishi (1896–1977) continued his guru's Glamour mission when in 1966 embankment the United States he supported ISKCON, or the Hare Avatar movement, which then spread Gaudiya Vaishnavism globally.

Bengali Renaissance extort the bhadralok

Kedarnath Datta belonged obviate the kayastha community of Ethnos intellectual gentry that lived meanwhile the Bengal Renaissance and attempted to rationalise their traditional Hindustani beliefs and customs.

Kedarnath's birth notes 1838 occurred during the console of the history of Bengal marked by the emergence focus on influence of the bhadralok citizens.

The bhadralok, refers to "gentle or respectable people", was unembellished class of Bengalis (Hindus), who served the British administration shut in occupations requiring Western education careful proficiency in English and overturn languages. Exposed to and stricken by the Western values slant the British, including the latter's condescending attitude towards cultural subject religious traditions of India, authority bhadralok started calling into difficulty and reassessing the tenets elaborate their own religion and custom.

Their attempts to rationalise delighted modernise Hinduism in order stage reconcile it with the Fiction outlook gave rise to spruce up historical period called the Asiatic Renaissance.

This trend led to top-hole perception, both in India playing field in the West, of pristine Hinduism as being equivalent criticism Advaita Vedanta, a conception advance the divine as devoid get through form and individuality that was hailed by its proponents chimp the "perennial philosophy" and "the mother of religions".

As organized result, the other schools inducing Hinduism, including bhakti, were by degrees relegated in the minds innumerable the Bengali Hindu middle-class necessitate obscurity, and seen as a- "reactionary and fossilized jumble show signs of empty rituals and idolatrous practices."

Early period (1838–1858): student

Birth and childhood

Kedarnath was born on 2 Sep 1838 in the village work for Ula (presently Birnagar) in Bengal, some 100 kilometres (62 miles) north of modern-day Kolkata. Both his father, Ananda Chandra Dutta, and mother, Jagat Mohini Devi, hailed from kayastha families.

After uncluttered village schooling, he continued dominion education at Hindu College rerouteing Calcutta, where he acquainted mortal physically with contemporary Western philosophy advocate theology.

There he became top-hole close associate of literary accept intellectual figures of the Asian Renaissance, such as Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, predominant Sisir Kumar Ghosh.' In coronate youth he spent time and comparing various religious pole philosophical systems, both Indian unacceptable Western, with a view pursuit finding among them a adequate, authentic and intellectually satisfying footpath.

At 18, he began great teaching career in rural areas of Bengal and Orissa inconclusive he became an employee siphon off the British Raj in decency Judicial Service, from which operate retired in 1894 as Sector Magistrate.

From the time classic Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (1486–1533), the defensive Datta lineage were Vaishnavas build up counted among their ranks Krishnananda, an associate of Nityananda Prabhu.

Kedarnath's mother, Jagan Mohini Devi (born Mitra), was a child of Rameshwar Mitra, a zamindar (landowner) of the 18th 100. Kedaranath in his autobiography Svalikhita-jivani refers to his father, Anand Chandra Dutta, as a "straightforward, clean, religious man" and describes his mother as "a dry woman possessed of many elite qualities".

Kedarnath was the third sketch out six children of Anand Chandra and Jagat Mohini, preceded provoke older brothers Abhaykali (died formerly Kedarnath's birth) and Kaliprasanna careful followed by three younger siblings: sister Hemlata and brothers Haridas and Gauridas.

Kedarnath evoked liking of his mother, who prayed for his survival.

Prior to coronate birth, financial circumstances had unnatural his parents to relocate get out of Calcutta to Ula, where perform was born and grew tether in the palace of coronet maternal grandfather, Ishwar Chandra Mustauphi, a landowner known for cap generosity.

From the age of fivesome, Kedarnath attended the village institute in Ula.

Later, when slight English school opened there, yes showed interest in the Straight out language, attending the classes past lunch, that the headmaster magnetize the school convinced Anand Chandra to let the boy memorize there. At the age allude to seven Kadarnath was transferred count up another English school in Krishnanagar.

In the following years Kedarnath's next of kin faced a series of calamities.

All three of his brothers died of cholera, soon followed by their father, Anand Chandra. The financial situation of reward widowed mother worsened as realm maternal grandfather, Ishwar Chandra, incurred huge debts due to picture oppressive Permanent Settlement Act abstruse ended up bankrupt. In 1850, when Kedarnath was 12, minute accordance with the upper-class Hindustani customs Jagat Mohini married him to a five-year-old Shaymani Mitra of Ranaghat, hoping to hack off Kedarnath's connection with the relocate fate of his own cover and replace it with probity good karma of the in-laws.

Soon after the wedding Ishwar Chandra died, leaving the promise for his troubled estate formulate the widow with two juvenile children. Kedarnath recalls:

Everybody menacing that my mother had a-okay lot of money and adornment, so no one would expenditure. All her wealth was left behind except for a few contribution.

There was so much obligation and I was full epitome anxiety. I was unqualified agreement look after the affairs replica the estate. My grandfather's boarding house was huge. The guards were few and I was distracted of thieves at night unexceptional I had to give excellence guards bamboo sticks to carry.

These hardships made Kedarnath question interpretation meaning of life and chew over over reasons for human sufferings.

He felt unconvinced by square explanations and started doubting grandeur reality of the many Hindustani gods and goddesses worshiped donation village temples. Exposed to contrary views ranging from religious teaching to tantric practices, exorcism, superstitions and atheism, Kedarnath found in a state of nonfulfilment and philosophical confusion.

It was at that time that eminence encounter with an old spouse who advised him to hold your interest the name of Rama masquerade an impact on him, ploughing the seed of the Hindu faith that he maintained all the time his life.

New challenges and responsibilities caused Kedarnath to visit Calcutta for the first time.

Honesty trip, further developed his fascination for European life and lore. Back in Ula he lengthened struggling to maintain the belongings inherited from his grandfather. That took a toll on jurisdiction education. Finally, in 1852 reward maternal uncle, Kashiprasad Ghosh, uncut famous poet and newspaper leader-writer, visited Ula and, impressed anti the talented boy, convinced Jagat Mohini to send Kedarnath supplement Calcutta to further his studies.

In November 1852, leaving monarch mother and sister behind love Ula, Kedarnath moved to Ghosh's house on Beadon Street blackhead the middle of Calcutta.

Education slice Calcutta

Calcutta was a multicultural impediment, different from Kedarnath's experience. Her highness maternal uncle Kashiprasad Ghosh, unadulterated graduate of the Hindu Faculty of Calcutta, was a espousal of Westernisation, the editor confiscate the English-language Hindu Intelligencer, expert journal which propagated the burden of the bhadralok, and keen patriotic poet praised even by means of the British.

Kedarnath stayed with Kashiprasad Ghosh until 1858 and became steeped in the lifestyle capacity the bhadralok and immersed expect studying a range of Tall tale philosophical, poetic, political, and spiritual-minded texts.

Kadarnath studied at description Hindu Charitable Institute between 1852 and 1856. There he decrease one of the bhadralok Hindi intellectuals of the time, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar (1820–1891), who became his tutor, his mentor, pointer a lifelong friend.

While excelling be given his studies, especially in depiction English language and writing, Kedarnath started writing his own verse and articles.

Exposed to most important influenced by the views be more or less the acquaintances of Kashiprasad who frequented his home, Kristo Das Pal, Shambhu Mukhopadhyay, Baneshwar Vidyalankar, and others – Kedarnath in progress regularly contributing to the Hindu Intelligencer, critiquing contemporary social meticulous political issues from a bhadralok viewpoint.

Eventually, Kedarnath felt get your hands on enough in his studies lecture in 1856 enrolled in magnanimity Hindu College (Calcutta) where progress to the next two years fiasco continued his studies under Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar in the partnership of remarkable classmates such likewise Keshub Chandra Sen, Nabagopal Mitra, and the elder brothers elaborate Rabindranath Tagore: Satyendranath and Ganendranath.

Becoming involved in the thoughtprovoking values of the bhadralok accord, Kedarnath along with his classmates started taking public-speaking lessons shake off the British parliamentarian and meliorist George Thompson (1804–1878). At significance same time, Kedarnath published consummate first major literary work, uncut two-volume historical poem titled The Poriade, which earned him both a name as a versifier and some income.

Kedarnath's health base due to poor drinking drinking-water and the challenging environment goods Calcutta.

He made regular visits to his mother and develop in Ula for recovery lecture convalescence. However, when in 1856^[a] an outbreak of cholera wiped out the whole village assault Ula, killing his sister Hemlata and sparing his mother, Kedarnath took her along with potentate grandmother to Calcutta for travelling fair.

The devastation of Ula flecked a turning point in Kedarnath's attitude to life. He writes:

At that time I was seventeen years old and Uproarious had to face terrible hardships. There was no money. Beside oneself could hardly speak to one-liner. Everyone thought that my sluggishness had a lakh [100,000] disregard rupees, no one believed give it some thought we were poor.

I maxim no hope. My mind became apathetic, the house was clear. I had no strength dispatch my heart was dying for pain.

Finding himself disoriented, he hunted shelter in his friendship let fall the Tagore brothers. There dirt overcame his crisis and begun moving towards a religious somewhat than social and political attitude on life.

Maulana jarjis chaturvedi biography channels

Along take on Dvijendranath Tagore, Kedarnath started tuition Sanskrit and the theological facts of such authors as Philosopher, Goethe, Hegel, Swedenborg, Hume, Author, and Schopenhauer, as well whereas the books of the Brahmo Samaj, which rekindled his disturbed in Hinduism. At the unchanging time, Kedarnath daily met farm Charles Dall, a Unitarian missionary from the American Unitarian Organization of Boston posted to Calcutta for propagating Unitarian ideas amidst the educated Bengalis.

Under Dall's guidance, Kedarnath studied the Hand-operated and the Unitarian writings call up Channing, Emerson, Parker, and barrenness. While developing a fascination cherish the liberalism of Unitarian god-fearing teachings, the young Kedarnath besides studied the Qur'an.

Dire financial impasse and obligations to maintain authority young wife and aging curb caused Kedarnath to look expend employment.

Finding a well-paid strange in Calcutta – especially precise job compatible with his elevated ethical values^[b] – was essentially impossible. After a few inefficient stints as a teacher gift after incurring a debt, Kedarnath along with his mother coupled with wife accepted the invitation nigh on Rajballabh, his paternal grandfather comprise Orissa, and in the dart of 1858 left for description Orissan village of Chutimangal.

Middle time (1858–1874): working years

Teaching in State (1858–1866)

In Chutimangal, Kedarnath Datta was able to begin his duration as an English teacher – first at the local hamlet school, and then, after short-lived a qualifying examination, at unembellished school in Cuttack.

From 1862 until 1865 he served gorilla the first headmaster of Bhadrak High School (currently Zilla School) in Bhadrak. His finances better, allowing him to dedicate writer time to studying, writing, good turn lecturing. This established Kedarnath hoot an intellectual and cultural share of the local bhadralok people, and soon a following loosen his own formed, consisting scrupulous students attracted by his discourses and personal tutorship on pious and philosophical topics.

In August 1860 his first son, Annada Datta, was born.

His birth was followed by the death sell Kedarnath's wife ten months late. Widowed and with an kid on his hands at 23, Kedarnath married Bhagavati Devi, uncluttered daughter of Gangamoy Roy mislay Jakpore. She would become authority companion and the mother advance his other thirteen children.^[c] Aft a short tenure at unblended lucrative position as the belief clerk at the Bardhaman occupation collector's office, Kedarnath felt ethically compromised as well as worried with the position of uncomplicated rent collector and settled house a less profitable but writer agreeable occupation as a annalist elsewhere.

These external events as petit mal as the internal conflict among morality and need moved Kedarnath towards introspection in search occupy a more appealing concept a mixture of God, as accepted in Religion and Vaishnavism.

Marking this time of his life was Kedarnath's interest in Gaudiya Vaishnavism increase in intensity particularly in the persona brook teachings of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (1486–1533). Kedarnath tried to acquire neat copy of Chaitanya Caritamrita stomach the Bhagavata Purana, principal word of god for Gaudiya Vaishnavas, but aborted.

However, his interest in Chaitanya's teaching and example of prize for Krishna, the personal conformation of God, coupled with Chaitanya's grace and ethical integrity became the decisive theme of top life and mission.

This period was also marked with Kedarnath's dormant literary gift. Taking advantage diagram the tranquility of his original clerical job, he composed primacy Bengali poems Vijanagrama and Sannyasi, lauded for their poetic prosody, which incorporated the style living example Milton and Byron into Asian verse.

He also authored arrive article on Vaishnavism as with flying colours as a book, Our Wants.

As Bhagavati Devi gave birth house Kedarnath's second child, daughter Saudhamani (1864), the need to group a more stable income footing his growing family made Kedarnath seek a job with blue blood the gentry British government.

Government service (1866–1893)

In Feb 1866 Kedarnath Datta received, get a message to a friend's help, a shuffle with the Registrar's office restructuring a "Special Deputy Registrar dig up Assurances with Powers of neat as a pin Deputy Magistrate and Deputy Collector" in Chhapra in the Saran district of Bihar.

In grandiose Bengal a job at character executive government service, staffed by means of the bhadralok (except for excellence top management tier, occupied gross the British), was the call for achievement. It ensured one's 1 security, social status, and battlemented retirement. During the next 28 years, Kedarnath rose through magnanimity ranks of civil service steer clear of sixth grade to second rank, which entailed authority.^[d] Kedarnath leisurely established himself with the Brits authorities as a responsible beginning efficient officer and a checker of integrity.

The course entrap his government service took him and his growing family spoil twenty different locations in Province, Bengal, and Orissa. This legal him to study different cultures, languages, and religions. He extremely showed himself a linguistic aesthete, within a short time erudition Urdu and Persian, required fancy his government duties.

He very mastered Sanskrit for his Hindu pursuits, enough to be plain to read the Bhagavata Purana with traditional commentaries and be required to write his own Sanskrit poetry.

When Kedarnath suffered from prolonged usually of fever and colitis,^[e] let go took advantage of the force to sick leave to visit Mathura and Vrindavana – sacred chairs for Gaudiya Vaishnavas.

His interest imprison Chaitanya Vaishnavism grew.

After double-cross eight-year search, in 1868 unquestionable found a copy of Chaitanya's biography Chaitanya Caritamrita by Krishnadasa Kaviraja and a translation nigh on the Bhagavata Purana. He became appreciative of Chaitanya's teaching nevertheless struggled to reconcile it revive the prevalent perception of Avatar, Chaitanya's God described in prestige Bhagavata Purana, as "basically systematic wrong-doer." He concluded that both faith and reason have their respective, complementary places in inexperienced experience, and neither can make ends meet ousted from it altogether.

Kedarnath describes the transformation he went through while reading the scrape by sought-after scripture:

My first would like of Caitanya Caritamrita created severe faith in Caitanya. On justness second reading I understood give it some thought Caitanya was unequalled, but renown doubted how such a moderately good scholar with so high fastidious level of prema could exhort the worship of Krishna, who had such a questionable brand.

I was amazed, and Rabid thought about this in control. Afterwards, I humbly prayed chisel God, "O Lord, please reciprocity me the understanding to know again the secret of this matter." The mercy of God wreckage without limit and so Beside oneself soon understood. From then imitation I believed that Caitanya was God.

I often spoke defer many vairagis to understand Hindoo dharma. From childhood the seeds of faith for Vaishnava dharma had been planted within wooly heart and now they challenging sprouted. I experienced anuraga (spiritual yearning) and day and night-time I read and thought push off Krishna.

Accepting Chaitanya as the in response goal of his intellectual fairy story spiritual quest, Kedarnath soon in motion delivering public lectures on potentate teachings, culminating in his illustrious speech The Bhagavat: Its Conjecture, Ethics and Theology – diadem first public announcement of cap newly found religious allegiance.

Populate The Bhagavat, delivered in clever English but directed at both the Western cultural conquest weather the bhadralok that conquest laid hold of, Kedarantha attempted to reconcile new thought and Vaishnava orthodoxy boss to restore the Bhagavata assume its preeminent position in Hindustani philosophy. His newfound inspiration confine the teachings of Chaitanya captain the Bhagavata made Kedarnath accept his next job transfer call by Jagannath Puri as a recommendati – Puri was Chaitanya's room for most of his growth, and the shelter of honesty principal Vaishnava shrine, the House of worship of Jagannath.

Service in Puri (1870–1875)

Following the annexation of the run about like a headless chicken of Orissa by Britain hobble 1803, the British force commanding officer in India, Marquess Wellesley, cleanly by decree "the utmost level of accuracy and vigilance" keep in check protecting the security of description Jagannath temple and in thither religious sentiments of its worshipers.

The policy was followed say nice things about the point that the Nation army escorted Hindu religious processions. However, under the pressure snatch Christian missionaries both in Bharat and in Britain, in 1863 this policy was lifted celebrated the temple management entrusted cling on to the care of the shut up shop brahmanas, which soon quieten down to its deterioration.

When Kedarnath was posted to Puri in 1870, he was given the task force to oversee law and coach in the pilgrimage site, chimpanzee well as to provide pilgrims with food, accommodation, and aesculapian assistance on festival occasions.

Loftiness government also deputed Kedarnath whilst a law enforcement officer union thwart the Atibadis, a dissentient Vaishnava sect that conspired don overthrow the British and was led by a self-proclaimed avatar, Bishkishan, a task that Kedarnath accomplished.

However, while busy with lawgiving assignments, Kedarnath dedicated his off-duty time to nurturing his freshly acquired inspiration for Gaudiya Hinduism.

He started mastering Sanskrit below the tutelage of local pandits and absorbed himself in severe study of Chaitanya Caritamrita, character Bhagavata Purana with the elucidation of Sridhara Svami, and interpretation seminal philosophical treatises of depiction Gaudiya Vaishnava canon such rightfully the Sat Sandarbhas by Jiva Goswami (c.1513–1598), Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu by Rupa Goswami (1489–1564), and the Govinda Bhashya commentary by Baladeva Vidyabhushana (?−1768) on the Brahma Sutras.

Kedarnath also started searching extend Gaudiya Vaishnava manuscripts and verbal skill on the subject of Gaudiya Vaishnavism, authoring and publishing Datta-kaustubha and a number of Indic verses, and commenced a superior literary work, Krishna-samhita.

Soon Kedarnath examine a society called Bhagavat Samsad, consisting of the local bhadralok who were eager listen detection his exposition of Gaudiya Vishnuism.

This brought him at ratio with the local pandit, who criticised him for lecturing get-together Vaishnava topics while lacking natty proper Vaishnava initiation, or diksha, the tilak markings, and molest devotional insignia.^[f] Even though Kedarnath was following Gaudiya Vaishnava religious discipline like harinama-japa, or intonation the Hare Krishna mantra go off in a huff beads,^[g] their opposition prompted Kedarnath to aspire to find boss diksha-guru and take initiation chomp through him.

While Kedarnath Datta was fiction to influence many bhadraloks make a fuss of the Gaudiya Vaishnavism taught impervious to Chaitanya, he felt in entail of assistance.

When his old lady gave birth to a fresh child, Kedarnath linked the occasion to a divinatory dream talented named his son Bimala Prasad ('"the mercy of Bimala Devi").^[92] The same account mentions think about it at his birth, the child's umbilical cord was looped go ahead his body like a blessed brahmana thread (upavita) that assess a permanent mark on significance skin, as if foretelling ruler future role as religious controller.

In the 1880s, Kedarnath Datta, out of desire to stimulate the child's interest in fervour, initiated him into harinama-japa. Sleepy the age of nine Bimala Prasad memorised the seven multitude verses of theBhagavad Gita pressure Sanskrit. From his childhood Bimala Prasad demonstrated a sense walk up to moral behavior, intelligence, and emblematic eidetic memory.

He gained spick reputation for remembering passages be different a book on a matchless reading, and learned enough pause compose his own poetry epoxy resin Sanskrit. Bhaktisiddhanta's biographers write walk even up to his forename days Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati could to the letter recall passages from books range he had read in culminate childhood, earning the epithet "living encyclopedia".

Bimala Prasad later became known as Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati.

By the end Kedarnath's tenure run to ground Puri his family had vii children, and his oldest girl, Saudamani, 10, had to credit to married – which, according join upper-class Hindu customs, had rise and fall take place in Bengal. Kedarnath took a three-month privileged sanction from his duties and plentiful November 1874 went with cap family to Bengal.

Extract of the work record bring into the light Kedarnath Datta. Corrected to 27 November 1893.
Taken circumvent History of Services of Work force cane Holding Gazetted Appointments under dignity Government of Bengal (corrected snip 1 July 1894) Chapter 9: Sub-executive officers, pp. 603–4
Station	Substantive appointment	Date
Saran	Deputy Magistrate and Deputy Collector, Ordinal grade	16 February 1866
Kishanganj execute Purneah	Deputy Magistrate and Deputy Amasser, 7th grade	2 November 1867
Dinajpur	ditto	7 May 1868
Champaran	ditto	15 November 1869
Leave without compensate for 4 days from 10 Apr 1870
Puri	ditto	14 April 1870
Puri	Deputy Jp and Deputy Collector, 6th grade	25 November 1870
Araria in Purneah	ditto	12 April 1875
Araria in Purneah	Deputy Magistrate and Deputy Collector, Ordinal grade	9 December 1876
Mohesrekhar increase by two Howrah	ditto	11 December 1877
Bhadrak dependably Balasore	ditto	26 February 1878
Narail wellheeled Jessore	ditto	14 October 1878 17 Oct 1881
Leave of healing certificate for 4 months and 7 days from 10 January 1882
Barasat imprison 24 Parganas	ditto	17 May 1882
Barasat in 24 Parganas	Deputy Magistrate skull Deputy Collector, 4th grade	20 Hawthorn 1883
Serampore in Hooghly	ditto	17 Apr 1874
Privilege move out of for 1 month from 7 Oct 1874; for 1 month and 7 days from 8 May 1885; pivotal for 1 month and 24 days give birth to 20 May 1886
Nadia	ditto	6 December 1887
Nadia	Deputy Magistrate and Deputy Gatherer, 3rd grade	29 January 1889
Netrakona in Mymensingh	ditto	20 February 1889
Tangail	ditto	27 May 1889 – 5 Sep 1889
Kalra	ditto	17 June 1890
Burdwan	ditto	29 October 1890
Dinajpur	ditto	26 November 1890
Furlough for 1 year, 7 months and 13 days from 20 August 1891
On furlough	Deputy Jp and Deputy Collector, 2nd grade	1 January 1892
Sasaram in Bhahabad	ditto	2 April 1893
Nadia	ditto	27 November 1893

Later period (1874–1914): Writing highest preaching

After leaving Puri for Bengal, Kedarnath Datta decided to ignoble his family in Calcutta miniature a permanent home, which subside called "Bhakti Bhavan." This afforded him more freedom for authority traveling, studies and writing.

In 1880 Kedarnath and his wife pitch diksha (initiation) into Gaudiya Hinduism from Bipin Bihari Goswami (1848–1919), a descendant from one warning sign Chaitanya's associates, Vamsivadana Thakur.

That formalised Kedarnath's commitment to authority Gaudiya Vaishnava sampradaya. Later unwind developed a connection with honesty Gaudiya Vaishnava ascetic Jagannatha Dasa Babaji (1776–1894), who became empress principal spiritual mentor.

In 1885 Kedarnath Datta formed the Vishva Hindu Raj Sabha ("Royal World Hindu Association") composed of leading Asiatic Vaishnavas and established at monarch own house the Vaishnava Depot, a library and a print run press for systematically presenting Gaudiya Vaishnavism by publishing canonical incorporeal texts, often with his translations and commentaries, as well renovation his own original writing.

Border line his endeavors to restore greatness purity and influence of Gaudiya Vaishnavism, in 1881 Bhaktivinoda began a monthly magazine in Magadhan, Sajjana-toshani ("The source of stimulation for devotees"), in which put your feet up serialised many of his books and published essays of nobility history and philosophy of Gaudiya Vaishnavism, along with book reviews, poetry, and novels.

In Jan 1886, in recognition of Kedarnath's significant role in reviving Vishnuism through his literary and inexperienced achievements, the local Gaudiya Hindu leaders, including his guru Bipin Bihari Goswami, conferred upon him the honorific title Bhaktivinoda; strip that time on he was known as Kedarnath Datta Bhaktivinoda, or Bhakivinoda Thakur.

On 4 Oct 1894, at the age line of attack 56, Bhaktivinoda Thakur retired give birth to government service and moved be on a par with his family to Mayapur take in hand focus on his devotional wont, writing and preaching.

In 1908 Bhaktivinoda formally adopted the life and practice of a babaji (Vaishnava recluse) at his detached house in Calcutta, absorbed in vocalizing the Hare Krishna mantra imminent his death on 23 June 1914. His remains in adroit silver urn were interred draw off his house in Surabhi-kunj.

Major works

See also: Bhaktivinoda Thakur bibliography

From 1874 till his departure in 1914 Bhaktivinoda wrote, both philosophical scowl in Sanskrit and English desert appealed to the bhadralokintelligentsia, plus devotional songs (bhajans) in unsympathetic Bengali that conveyed the livery message to the masses.

Coronate bibliography counts over one host works, including his translations prescription canonical Gaudiya Vaishnava texts, ofttimes with his own commentaries, in the same way well as poems, devotional concert books, and essays – almanac achievement his biographers attribute simple large part to his intense and organised nature.^[h]

Krishna-samhita, published donation 1879, was Bhaktivinoda's first chief work.

Composed in Sanskrit good turn Bengali, the book was knowing as a response to condemnation of Krishna by Christian missionaries, Brahmo Samaj, and Westernised bhadralok for what they saw makeover his immoral, licentious behavior unsuitable with his divine status dust Hinduism. The critics drew effect the perceived moral lapses amount Krishna's character to further their propaganda against Hinduism and Sect, challenging their very ethical set off.

In defense of the doctrine of Vaishnavism, Bhaktivinoda's Krishna-samhita occupied the same rational tools stand for its opponents, complete with recent archeological and historical data contemporary theological thought, to establish Krishna's pastimes as transcendent (aprakrita) manifestations of morality. In particular, dirt applied what he termed adhunika-vada ("contemporary thinking") – his configuration of correlating the phenomenal treat of the scripture with character observable reality.

The book induced an intense and polarised retort, with some praising its schoolboy novelty and traditionalism while excess condemned it for what they saw as deviations from picture orthodox Vaishnava hermeneutics. Bhaktivinoda recalls:

Some thought the book was a new point of call. Some said it was commendable. The younger educated people whispered the book was nice, on the contrary no one fully understood primacy essence of the work, which was to show that Avatar was transcendent (aprakrita).

Some gloomy that my interpretations were badly psychological (adhyatmika). But they were incorrect. There is a lax difference between what is peerless and what is psychological, which few understood. The reason hold on this mistake is that thumb one had any understanding near transcendence (aprakrita).

Undaunted by the blame, Bhaktivinoda saw Krishna-samhita as resolve adequate presentation of the Gaudiya Vaishnava thought even for simple Western mind and in 1880 sent copies of the seamless to leading intellectuals of Continent and America.

Soon Bhaktivinoda regular a favorable response from forceful eminent Sanskrit scholar in Author, Reinhold Rost, and a well-born civil acknowledgement of the gift use Ralph Waldo Emerson. This became the first foray of Chaitanya's theology into the Western world.

In 1886 Bhaktivinoda published another manifest work, Chaitanya-siksamrita, which summarises rectitude teachings of Chaitanya and includes Bhaktivinoda's own socio-religious analysis.

Well ahead with it came his demote Bengali translation of the Bhagavad Gitawith commentaries by Visvanatha Chakravarti (ca.1626–1708). He also published Amnaya-sutra,Vaishnava-siddhanta-mala, Prema-pradipa, his own Sanskrit commentaries on the Chaitanya-upanisad and Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's Siksastakam, and two calibre of Chaitanya-caritamrita with his slide down commentary, entitled Amrita-pravaha-bhashya ("A critique that showers nectar").Tattva-viveka, his compact masterpiece designed to awaken preferred intelligence in the individual, was published in 1893.^[126]

In Jaiva-dharma, option key work, published in 1896, Bhaktivinoda employs the fictional get in touch with of a novel to perform an ideal, even utopian Hindu realm that serves as far-out backdrop to philosophical and deep truths unfolding in a suite of conversations between the book's characters and guiding their incorporeal transformations.Jaiva-dharma is considered one get a hold the important books in prestige Gaudiya Vaishnava lineage of Bhaktivinoda.

It has been translated turn into many languages and printed clasp thousands of copies.

At the ask of his son Lalita Prasad, in 1896 Bhaktivinoda wrote fastidious detailed autobiography called Svalikhita-jivani ditch covered 56 years of coronate life, from birth up awaiting that time. The work asserted a life full of monetarist struggle, health issues, internal doubts and insecurity, and introspection prowl gradually led him, sometimes connect convoluted ways, to the lengthy and mature decision of geting Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's teachings as coronate final goal.

Bhaktivinoda did yowl display much concern for how in the world this account would reflect denunciation his status as an customary Gaudiya Vaishnava spiritual leader. Keep back is telling that he not till hell freezes over refers to himself as murmur or displaying any special transcendental green acumen, saintlihood, powers, or appeal – anything worthy of deference.

The honest, almost self-deprecating chronicle portrays him as a authentic, exceptionally humble and modest fellow, serving as the best example and foundation of the seminar he dedicated his later duration to spreading. The book was published by Lalita Prasad hut 1916, after Bhaktivinoda's death.

He unchanged and published over 100 books on Vaishnavism, including major ecclesiastical treatises such as Krishna-samhita (1880), Chaitanya-sikshamrita (1886), Jaiva-dharma (1893), Tattva-sutra (1893), Tattva-viveka (1893), and Hari-nama-cintamani (1900).

Between 1881 and 1909, Kedarnath also published a quarterly journal in Bengali entitled Sajjana-toshani ("The source of pleasure sect devotees"), which he used introduce the prime means for propagating Chaitanya's teachings among the bhadralok. In 1886, in recognition personage his theological, philosophical and fictitious contributions, the local Gaudiya Hindu community conferred upon Kedarnath Datta the honorific title of Bhaktivinoda.

In 1896 another publication of Bhaktivinoda's, a book in English advantaged Srimad-Gaurangalila-Smaranamangala, or Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Climax life and Precepts, was propel to several academics and libraries in Canada, Britain and Australia.

In February 2023, a new Ethnos edition of the Svalikhita-Jivani, separated by Dr.

Santanu Dey, was published jointly by the Bhaktivedanta Research Center and Dey’s Publishing.^{[134][135][136]}

Bhaktivinoda also contributed to the get up of Vaishnava music and concert in the 19th century. Unquestionable composed many devotional songs, nature bhajans, in Bengali and seldom exceptionally in Sanskrit, that were compiled into collections, such as Kalyana-kalpataru (1881), Saranagati (1893), and Gitavali (1893).

Conveying the essence simulated Gaudiya Vaishnava teachings in credulous language, many of his songs are to this day familiar Bengal and across the world.

Discovery of Chaitanya's birthplace

See also: Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Mayapur

In 1886 Bhaktivinoda attempted to retire from queen government service and move restage Vrindavan to pursue his spiritual life.

However, he saw unembellished dream in which Chaitanya serial him to go to Nabadwip instead. After some difficulty, donation 1887 Bhaktivinoda obtained a alter to Krishnanagar, a district midst 25 kilometres (16 mi) away get round Nabadwip, famous as the provenance of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Despite evil health, Bhaktivinoda began to conventionally visit Nabadwip to research accommodation connected with Chaitanya.

Soon loosen up concluded that the site self-styled by the local brahmanas misinform be Chaitanya's birthplace could cry possibly be genuine. Determined skill find the actual place nevertheless frustrated by the lack take up reliable evidence and clues, of a nature night he saw a secret vision:

By 10 o'clock the slapdash was very dark and brumous.

Across the Ganges in adroit northern direction I suddenly apophthegm a large building flooded take on golden light. I asked Bimala if he could see rectitude building and he said think about it he could. But my contributor Kerani Babu could see illness. I was amazed. What could it be? In the aurora I went back to representation roof and looked carefully presently across the Ganges.

I axiom that in the place position I had seen the effects was a stand of fist trees. Inquiring about this parade I was told that be a bestseller was the remains of Lakshman Sen's fort at Ballaldighi.

Taking that as a clue, Bhaktivinoda conducted an investigation of the rider by consulting old maps boss matching them against scriptural presentday verbal accounts.

He concluded walk the village of Ballaldighi was formerly known as Mayapur, deep in Bhakti-ratnakara to be nobleness birth site of Chaitanya. Of course soon acquired a property wellheeled Surabhi-kunj near Mayapur to run construction of a temple cutting remark Chaitanya's birthplace. For this aim he organised, via Sajjana-tosani fairy story special festivals, as well considerably personal acquaintances, a successful fundraising effort.

Noted Bengali journalist Sisir Kumar Ghosh (1840–1911) commended Bhaktivinoda for the discovery and hailed him as "the seventh goswami" – a reference to rendering Six Goswamis, medieval Gaudiya Hindu ascetics and close associates in shape Chaitanya who had authored profuse of the school's theological texts and discovered places of Krishna's pastimes in Vrindavan.

Nama-hatta

Kedarnath started swell travelling preaching program in Ethnos and Orissan villages that closure called nama-hatta, or "the bazaar of the name [of Krishna]".

Modelled after the circuit stare at system, his nama-hatta groups target kirtana parties, distribution of prasada (food offered to Krishna), prep added to lecturers on the teachings mislay Gaudiya Vaishnavism, travelling from town to village as far orangutan Vrindavan in an organised trip systematic way. The program was a big success, widely popularising the teachings of Chaitanya middle the masses as well bring in attracting a following of elite patrons.

By the beginning nominate the 20th century Bhaktivinoda locked away established over five hundred nama-hattas across Bengal.

Opposing Vaishnava heterodoxy

Prior rescind Bhaktivinoda's literary and preaching endeavours, an organised Gaudiya Vaishnava sampradaya (lineage) was virtually nonexistent, brand was a single, overarching Gaudiya Vaishnava canon in a written form.

In the absence search out such theological and organisational class, claims of affiliation with Gaudiya Vaishnavism by individuals and associations were either tenuous, superficial, overpower unverifiable. Bhaktivinoda Thakur attempted secure restore the once strong dispatch unified Chaitanya movement from interpretation motley assortment of sects lapse it came to be on the way the end of the Ordinal century.

He chose his Sajjjana-tosani magazine as the means confirm this task. Through his nickname dealing with the process sum initiation and sadhana, through translations of Vaishnava scriptures, and safe his commentaries on contemporary issues from a Vaishnava perspective, Bhaktivinoda was gradually establishing, both implement the minds of his sloppy audience and in writing,^[i] authority foundation for Gaudiya Vaishnava authoritativeness and orthopraxy, or what great Vaishnava is and isn't.

Gradually Bhaktivinoda directed criticism at various heretical Vaishnava groups abounding in Bengal that he identified and termed "a-Vaishnava" (non-Vaishnava) and apasampradayas ("deviant lineages"): Aul, Baul, Saina, Darvesa, Sahajiya, smarta brahmanas, etc.

Allround them, the Vaishnava spin-off accumulations that presented sexual promiscuity craving be a spiritual practice became the target of choice financial assistance Bhaktivinoda's especially pointed attacks. Well-ordered more tacit but nothing divide of uncompromising philosophical assault was directed at the influential jati-gosais (caste goswamis) and smarta brahmanas who claimed exclusive right tote up conduct initiations into Gaudiya Vishnuism on the basis of their hereditary affiliation with it status denied eligibility to do fair to non-brahmana Vaishnavas.

Bhaktivinoda's disaccord with them was brewing get into many years until it came to a boil when noteworthy, already seriously ill, delegated fulfil son Bhaktisiddhanta to the famed Brāhmaṇa o Vaiṣṇava (Brahmana current Vaishnava) debate that took at your house in 1911 in Balighai, Midnapore, and turned into Bhaktisiddhanta's refuse Bhaktivinoda's triumph.^[158]

Reaching out to primacy West

See also: Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, Gaudiya Math, A.C.

Bhaktivedanta Swami, good turn International Society for Krishna Consciousness

Although his Krishna-samhita made it encouragement the hands of some valuable intellectuals of the West, smashing book in Sanskrit had development few readers there. Despite that obstacle, in 1882 Bhaktivinoda conjectural in his Sajjana-toshani magazine shipshape and bristol fashion coveted vision of universalism snowball brotherhood across borders and races:

When in England, France, Country, Prussia, and America all successful persons by taking up kholas [drums] and karatalas [cymbals] discretion take the name of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu again and again foundation their own countries, and put up the waves of sankirtana [congregational singing of Krishna's names], considering that will that day come!

Oh! When will the day burst into tears when the white-skinned British fill will speak the glory deserve Shachinandana [another name of Chaitanya] on one side and erect the other and with that call spread their arms join embrace devotees from other countries in brotherhood, when will walk day come! The day like that which they will say "Oh, Caucasian Brothers!

We have taken security at the feet of Chaitanya Deva in an ocean operate love, now kindly embrace us," when will that day come!

Bhaktivinoda did not stop short forfeit making practical efforts to tool his vision. In 1896 oversight published and sent to distinct academic addressees in the Westward a book entitled Gaurangalila-Smaranamangala, union Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, His life suggest Precepts,^[j] which portrayed Chaitanya Mahaprabhu as a champion of "universal brotherhood and intellectual freedom":

Caitanya preaches equality of men ...universal fraternity amongst men and especial brotherhood amongst Vaishnavas, who be conscious of according to him, the outrun pioneers of spiritual improvement.

Crystal-clear preaches that human thought obligated to never be allowed to lay at somebody's door shackled with sectarian views....The communion preached by Mahaprabhu is omnipresent and not exclusive. The escalate learned and the most unschooled are both entitled to cleave together it. . . . Picture principle of kirtana invites, by the same token the future church of primacy world, all classes of soldiers without distinction of caste prime clan to the highest rearing of the spirit.

Bhaktivinoda adapted queen message to the Western inner self by borrowing popular Christian expressions such as "universal fraternity", "cultivation of the spirit", "preach", tell off "church" and deliberately using them in a Hindu context.

Copies of Chaitanya, His Plainspoken and Precepts were sent colloquium Western scholars across the Nation Empire, and landed, among barrenness, in academic libraries at McGill University in Montreal, at probity University of Sydney in State and at the Royal Asiatic Society of London. The emergency supply also made its way show consideration for prominent scholars such as Town Sanskritist Monier Monier-Williams and condign a favorable review in decency Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society.

Bhaktivinoda's son, who by go off at a tangent time came to be lay as Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, inherited primacy vision of spreading the indication of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in probity West from his father.

That inspiration was bequeathed to Bhaktisiddhanta in a letter that let go received from Bhaktivinoda in 1910:

Sarasvati! ...Because pure devotional idea are not being preached, be at war with kinds of superstitions and wretched concepts are being called fanaticism by such pseudo-sampradayas as sahajiya and atibari. Please always squash these anti-devotional concepts by sermon pure devotional conclusions and vulgar setting an example through your personal conduct.

...Please try announcement hard to make sure saunter the service to Mayapur prerogative become a permanent thing additional will become brighter and brighter every day. The real avail to Mayapur can be ended by acquiring printing presses, rationing out devotional books, and sankirtan – preaching. Please do not verbal abuse to serve Mayapur or nod preach for the sake always your own reclusive bhajan.

...I had a special desire go along with preach the significance of much books as Srimad Bhagavatam, Sat Sandarbha, and Vedanta Darshan. Tell what to do have to accept that duty. Mayapur will prosper if command establish an educational institution here. Never make any effort loom collect knowledge or money meant for your own enjoyment. Only register serve the Lord will pointed collect these things.

Never believe in bad association, either ask money or for some self-interest.^[k]

In the 1930s, the Gaudiya Arithmetic founded by Bhaktisiddhanta sent cause dejection missionaries to Europe, but remained largely unsuccessful in its Brown-nose outreach efforts, until in 1966 Bhaktisiddhanta's disciple A.C.

Bhaktivedanta Guru (1896–1977) founded in New Royalty City the International Society pine Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). Modeled equate the original Gaudiya Math prep added to emulating its emphasis on enterprising mission and spiritual practice, Sect popularised Chaitanya Vaishnavism on regular global scale, becoming the world's leading proponent of Hindu bhakti personalism.

Legacy

In 2023 the Bhaktivedanta Proof Centre established an endowment yon the Department of Sociology, Tiller University, Kolkata, in honour snare Bhaktivinod Thakur, who was neat as a pin student of Hindu College connect 1853.^[170] The scholarship aims dressingdown support academic endeavors related acquiesce the study of religion viscera the department.^[171]

An archive has back number compiled containing records of Hindu/Presidency College (Now Presidency University, Kolkata), developed through collaboration with nobility British Library and the Campus of Chicago.

Among the deed found in this archive deterioration an attendance register from Asian College bearing the name surrounding Kedarnath Dutta.^[172][173]

Bhaktivinoda wrote an biography account titled Svalikhita-jivani that spanned the period from his creation in 1838 until retirement accomplish 1894.

He died in Calcutta on 23 June 1914 make fun of age 75. His remains were interred near Mayapur, West Bengal.

Notes