Jul 02, 2016 — CANADA (SUN) — The Disappearance Day of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura is observed on July 3rd.
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Thakura Prabhupada wrote the following words in Sajjana-tosani after the disappearance of Om Vishnupada Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur Mahasaya:
"The purpose of the Sajjana-tosani remains unchanged. Thakur Mahäsaya has entered the nitya-lilä, but by his blessings this magazine will continue to bring joy to the pious through Hari-kathä, just as before.... Some think, accepting the opinion of the material sensualists, that the cause of bhakti is advanced by eliminating the idea of pure devotion; others tarnish pure devotion's beauty by accepting the facile path of the materialistic devotees as the standard.
"Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur has sung in his Kalyäna-kalpa-taru,
bhakti-bädhä jähä ha'te se vidyära mastakete
padäghäta kara akaitava
sarasvati krsna-priyä krsna-bhakti tanra hiyä
vinodera sei se vaibhava
Fearlessly kick in the head any learning which causes obstacles on the path of devotion. The goddess Saraswati is dear to Krishna, and devotion to Krishna is in her heart. Bhaktivinoda considers the learning she inspires to be his treasure.
"The goddess of learning manifest in the teachings of Bhaktivinoda Thakur and Gauranga Mahaprabhu can neither condone any words which contradict devotional service, nor any which compromise with it. This, we have repeatedly recognized, is the extraordinary characteristic of those teachings.
Bhaktivinoda Thakur considers this goddess of learning which is most dear to Krishna, Mahaprabhu's teachings, to be his treasure. In other words, Bhaktivinoda's words reach as far as the lotus feet of the original äsraya-vigraha, Srimati Radharani. Bhaktivinoda himself, non-different from Vrsabhänu-nandini, has expanded into Mahaprabhu's gospel. Service to the Gauranga who takes pleasure in delivering his message is identical with the service to Radha and Govinda in obedience to the guru, service to the gopis and to their lord and master through following Rupa Manjari.
"Illuminated by the lamp of devotion, we can see the path which leads to the bower where the Gauranga of Bhaktivinoda's teachings sports. It reveals those words of Gauranga, the everlasting order of his goddess of learning which enters into the ears of eternally conditioned souls like ourselves: 'Be the servant of Svarupa and Rupa's followers and always chant the Holy Name.'
We pray to remain constantly dedicated to the glorification of that abode of virtue, Gauranga, who is Krishna himself residing in that message-bower, with single-minded commitment and great gusto. On this day, we pray to all the Vaishnavas who are obedient to the preceptors in the line of Svarupa and Rupa for this blessing."
