The Literary Works of Thakura Bhaktivinoda

 

1849   Ula-candi-mahatmya, Bengali verses composed at the tender age of 11 years old, glorifying the deity of goddess Ula-candl in Ula, Birnagar, the town of his birth.

 

1850   Hari-katha, a poem in Bengali.

 

1850   Lila-kirtana, a poem in Bengali.

 

1851   Sumbha-Nisumbha-Yuddha, Bengali verses about the famous ancient battle between goddess Durga and two demons.

1855   Articles Contributions of articles to various regional and national periodicals and magazines commenced from this year.

1857   Poriade Part One—a poem in classical English about the wanderings of Porus, who fought Alexander the Great in the pre-Christian era.

1858   Poriade Part Two - The second of what was planned to be a twelve-part series, but which was never completed. Still, these two volumes constitute an epic composition.

 

1860  Maths of Orissa; English prose narratives about the various temples, monasteries and holy shrines in Orissa which were visited on pilgrimage by Thakura Bhaktivinoda. 1863 Vijana-grama, Bhaktivinoda's description of his affectionate return to the beautiful village of Ula (his birthplace).

 

1863  Sannyasi, an intricately detailed story of the adventures of a young sannyasi traveling throughout ancient India and abroad. The narrative is naturally full of important spiritual lessons.

 

1863 Our Wants; An essay in English prose.

 

1866 Speech on Gautama; A lecture in English about Gautama Muni and the philosophy of nyaya (logic)

 

1868   Sac-cid-dnanda-premalahkara, a poem in Bengali on the glories of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

 

1869   The Bhagavat: Its Philosophy, Its Ethics, and Its Theology

 

1870   Garbha-stotra-vyakha (Purport of the Garbha-stotra), or Sambandha-tattva-candrikd (A Moonbeam of the Truth of Eternal Relationship). A commentary in Bengali prose on the Garbha-stotra (Prayers by the Demigods to Sri Krsna in the Womb) from the second chapter of the tenth canto of Srlmad-Bhagavatam.

 

1871   Thakura Haridasa; Ten English verses about the disappearance of Namacarya Srila Haridasa Thakura, which are engraved in marble on the samadhi tomb of Haridas by the seashore at JagannathaPuri.

 

1871 The Temple of Jagannatha at Purl; an English prose essay describing the history of the establishment of the great temple in Puri, Orissa.

 

1871 The Akharas in Purl; English critical exposl on certain Vaisnava monasteries in Jagannatha Purl.

 

1871 The Personality of Godhead; an essay in English prose.

 

1871 Sdragrahi Vaisnava, a 22 verse English poem describing the mood of a devotee who knows how to remain aloof from gross worldly attractions while extracting the essence of Krsna Consciousness everywhere and in everything.

 

1871 A Beacon Light; English prose.

 

1871 To Love God; A short English article describing bhakti

(love) as the religion of the soul.

 

 

1871   The Attibaris of Orissa; a long letter in English to the editors of the "Progress", exposing a questionable sect of pseudo-Vaisnavas popular in Orissa.

 

1872   Vedantadhikarana-mala, a compilation of Sanskrit verses on Vedanta philosophy, with Bhaktivinoda's own Bengali translations and explanations.

 

1873   Datta-kaustubha, 104 Sanskrit verses on Vaisnava philosophy composed by Thakura Bhaktivinoda, including his own Sanskrit prose commentary.

 

1876 Datta-varhsa-mala, Sanskrit verses giving a genealogical description of the Datta family of Bali Samaj. Since he was born Kedarnath Datta, this is a chronicle of Bhaktivinoda's own family tree.

 

1878 Bauddha-vijaya-kavyam, Sanskrit verses soundly defeating the atheistic philosophy of Buddhism, point for point.

 

1880   Sri Krsna-samhita, an amazing and revolutionary treatise on the science of Lord Krsna, His pastimes and His devotees. The book contains an 83-page introduction in which Thakura Bhaktivinoda discusses the philosophy and development of Indian religion from a historical and geographical platform.In the actual Samhita portion of the book, he has composed 281 Sanskrit verses and divided them into 10 chapters which deal with descriptions of the spiritual world, the multifarious energies of the Lord, His incarnations, astonishing aspects of His pastimes, descriptions of how Lord Krsna removes specific

demonic obstacles in order for His devotees to attain the mood of Vraja, and a detailed analysis of the character of one who has attained Krsna's association, etc. Accompanying the Sanskrit verses are Bhaktivinoda's Bengali prose translations and explanations. At the end of the book, the Thakura gives a 50-page Conclusion in which religious philosophy is discussed in terms of the principles of sambandha, abhideya and prayojana.

 

1881   Kalyana Kalpa-taru, a Vaisnava Bengali songbookdescribing a desire-tree that Bhaktivinoda had brought directly from the spiritual world

 

1881 Sajjana-tosani, this was a monthly Vaisnava periodical in the Bengali language which Bhaktivinoda began to edit and publish commencing from the year 1881 and continuing for 17 volumes.

 

1883   Review   of   the   Sanskrit   book;      "Nitya-rupa-sarhsthdpanam" ("Proof of the Lord's Eternal Form"). The book  was   composed  in   Sanskrit  by  Bhaktivinoda's contemporary named Pandit Upendra Mohan Goswami Nyaya-ratna.

 

1885   Visva-vaisnava-kalpa-tavi, a small booklet published in order to acquaint the public with the functions and aims of a spiritual society he personally organized in Calcutta, called the Sri Visva Vaisnava Sabha (The Association of Universal Vaisnavas).

 

1886   Srimad Bhagavad-glta, published and edited by Srila Bhaktivinoda with the Sanskrit commentary of Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura entitled Sardrtha-varsini. The book contains an elaborate introduction in Bengali, and for each Sanskrit verse of the Gltd, he composed his own Bengali translation-commentary entitled Rasika-rahjana.

 

1886 Sri Caitanya-siksamrta, a philosophical work in Bengali prose which is meant to show exactly how the teachings of Lord Caitanya are to be applied in the modern world. This includes the perfectly non-envious bridging of the gaps between all the world's major religions. These nectarean teachings, based on Lord Caitanya's instructions to Rupa and Sanatana Goswami as found in the Caitanya-caritdmrta, are just like a shower of pure nectar, and therefore the book is divided into 8 "showers", each of these being subdivided into "downpours". The 8 "showers" are listed as follows:

 

(1)Ascertainment of the Topmost Religion

(2)Secondary Duties, or Religious Activities

(3)Primary Duties, or Regulative Devotional Service

(4)Discussions on Spontaneous Devotional Service

(5)Discussions on Ecstatic Devotional Service

(6)Discussions on Devotional Service in Pure Love of God

(7)Discussions on Transcendental Mellow

(8)Conclusion.

 

1886 Sanmodana-bhasyam,  a comprehensive Sanskrit commentary on Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's 8 verses of instruction named Siksdstaka.

1886 Bhajana-darpana-bhasya, a Sanskrit commentary on Srila Raghunatha dasa Goswami's 12-verse Sanskrit prayer entitled Manah-siksd (Instructions to the Mind).

 

1886 Dasopanisad-curnika, a book of Bengali prose containing essential information gleaned from the 10 principle Upanisads.

1886 Bhdvavali, Sanskrit verses on the subject of rasa writtenby different Vaisnava dcdryas of the highest order, compiled by Thakura Bhaktivinoda and published along with his own Bengali song translations.

1886 Prema-pradipa, a philosophical Vaisnava novel written in Bengali prose.

1886 Sri Visnu-sahasra-nama-stotram, this prayer was published by the Thakura along with the Sanskrit commentary of Srila Baladeva Vidyabhusana entitled Namartha-sudha.

 

1887 Sri Krsna-vijaya, a famous Bengali verse epic on the pastimes of Sri Krsna, written in the early 1470's by Maladhara Vasu (Gunaraj Khan.) This book, written in a simple folk style, was not only renowned for being the first volume of Bengali literature ever published, but was one of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's favorite books. Edited and published by Thakura Bhaktivinoda with his own introduction in Bengali.

 

1887 Sri Caitanyopanisad (part of the Atharva Veda). An Upanisadic treatise in Sanskrit dealing with Sri Krsna's appearance as the great preacher of love of Godhead, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Published and edited by Thakura Bhaktivinoda with his own Sanskrit commentary called Sri Caitanya-carandmrta (The Nectar of the Lotus Feet of Lord Caitanya), and Madhusudana Dasa's Bengali translation of the original Sanskrit verses called Amrta-bindu (A Drop of Nectar).

 

1888 Vaisnava-siddhdnta-mdld, Bengali prose work that gives a crystallization of all the basic tenets of Gaudlya Vaisnava philosophy.

 

1890 Amnaya-sutram, a classical Sanskrit composition based on the Upanisads, presented in the traditional style as 130 aphorisms, plus a short commentary on each aphorism in Sanskrit, quoted from various ancient scriptures. Bhaktivinoda also gives his own Bengali translation called the Laghu-bhdsya (Brief Explanation). This book helps the aspirants in easily engaging their lives in devotional practices by presenting very simple statements of transcendental truths. The 130 aphorisms are divided into 16 extremely condensed and irrefutable chapters.

 

1890 Sri Navadvipa-dhdma-mdhdtmyam, 18 chapters of Bengali verse in which Bhaktivinoda describes the complete tour of the nine islands of Navadvlpa that was traversed by Lord Nityananda. Taking the young Srila Jlva GosvamI along, Lord Nityananda Prabhu points out all the different places of pilgrimage and. tells the stories behind those sacred sites. 1890 Sri Navadvipa-dhdma-mdhdtmyam, (Pramdna-khanda), (The Canto Describing the Scriptural References). Five chapters of amazing quotes from many different Vedic scriptures, Puranas and Samhitas that glorify the holy land of Navadvipa. The Sanskrit verses are accompanied by Bhaktivinoda's Bengali prose translations.

 

1890   Siddhdnta-darpanam, a philosophical Sanskrit work by Srila Baladeva Vidya-bhusana, edited and published by Thakura Bhaktivinoda with his own Bengali prose translations.

 

1891   Srimad Bhagavad-Gitd, edited and published by Thakura Bhaktivinoda with Srila Baladeva Vidyabhusana's Sanskrit commentary called Gitd-bhusana, and his own Bengali translation-commentary called Vidvad-ranjana (That Which Pleases the Wise).

 

1891   Sri Godruma Kalpatavi, a collection of Bhaktivinoda's Bengali essays describing his program of Nam Hatta, or the Marketplace of the Holy Name.

 

1892   Sri Hari-ndma, the second chapter of Vaisnava siddhdnta-mdld, excerpted and published in pamphlet form.

1892 Sri Ndma, the third chapter of Vaisnava-siddhdnta-mdld,excerpted and published in pamphlet form, also used by Bhaktivinoda for distribution during his public Nam Hatta programs.

 

1892 Sri Nama-tattva-siksdstaka, the fourth chapter of Vaisnava-siddhdnta-mdld.

1892 Sri Ndma-mahimd, the fifth chapter of Vaisnava-siddhdnta-mdld.

1892 Sri Ndma-pracdra, the sixth chapter of Vaisnava-siddhdnta-mdld

 

1892   Sriman Mahaprabhur Siksd, a book written by Bhaktivinoda in eleven chapters. In the first chapter, he summarizes Sri Caitanya's philosophy in ten points (dasa mula). Then the following ten chapters fully explain each point individually. All philosophical conclusions are supported with profuse scriptural quotations in Sanskrit, which are accompanied by Bengali prose translations and explanations.

 

1893   Tattva-viveka or Sac-cid-dnanddnubhuti, in this book, Thakura Bhaktivinoda discusses the different precepts of the great Vaisnava dcdryas as compared to the ideas of other famous philosophers, both Oriental and Western. He mentions the Greek philosophers Leucippus, Democritus, Plato and Aristotle; Diderot and Lamettrie of France; Lucretius of Italy; Von Holbach of Germany; Yangchoo of China; Carvaka of India; and Englishmen Mill, Lewis, Paine, Carlyle, Bentham, Combe, and so on. The book is composed of 48 Sanskrit verses, each with an exhaustive Bengali commentary. The First Realization, of 33 verses, is entitled "Realization of Eternity", and the Second Realization, of 15 verses, is entitled "Realization of Eternal Consciousness".

 

1893 Soka-sdtana, a small booklet of 13 Bengali songs, which Bhaktivinoda composed between 1888 and 1890. These songs were meant to be sung by the general public, as they describe an ecstatic pastime in Lord Caitanya's life, an incident giving expression to important teachings of transcendental truths. 1893 Saranagati, a Bengali songbook of 50 ecstatic songs about the process of purely devoted surrender unto the lotus feet of Lord Krsna

 

1893 Gltavali, a Bengali songbook of 70 rapturous songs which are meant to be sung regularly by devotees.

1893 Gita-mala, a Bengali songbook of 80 nectarean songs arranged in five chapters.

1893 Baula-sahglta, a collection of 12 songs in Bengali verse.

1893 Dalalera Gita, a song in Bengali verse that describes how Lord Nityananda has opened up The Marketplace of the Holy Name at Surabhi-kunja, which was Bhaktivinoda's headquarters on the island of Godruma in Navadvipa.

 

1893 Nama Bhajana, a small booklet in English prose on the divine name of Sri Krsna

1893 Jaiva Dharma, a philosophical Vaisnava novel written in Bengali prose.

1893 Tattva-sutram, composed in 50 concise Sanskrit aphorisms divided into 5 chapters. Bhaktivinoda gives a Sanskrit commentary on each verse, plus an elaborate Bengali commentary. The five divisions are:

 

(1)The Truth of the Lord and His Creation

(2)The Truth of His Conscious Portions (Souls)

(3)The Truth of His Temporary Portion (The Material World)

(4)The Truth of the Relationship Between the Lord and His Creation

(5)The Truth Regarding Devotional Principles.

 

1894 Veddrka-dldhiti, a Sanskrit commentary on the famous Isopanisad found in the Vdjasaneya Samhita portion of the Sukla Yajur Veda. This commentary by Bhaktivinoda TMkura was published along with the Sanskrit explanation of Srlla Baladeva Vidyabhusana called Isopanisad-bhdsyam (An Explanation of Isopanisad). Also included were the notes of Bhaktivinoda's friend, Sriyukta Syamalala GosvamI Siddhanta Vacaspati, entitled Isopanisad Bhasya-rahasya-vivrti (The Purport of the Inner Secrets of the Explanation of Isopanisad), plus Syamalal Goswami's Bengali clarification of the Isopanisad called Siddhdntdnuvada (Translation of the Truth).

 

1894 Tattva-muktavali or Mdyavada-sata-dusini, 119 Sanskrit verses composed by Sripad Madhvacarya which refute the impersonal Advaita Vedanta philosophy that was spread all over India by Sahkaracarya. Thakura Bhaktivinoda had it published with his own Bengali prose translations for each verse.

 

1895   Amrta-pravaha-bhasya, a Bengali commentary on Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami's Sri Caitanya-caritdmrta. 1895 Hari-bhakti-kalpa-latikd, a Sanskrit work on pure devotion by an unknown Vaisnava author. Edited and published by Thakura Bhaktivinoda with the Sanskrit text only. 1895 Shodasa Grantha, a collection of sixteen small Sanskrit works written by Sri Vallabhacarya, a prominent dcdrya who lived during Lord Caitanya's time. Original Sanskrit text edited and published by Thakura Bhaktivinoda.

 

1895 Sri Gaurdnga-stava-kalpataru, a twelve verse poem in Sanskrit from Srila Raghunatha Dasa Gosvami's Stavavall. Sanskrit text edited and published by Thakura Bhaktivinoda. 1895 Manah-santosani, a Bengali verse translation of a Sanskrit work called Sri Krsna Caitanyodaydvali by Pradyumna Misra, a close relative of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. The author of this translation, Sri Jagajjivan Misra, is the eighth descendant of Pradyumna Misra, the older brother of Sri Caitanya's father Jagannatha Misra. Bengali text edited and published by Thakura Bhaktivinoda.

 

1895 Mukunda-mala Stotram, a devotional Sanskrit work from South India by one of the twelve Alvars, King Kulasekhara, edited and published by Thakura Bhaktivinoda.

 

1895 Sri Laksml-carita, a short work in Bengali verse by Sri Maladhara Vasu (Gunaraja Khan), the renowned author of Sri Krsna-vijaya (the first Bengali book). Original text edited and published by Thakura Bhaktivinoda. 1895 Bdla-Krsna-sahasra-ndma, Gopdla-sahasra-ndma, Krsnastottara-sata-nama, Radhika-sahasra-nama, four different nama-stotras excerpted from the Ndrada-pahcardtra. Edited and published by Thakura Bhaktivinoda with the Sanskrit text only.

 

1895 Sriman-Mahaprabhor-Asta-kaliya-lila-smarana-mangala-stotram, an 11 verse Sanskrit poem on the pastimes of Sri Caitanya by an unknown Vaisnava author, edited and published by Thakura Bhaktivinoda.

 

1896   Sri Gaurdnga-lila-smarana-marigala-stotram, 104 original Sanskrit verses giving a condensed description of all the most important pastimes and teachings of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu that are found in Sri Caitanya-bhdgavata and Sri Caitanya-caritdmrta. Bhaktivinoda included in the beginning of the book, a famous 47-page introduction in English prose entitled, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu: His Life and Precepts. This introduction summarizes the contents of

the book's Sanskrit verses. Accompanying the Sanskrit verses is a Sanskrit commentary entitled Vikasini Tika) by the renowned Pandita of Navadvlpa, Maha-mahopadhyaya Sitikantha Vacaspati.

 

1896 Sri Rdmdnuja-upadesa, Sanskrit verses explaining the philosophy of Ramanujacarya, with Thakura Bhaktivinoda's own Bengali translation.

 

1896 Artha-pancaka, Thakura Bhaktivinoda's explanatory notes in Bengali on Sri Pillai Lokacarya's famous book of the same name, in which five principal points of Ramanuja's philosophy are explained at length.

 

1896 Sva-likhita Jivani, this book is a 200-page Bengali prose letter which Bhaktivinoda wrote to his son, Lalita Prasada Datta, in response to a request for details of his father's personal life.

 

1897 Brahma-samhita, this book was edited and published by Thakura Bhaktivinoda with the original Sanskrit verses, Srila Jlva Goswami's Sanskrit commentary, and Bhaktivinoda's own Bengali introduction, Bengali prose translations and Bengali commentary called Prakasinl.

 

1898 Sri Krsna-karndmrta, a famous Sanskrit book of ecstatic prayers and revelations of Krsna conscious moods and pastimes written by Sri Bilvamarigala Thakura (Lllasuka). Published and edited by Bhaktivinoda with the original Sanskrit verses, the Sanskrit commentary by Caitanya Dasa GoswamI (the older brother of Kavi Karnapur) called Bdla-bodhinl Tikd, and Bhaktivinoda's own introduction, final summary and Bengali prose translations of the verses.

 

1898 Plyusa-varsini-vrtti, Bengali commentary on Srila Rupa Goswami's Upadesamrta

1898 Srimad Bhagavad-Gitd, this edition was published by Thakura Bhaktivinoda with the Sanskrit commentary Dvaitabhdsyam (Explanation of Supreme Duality) by Srlpada Madhvacarya.

1898 Sri Goloka-mdhdtmyam, part two of Sanatana Gosvamf s Brhad-bhdgavatdmrtam, edited and published by Thakura Bhaktivinoda with the original Sanskrit text and his own Bengali translations of the verses.

 

1899   The Hindu Idols, a thirty-two page English letter written to the Tract Society of Calcutta.

1899 Sri Bhajandmrta, a treatise on pure devotion to the Supreme Lord written in Sanskrit prose by Srila Narahari Sarakara Thakura, a contemporary and intimate associate of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Edited and published by Thakura Bhaktivinoda with his own Bengali translation.

1899 Sri Navadvlpa-bhdva-tarahga, 168 Bengali verses describing the different transcendental places in the 32 square mile area of Navadvlpa, as seen through the perfected devotional eyes of a God-realized soul. In this book Thakura Bhaktivinoda does not see the land of Navadvipa as a mundane historical place of this world but sees it as the Isodydna or transcendental garden of the Supreme Lord.

 

1900   Harindma-cintdmani, divided into 15 chapters and composed in Bengali verse form, this book is an account of Srila Haridasa Thakura's teachings on the holy name. It is actually a conversation between Lord Caitanya and Haridasa— the Lord asks questions about the glories of the holy name, and Haridasa gives extensive answers.

 

1901   Srimad Bhagavatdrka-marici-mdld, in this book Thakura Bhaktivinoda has taken a selection of the most important verses of Srimad Bhdgavatam and arranged them in 20 chapters, called 'rays.' Each Sanskrit verse is accompanied by a Bengali prose translation and explanation by Bhaktivinoda. The Bhdgavatam is compared to the brilliant sun, and therefore each particular chapter or ray of Bhdgavata sunlight expounds upon three major divisions of Bhdgavata philosophy of sambandha, abhidheya, and prayojana.

 

1901 Padma Purdna, edited and published by Thakura Bhaktivinoda with the complete 55,000-verse Sanskrit text only.

 

1901   Sahkalpa-kalpadruma, a book of 104 Sanskrit verses on the divine pastimes of Sri Sri Radha-Krsna originally composed by Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura. Edited and published by Thakura Bhaktivinoda with his own Bengali prose translations.

 

1902   Bhajana-rahasya, Compiled by Thakura Bhaktivinoda as a supplement to his Hari-ndma-cintdmani. This Bhajana-rahasya is arranged in eight chapters, and the chanting of each chapter is to be observed during each three hour period of the twenty-four hour day. Each chapter corresponds to one verse of Sri Caitanya's Siksdstaka, and explains one of the eight levels of advancement in the gradual development of Krsna-bhajan, from primary sraddhd to ultimate prema, as is enunciated by Srila Rupa GoswamI in his Bhakti-rasamrtasindhu. All the chapters are filled with scriptural citations in Sanskrit, uniquely explaining the philosophy of Krsna-bhajan and its practice. Each Sanskrit verse is accompanied by the Thakura's own Bengali translation in verse.

 

1904 Sat-kriyd-sdra-dlpika with the appendix Samskara-dlpikd, a small Sanskrit work by Srila Gopala Bhatta GoswamI. extracted from the Hari-bhakti-vilasa, on the philosophy and ritualistic practice of Vedic sarhskdra ceremonies for Gaudiya Vaisnava householders. It also contains the ritualistic codes and institutes for Gaudiya Vaisnava mendicants. Edited and published by Thakura Bhaktivinoda with his own Bengali prose translation.

 

1906   Prema-vivarta, a book by Jagadananda Pandit in Bengali verse on Sri Caitanya's philosophy of divine love and the holy name. Edited and published by Thakura Bhaktivinoda

 

1907   Sva-niyama-dvddasakam, twelve verses of self-imposed vows. This is the last literary work of Bhaktivinoda Thakura, composed shortly before he shut himself up in his beach-front cottage at Jagannatha Purl. Although the Sanskrit verses and Bengali prose translations were completed by Bhaktivinoda, he never finished a Bengali prose commentary on this last work.

 

The following works of Bhaktivinoda Thakura do not have specific dates of publication:

 

Navadvipa-satakam, this is an ecstatic book composed by Sri Prabodhananda Sarasvati, one of Lord Caitanya's direct disciples. Thakura Bhaktivinoda translated this composition into simple Bengali verses for easy reading by devotees, and published it without the original Sanskrit verses as a small pocket-sized booklet.

 

Dasa-mula-niryasa, a Bengali prose essay which explains a single Sanskrit verse composed by Bhaktivinoda. This verse summarizes Lord Caitanya's philosophy as having ten root principles. Then in the essay the Thakura elaborately explains the essence of the essence of each point.

 

Sri Visnu Priya O dnanda Bazar Patrikd, a monthly Vaisnava journal in Bengali edited by Bhaktivinoda and published by his friend Shishir Kumara Ghosh.

Baladeva Vidya-bhusana-carita, written by Bhaktivinoda in Bengali prose, this is a well-researched biography of Srila Baladeva Vidyabhusana.

 

Veddnta-sutra, this classic Vedic philosophy book, written by Srila Vyasadeva, was published by Bhaktivinoda's friend, Sri Syamalal Gosvami, along with the Govinda-bhdsya of Baladeva Vidyabhusana, and the explanatory notes of Bhaktivinoda Thakura.