Appearance

              Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Goswami Prabhupada appeared in Puri Dham, Orissa at 3:30 P.M. on 6 February , 1874 A.D. (Magh 25, 1280 Bengali Year), on Magh Krishna Panchami Tithi according to the lunar calendar. He appeared in the house named Narayan Chata, situated not far from the Jagannath Temple on the Grand Road in Puri that was constantly reverberating with the sound of Harinama.

He appeared as the son of Smt. Bhagavati Devi and Thakur Bhakti Vinode. To the great astonishment of all, he was born with a natural nerve-coil around his neck resembling the sacred thread.

            In accordance with the name of Sri Bimala Devi, representing the superior potency of Sri Jagannatha Deva, he was given the name Sri Bimala Prasad.

Receiving the blessings of Sri Jagannath

             When he was six months old, it was the time for Sri Jagannath’s Ratha-yatra festival. The Rath (chariot) with the Vigrahas (Deities) of Sri Jagannath Dev stopped at the gate of Thakur Bhaktivinod’s residence and did not move for three days. Mother Bhagavati Devi went up to the Ratha, and approached Lord Jagannath with her six-month-old son in her lap. Of his own motion, the baby extended his arms, thereby touching the lotus feet of Sri Jagannath Dev and was blessed with a garland from Sri Jagannath Dev. 

Thakur Bhaktivinod celebrated his Anna-prasana (grain ceremony) with the Mahaprasad of Sri Jagannath Dev on the Ratha. 

Return to Ranaghat 

          When he was just ten months old, He arrived at Ranaghat, Nadia, (West Bengal) with his mother in a Palki (Palanquin) on land route from Puri. 

Deity Worship of Kurma-Dev

            Thakur Bhakti Vinode built his residence named Bhakti Bhavan at Maniktala in Calcutta (Now Kolkata). While constructing the foundation of the house, he got the Deity of ‘Kurma-Dev’. Bhakti Vinode Thakur taught Bimala Prasad the Mantras and rituals for the worship of ‘Kurma-Deva’.

Training in publishing work

           He received training in Printing Press and proofreading in connection to the publication of the periodical ‘Sajjan Toshani’ by Thakur Bhakti Vinode. 

Taking Harinama & Narsingh Mantra

            While reading in class Five in ‘Serampore Highschool’ at Serampore, he received Harinama with Tulasi beads and Sri Narsingh Mantra from Thakur Bhakti Vinode. He also read Shri Chaitanya Shikshamitra there.

Talent in astrology

            While reading in class Eight, he received training in Mathematics and Astrology in which he acquired excellent proficiency under Pandit Mahesh Chandra Churamani and Pandit Sundar Lal. Bimala Prasada started translating from Sanskrit to Bengali two classical astronomical treatises: Siddhanta-Siromani, which he completed and published in 1893; and in 1896 Surya Siddhanta, with its original Sanskrit verses and his own Bengali rendition. Recognizing his extraordinary proficiency and contributions in both the Eastern and Western systems of astrology and astronomical calculations, specifically for his initial unpublished work on Surya Siddhanta, his tutors Pandit Mahesa-Candra Cudamani and Pandit Sundara Lal conferred upon him the title “Siddhanta Sarasvati” when he was just fifteen years old.

Establishment of August Assembly

            He held evening meetings at Beadon Square, Calcutta, in which many students and elderly educated people attended. Name of the assembly was ‘Chira-kumara Sabha’ (Association of lifelong bachelors), it is also called August Assembly, whose members took a vow of celibacy, intending to avoid entanglement in family affairs. However, Śrī Siddhanta Sarasvati was the lone member to maintain the pledge throughout life.

Education in Sanskrit College

           Saraswati Thakur admitted to the Calcutta Sanskrit College. There once again, instead of studying the books which were on the curriculum, he took to systematically reading all the books in the library. He studied the Veda with the scholar Prithvidhar Sharma.

Establishment of ‘Sarasvata Chatuspati’

           Sarasvati Thakur established Sarasvata Chatuspati at Bhakti Bhavan. He made this arrangement so that the astrology education in West Bengal is smooth and the students here do not have to go to Banaras for astrology education. Many educated and important people came there to study astrology including Lala Hara Gauri Shankar, Dr. Ekendranath Ghosh, M.B., Satkori Chattopadhyaya Siddhanta Bhushan, Shyamlal Goswami (the noted scholar of the Nityananda family), Sarat Chandra Jyotir Vinode, etc. 

Books published from Sarasvata Chatuspathi

From the Saraswata Catushpathi, Saraswati Thakur published the monthly magazines Jyotirvid and Brhaspati, as well as many ancient astrological works. They are

            (1) Jyotirbid Prothom, dwitiyo, tritiyo borsho Sampurna. Ihate is. (i) Bhaskaracharya siddhantosiromoni grohoganitadhyay somogro mulya, basana vasyo o bonganubad ; (ii) Raghunandan Bhattacharjer jyotishstottoh hora o songhita mul abong herakhonder bonganubad o songhitangsher bibriti ; (iii) Paschatya driksiddhi kujosposto sayan voumosiddhanto ; (iv) Aryabhatter somogro arjo siddhanto mul, poromadishwar krito Sanskrit tika o bonganubad ; (v) Ramchandrer dinkoumudi panjika gonona bishoyok ; (vi) Chamatkarchintamoni bhabfol.

             (2) Brihospoti Prothom borsho. Ihate (i) Bhaskaracharjer siddhantosiromoni goladhyay basonavasya, bonganubad o biroti (ii) Loghuparashoriyo ba Urdayu Prodip, Bhairab Dutta krito tika o bonganubad bibriti (iii) Laghujatak Bhattyatpol tika soho bonganubad (iv) Paschatya gonit Sayan Chandark drik sfoot.

Surjosiddhanto, rangonath tika, bonganubad. (jontrosto)

(3) Siddhantosiromoni Goladhya. 

(4) Siddhantosiromoni grohogonitadhyay. 

(5) Jyotishstottoh horakhondo. 

(6) Jyotishstottoh songhitakhondo. 

(7) Jyotishstottoh somogro (hora o songhita). 

(8) Arjosiddhanto somogro paadchotushtoy. 

(9) Paschattyo gonit Rabichandra sposto. 

(10) Bhoumoshiddhanto.

(11) Chomotkarchintamoni. 

(12) Dinkoumudi. 

(13) Laghuparashoriyo ba Uruday Prodip. 

(14) Laghujatok.

(15) Book of Fate (English Book) (K. Dutta)    

Demonstrating the futility of  worldly knowledge 

           A few years later, in when teaching Sanskrit at the Saraswata Chatuspathi in Bhakti Bhavan, he studied Siddhānta-kaumudī with the same Prithvidhar Sharma, and rapidly went through the entire text. Prithvidhar Sharma advised him to devote his life to the study of Siddhānta kaumudi and Sanskrit grammar, but Saraswati Thakur disagreed with him, saying that human life is meant for worshiping the Supreme Lord and not for studying grammar manuals with their verb roots and conjugations, nor for reading mundane poems. 

Abandoning material education

           While studying at the Sanskrit College, Saraswati Thakur also came into public disagreement with the opinions of the renowned scholar from Kashi, Bapudeva Shastri and the professor Panchanan Sahityacharya.

We can see parallels in the life of Saraswati Thakur and Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, for Saraswati Thakur first engaged in the delights of study and debating during his student life but then turned to exclusively chanting and preaching the Holy Names. In his autobiography, he wrote, “‘If I go on to study at the university, my family will inevitably harass me to get married. On the other hand, if I present myself to the world as a useless fool, no one will try to interest me in that kind of life.’ This was the reasoning that led me to quit the Sanskrit College. I then started looking for an honest means of making my livelihood with minimum effort so that I could lead a life of devotion to the Lord.”

In Tripura

          Sarasvati Thakur took a job with the royal family of Tripura, which was then an independent state. He was engaged as associate editor of the royal family’s history, Rāāja-ratnākara. While there, he had the opportunity to study many important books held in the royal library When the Maharaja, Virachandra, left this world on December 11, 1896, his son Radha Kishor Manikya Bahadur was placed on the throne. The new Maharaja engaged Saraswati Thakur as Sanskrit and Bengali tutor for the crown prince, Vrajendra Kishor. Later, he sent Saraswati Thakur to Calcutta with various responsibilities. When Saraswati Thakur expressed a desire to permanently leave the employ of the royal family in 1905, the Maharajah gave him a full pension equal to the salary he had been earning. Saraswati Thakur continued to receive this pension until 1908.

Pilgrimage with Bhakti Vinode

          He went out with Thakur Bhakti Binode for pilgrimage to Benaras, Prayag and Gaya and had the opportunity to meet and discuss on Ramanujan School of Vaisnavism with Maha Mahopadhyaya Ram Misra Shastri of Benaras.

Observance of Chaturmasya Vrata

          He felt an urge for a life of devotional renunciation and observed the hardships of Chaturmasya Vrata as prescribed in theVaishnava scriptures which enjoins self cooking of one item only, accepting food and lying on the ground without bedding and pillow.

Publication of Nivedan & Bange Samajikata

          He published his articles on spiritual subjects in ‘Nivedan’ a weekly magazine from Calcutta. He published a book named ‘Bange Samajikata’ on social dealings in Bengal containing useful informations of the then society and religious life and his views thereon

Bhagavati Diksha by Srila Gour Kishora

            Bimala Prasad took initiation from Gaura Kishor Das Babaji on the instructions of Srila Bhakti Binod Thakur. Bimala Prasad was Babaji Maharaja’s only disciple. Babaji Maharaja was an Niskinchan Paramahansa Vaishnava, who had sworn not to take any disciples. When Srila Prabhupada requested for initiation for the first time, Babaji Maharaja replied, “If Mahaprabhu tells me to, I will ”. Despite being turned back repeatedly, Srila Prabhupada did not abandon his resolution. Eventually, Babaji Maharaja was forced to change his decision when his heart melted seeingSrila Sarasvati Thakur’s determination and devotion. He mercifully initiated srila Prabhupad by sprinkling the dust of his lotus feet on his head.

Sarasvati Thakur at Bhakti Kuthi, Puri.

           Srila Bhakti Vinode Thakur and Bimala Prasad travelled to Puri. On the way, they visited the holy places Remuna, Bhubaneswar, and Saksi-Gopal.

           Next year while Thakur Bhakti Vinode built his ‘Bhakti Kuthi’ adjoining Samadhi of Thakur Haridas on the sea beach Puri, The Maharaja of Cossimbazar Sir Manindra Nandy attended Harikatha of Thakur Bhakti Vinode and of Saraswati Thakur on several occasions during his stay there.

Here Saraswati Thakur met Charan Das Babaji and decried his ‘Sakhi Bheki’ practice and his singing ‘Nitai-Gour-Radhe-Shyam’, no better than a doggerel verse as opposed to what Gour Sundar and Thakur Haridas preached and chanted. He also pointed out its lapses and defections from the high spiritual merit of Mahamantra.

            At the Bhakti-kuthi, Saraswati Thakur read and explained “Shri Chaitanya Charitamrita” to Thakur Bhakti Vinode every day.

He was also introduced to the chiefs of almost all maths of Puri viz. Govardhan Math, Samadhi Math, Emar Math, Jamayet School, Paparia Math, Swargadwar Chhata, Gangamata Math, Radhakanta Math, and many respectable persons of Puri. He had religious discourses with them on many occasions.

During this period, Sri Bimala Prasad started collecting materials for the Vaisnava Manjusa (encyclopedia) that Srila Bhakti Vinode Thakur and the newspaper magnate Sisir Kumar Ghosh had requested him to compile. He also conducted much research into the teachings of the acharyas Nimbarka, Ramanuja, and Madhva, comparing their philosophies to that of the Gaudiya School.

Digvijaya in astronomy

         His genius in astrology was such that Rajendra Chandra Shasti, who was in the post of Raybahadur under the then British government, was a founding student of Bapu’s Shastri College and a professor of Sanskrit College and a world-renowned scholar of mathematics was defeated by Saraswati Tagore in such a way that the defeated professor  excreted inside the court.

          Sir  Ashutosh Mukherjee, the then First Vice-Chancellor of Calcutta University and Barrister of Calcutta High Court, known as the ‘Tiger of Bengal’, offered him the post of Dean of the Department of Mathematics and Applied Astrology, but the request was politely declined  by Sri Saraswati Takur saying that his life was devoted to the service of God. According to him  rare life is not just to judge the position of planets and stars.

South India Pilgrimage 

            In January 1904 Sri Siddhanta Saraswati visited Sitakunda, Candranath, and other religious centers in East-Bengal. In January 1905, he went on atour of SouthIndia. He visited Udupi, the seat of the Madhva community; Sri rangam, the seat of Sri Sampradaya; Sringeri, the southern headquarters of the Sankara’s Sampradaya; and Simhachalam, Tirupati, Rajamahedri, Madras, Perembedur, Kumbhakonam, etc. In Perumbudur, he collected information regarding the acceptance of Tridandi sannyasa initiation from a tridandi sannyasi in Ramanuja’s Sampradaya.

Living in Sri Mayapur and determination to chant the “Harinam” a billion times

          Sri Siddhanta Saraswati started the initiative of preaching Mahaprabhu’s instruction in 1905 while residing in Sri Mayapur. During that time, at the age of thirty-one, he took a vow to chant daily at least three lakh “Harinam” without failure until he completed one billion that lasted just over nine years and four months.

First disciple of Srila Prabhupad 

          In 1906 Sri Rohini Kumar Ghosh, the nephew of Justice Chandra Madhab Ghosh, was the first person to receive initiation from Sri Siddhanta Saraswati following a wonderful dream.

Establishment of Brajpattan 

          In February 1909, Saraswati Thakura established a residence for bhajana at Sri Chandra Sekhar Bhavan in Sri Mayapur. Considering the place to be the bank of Sri Radhakunda, he carried on his bhajana uninterruptedly. 

Pastimes with Srila Gaurakisora das babaji Maharaj

          Srila Saraswati Thakur often sent fruits and vegetables grown in Mayapur to his gurudeva. Srila Babaji Maharaja would accept them with great love and reverence and accept the remnants after offering them to Lord Nityananda. When Srila Saraswati Thakur visited him, he would voluntarily take his own foot dust and smear it on Srila Saraswati Thakur’s head, thereby showing his affection. However, at the same time, he would scold others desiring to touch his feet.

Once when Sri Siddhanta Saraswati came to see him, he was found to be residing in a latrine. He told Srila Saraswati Thakur, “Go and bring Bhakti Vinode Prabhu from the world of Kali to Godruma. People are attacking me with their annoying talk”. Srila Saraswati Thakur, who knew very well that this was a test, respectfully asked, “Does Srila Bhakti Vinode Thakur not always reside in Sri Radha Kund? Don’t you always reside in Radha Kund?” He continued, “The pastime of you entering a latrine is just to inform those who desire the excreta of money, women, and prestige of their miserable condition.”

Srila Babaji Maharaja replied, “Yes, yes, I know that Bhaktivinode Prabhu and yourself are non-different manifestations of Sri Nityānanda Prabhu. All your activities are based on Mahāprabhu’s desire. How can insignificant people understand you?”

Srila Saraswati Thakur never maintained any relationship with the pseudo-devotees who considered themselves as disciples or associates of Srila Babaji Maharaja but never understood his real glories or instructions.

Proving the eternity of the Gaur Mantra according to the Vedic scriptures.

            in 1911, a debate meeting, some People challenged that the name Gaur in the Gayatri mantra by Gaudiya Vaishnavism was not the eternal name of God, not found in the original Vedas, and that Sri Krishna Chaitanya  Mahaprabhu was not God, but rather his own confession that he was a devotee of God.

           Although it is clearly established by Chaitanya-Bhagavata and Chaitanya-charitamrita that Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu himself is Lord, there were some people who did not believe this decision. Because they did not find any evidence of this decision in the Vedas. They claimed that the Gaur-mantra is not an eternal Vedic mantra.

Thakur Siddhanta Saraswati cites evidence from the Shruti, especially from the Chaitanyapanishad in the Atharva Veda:

“sa hovaca: rahasyam te vadisyami, jahnavi-tire navadvipe

golokakhye dhamni govindo dvibhujo gaurah sarvatma

maha-puruso mahatma maha-yogi trigunatitah sattva-rupo

bhaktim loke kasyatiti. Tad ete sloka bhavanti”

Brahma said: “I shall tell thee a secret! On the bank of the Jahnavi, at Navadvipa, which is called Goloka Dhama, shall Govinda, in a two armed form, as Gaura, the Great One, the Great Mystic, Who is transcendental to the three modes of material nature, and Whose form is eternal, reveal Bhakti to the world! There are a number of verses in that regard.”

Citing evidence from the Upanishads as well as other memoirs, Tantras, Puranas and especially from Srimad-Bhagavatam, Saraswati Thakur addressed a large gathering at the big arena of Navadvipa, where many learned scholars gathered under the leadership of Sri Madhusudan Goswami Sarvabhauma. He emphatically and brilliantly proved the eternity and majesty of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s name, form, qualities etc. Unbeknownst to Saraswati Tagore, Srila Gaurkishore Das Babaji sat in a corner of the meeting and listened to Saraswati Thakur’s entire speech and was overjoyed. The Gaudiya Vaisnavas who listened to the discourse were all overjoyed and began to chant the glory of Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur again and again. 

Cossimbazar Sammilani

            He attended the 3rd occasion of Kashimbazar Sammilani at the palace of Maharaja Sir Manindra Candra Nandi Bahadur as a guest. It began on March 21, 1912, and continued for four days. During his lecture, he boldly spoke on the pure Vaisnava practices that were not properly appreciated. Noticing the averse mentality of the audience and the mundane endeavors of the so-called preachers in satisfying them, he displayed his protest by not accepting any food except Tulasi leaves during his stay for four days before returning to Mayapur.

Preaching and parikrama

           On November 4, along with several devotees, Srila Saraswati Thakura visited different places of pastimes of Mahaprabhu’s associates like Srikhanda, Jajigrama, Katwa, Jhamatpura, Akaihata, Chakhandi, Daihata, etc. In all those places, he spoke on the essence of pure devotional service.

Kalighat Bhagabat Printing Press and Preaching Center

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           He established a press named Bhagabat Printing Press at 4 Sahnagar Lane, Kalighat, and Kolkata. From that press, ‘Sri Caitanya Caritamrta’ with his self-composed ‘Anu-bhasya’ commentary, ‘Srimad Bhagavad Gita’ with his commentary, the epic poem ‘Gaura Krishnodaya’ by the Orissa poet Govinda Dasa, etc. were printed. He also started preaching from that center.

Meeting Srila B.K. Audulomi Maharaja (Pramod Bihari Guha Thakurta)

             While residing at this preaching center, he met Sri Pramod Bihari Guha Thakurta of Barisal, who had approached Srila Saraswati Thakur along with his friend, owing to his excellent reputation as a learned scholar and great astronomer. At that time, Sri Pramod Bihari Guha Thakurta was aged 18 and was reading in Matriculation. His intelligence, amiability, and demeanor immediately attracted Srila Saraswati Thakura, who welcomed Sri Pramod Bihari to stay with him for 5-6 days. Sri Pramod Bihari received Harinama and Diksa initiation from him soon and was named Sri Patitpavan Brahmachari. He later accepted the Tridanda Sannyas from srila Prabhupad at Mathura and was named Tridandi Swami Srimad Bhakti Keval Audulomi Maharaja, who adorned the seat of Acarya and President of Gaudiya Mission.

Navadeep Dham Parikrama

On 14 March, Srila Saraswati Thakur re-introduced Sri navadvipa dham Parikrama.

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Preaching and Establishing Maths in Bengal            Afterwards, Saraswati Thakur visited Dhanbad, Katrasgarh and Dhaka. In Dhaka, he spoke on the Bhagavata’s “janmādyasya” verse for an entire month, explaining it in thirty different ways. On 13 October, 1921, he established the Madhva Gaudiya Math in Dhaka. On October 31, deities were installed and a great feast held in their honor. From Dhaka, he went on to Mymensingh for preaching.

After this, he returned to Nabadwip where he reestablished the worship of Gaur Gadadhar at Champa Hati. He also performed a deity installation at the birthplace of Vrindavan Das Thakur in Modadrum Dwip. Then he returned to Calcutta to preach there and in the surrounding area.

Sri Purushottam Math            According to Padma Purana, hyutkale purusottamāt, the pure message of the Vaishnava religion would spread out of Jagannath Puri. In order to do honor to this prediction, Saraswati Thakur established the Sri Purushottam Math at Bhakti Kuti on June 9, installing a deity of Gauranga Mahaprabhu. Then, in the spirit of Mahaprabhu, he and his followers participated in the cleaning of Gundicha, performed the parikrama of Jagannath Puri and went to Alalanath during Jagannath’s anavasāra period when he was taken off the temple altar. He instituted an annual memorial festival at the Purushottam Math in honour of Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur and Srila Gadadhar Pandit Goswami.

Saraswati Thakur also sent disciples to Cuttack, Baripada, Kuamara, Udala, Kaptipada, and Nilgiri, to preach Mahaprabhu’s gospel of pure devotion.

Exhibition in Sri Dham Mayapur

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From 3 February to 17 March, Saraswati Thakur held an unprecedented spiritual diorama exhibition in Nabadwip-Mayapur. It was opened by the famous chemist, Acharya Prafulla Chandra Roy. On February 18, on the occasion of his Vyasa Puja, a shrine to the acharya’s feet was inaugurated at the Chaitanya Math.

Establishment of Sri Chaittanya Padapith

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On 25 December, Saraswati Thakur was in Jajpur; on the 26th, in Kurmakshetra; on the 27th in Simhachalam; Kovvur on the 29th and on the 31st in Mangalagiri. In all these places, he installed shrines of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s lotus feet (Padapith) and preached His gospel. 

The Bhaktivinode Institute

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On 3 April, Saraswati Thakur opened the Bhaktivinoda Institute in Sri Mayapur, and to the large assembly of people present for the occasion, spoke on the difference between material and spiritual knowledge.

The Spiritual Educational Exhibition in Calcutta

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At the time of the Gaudiya Math’s annual festival, on September 6, Saraswati Thakur opened a spiritual education exhibition (Sat-Siksha Pradarsini) in Calcutta. Over the next few weeks, some of the prominent people who came to hear him speak were Dr. Dinesh Chandra Sen Ray Bahadur, Biraj Mohan Mazumdar, Vice Principal of Institutional College, Dr. Magnus Hirschfeld, the German scholar and world-traveller, and Dr. Stella Kremrisch of Calcutta University.

Harikatha to eminent persons of the society      On September 29, he spoke on the nature of spiritual sound to the principal of the Calcutta Medical College, Colonel Dwarika Prasad Goyel, I.M.S., and the American traveller and scholar, A. J. Jacobs. On October 11, in Prayag he met Allahabad University Vice Chancellor, Dr. Ganganath Jha, Allahabad District Commissioner, Vinayak Shankar Mehta, I.C.S., and answered their questions on spiritual life.

      On October 16, Saraswati Thakur was welcomed to Benares by its distinguished citizens and stayed and spoke at the Maharajah’s Mint Palace. On the 19th and 20th, he spoke at length on Vaishnava philosophy and Krishna lila to Vasanta Kumar Chatterjee, Deputy Accountant General of Bengal and man of letters. 

The Hindi Magazine, Bhagavata

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      Naimisharanya, where on November 9, he introduced the new Hindi fortnightly, Bhāgavata, published from the Paramahamsa Math.

Preaching in Madras (Presently Chennai)On January 10, 1932, Saraswati Thakur went with a party of twenty devotees to Madras. A large group of devotees and dignitaries, including Madras Corporation President, T. S. Ramaswami lyer, the Honorable T. Rajan, Mr. S. V. Ramaswami Mudaliyar, the honorable Diwan Bahadur, G. Narayana Swamy Chettiar, C.I.E. (Companion of the Indian Empire), and T. Punurulla Pillai, etc., greeted him at the Basin Bridge Station and accompanied him in a huge sankirtan procession back to the Gaudiya Math which at that time was situated in the North Gopalpura neighborhood. In the assembly which followed, the honorable Diwan Bahadur Kumaraswamy Reddiar offered a speech in which he indicated the depth of his esteem for the acharya, Saraswati Thakur.

On January 14, Madras High Court Justice, Diwan Bahadur Sundaram Chettiyar visited Saraswati Thakur at the Madras Gaudiya Math and was satisfied by answers to his questions on spiritual matters. On January 23, deities were installed in the Madras Gaudiya Math. On the same day, the cornerstone for a new Math was laid in the Raipetta district. On January 24, a huge meeting was held with many important personalities as guests, including Sir P. S. Shivaswami lyer. Saraswati Thakur spoke and attracted many of these people to Mahaprabhu’s teachings. On January 27, the governor of Madras Presidency, Sir George Frederick Stanley, laid the cornerstone for the Sri Krishna Kirtan Hall at the Madras Gaudiya Math.

On January 29, Madras City Corporation gave an official welcome to Saraswati Thakur He gave a speech of thanks in the Corporation’s Rippon Building.

Preaching to educated and established people in Madras, Udagamandalam and Kovvur           On 23 May, Saraswati Thakur returned to Madras. This time he had the opportunity to explain the particularities of the Gaudiya Vaishnava sampradaya to the religious leaders and scholars of the Shankar, Ramanuja and Madhva schools. On May 25, he spoke to a group of questionnaires led by Prof. K. Panchapagesan of Pudukkottai College, and was able to settle their doubts. On May 29, he was welcomed to Coimbatore by its citizens. He spoke there and on the banks of the Bhavani River to the people of the town of Mettupalayam. From there he went to Udugamandalam in the Nilgiri Hills, where he stayed at the Rangavilas Bhavan.

            While in Udagamandalam, several distinguished people came to visit Saraswati Thakur and had the opportunity to hear his teachings through his principal disciples. They included Sir Kishan Prasad, G.C.I.E. (Knight and Grand Commander of the Indian Empire), prime minister to the Nizam of Hyderabad, Hyderabad zamindar Dhanraj Girji, Sir P. S. Shivaswami Aiyar, and the honorable Diwan Bahadur, P. Muniswami Naidu.   

Harikatha in the palace of Shri Krishnaraja Vadiyar, Maharaja of Mysore            On June 17, the Maharajah of Mysore, Sir Krishnaraj Vadhiyar, G.C.S.I. (Knight and Grand Commander of the Star of India), G.B.E. (Grand Cross of the British Empire) invited Saraswati Thakur and his disciples to Mysore where they stayed as his guests in the Rama Mandira and tirelessly preached the Chaitanya gospel throughout the area. On the way from Udagamandalam to Mysore, Saraswati Thakur visited various places such as the Lingayat temple to Kantheshwar and the Madhva Math, etc., in Nanjangud. On June 19, Saraswati Thakur visited Krishnaraj Sagar and Srirangapattanam (20 km north of Mysore).

           In the morning of June 20, Saraswati Thakur visited the Mysore Sanskrit College and spoke to the professors on Krishna bhakti. That afternoon he was invited to the Maharajah’s palace where he gave a discourse on Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and answered the Maharajah’s questions. 

Promotion of English Books 

             He stayed there long enough to revise Prof. Nishikanta Sannyal’s English book, Shri Krishna Chaitanya, as well as completing his own English translation of Brahma-samhitā, his Gaudīya-bhāsya commentary on the Chaitanya Bhagavata, and a short English book on the life of Ramananda Ray.   

Lecture of Sri Gaudiya Math in Calcutta.

By August 16, Saraswati Thakur had returned to Calcutta and Sir Deva Prasad Sarvadhikari came to hear him speak on “Sri Chaitanya prema.” On the 28th, during the annual festival held at the Gaudiya Math, he gave a lecture entitled “Relative Worlds. 

To re-establish the samadhi of Gaurkishore Das Babaji at Sri Chaitanya Math. 

       On August 21, 1932, upon hearing that the samadhi tomb of his guru Srila Gaura Kishor Das Babaji Maharaj, was about to fall into the Ganges, Saraswati Thakur sent disciples to arrange to have his transcendental remains transferred in their entirety to the Chaitanya Math in Mayapur.

       16th, on September Saraswati Thakur came to Mayapur to inaugurate the samadhi temple of Gaura Kishor Das Babaji. 

Publication of “kirtan” monthly magazine in Assamese language

Link To – https://prabhupadglories.com/prabhupadglories_s1/journal.php

In the beginning of September, publication of a monthly magazine in the Assamese language, Kīrtana, was begun out of the town of Dhubri on Saraswati Thakur’s orders.

Lecture of Sri Gaudiya Math in Calcutta. 

      On September 3, Saraswati Thakur gave a lecture entitled “The Ultimate Goal of Life ” at the Calcutta Gaudiya Math. On the 4th, Calcutta University professor Suniti Chatterjee and Nadia District Magistrate T. C. Ray came to the Gaudiya Math to hear him speak. On Sept. 11, he gave a lecture on the Vedanta. These three lectures were later published. 

Vraja Mandala Parikrama

Link To – https://prabhupadglories.com/prabhupadglories_s1/Parikrama.php

On October 9, the appearance day of Sri Madhvacharya, Saraswati Thakur and countless devotees undertook the 84 kros pilgrimage tour of Vraja Mandala. Stopping at every place where Krishna had engaged in his pastimes, Saraswati Thakur and his disciples preached in various different languages for the benefit of devotees coming from many different places. He himself lectured on Rupa Goswami’s Upadeśāmrta to a large assembly of Vraja residents and scholars.

A Spiritual Educational Exhibition in Dhaka

Link To – https://prabhupadglories.com/prabhupadglories_s1/satsikshapradarshini.php

On December 12, Saraswati Thakur came to Dhaka to open a diorama exhibition. He remained there for longer than a month, until January 30, 1933, during which time many of the most respectable members of the learned community came to see him and hear his teachings. A diorama exhibition with the theme of spiritual education—unprecedented in Dhaka—was opened on January 6. His lecture on that occasion, entitled “Exhibition Speech,” created a change in the ideas of his listeners about the true nature of religion and its doctrines.

Prof. Satishchandra De and Prof Ranada Charan Chakravarti

On February 2, Saraswati Thakur returned to the Calcutta Gaudiya Math, where he explained the difference between eka-danda sannyas and tri-danda sannyas after being questioned on the subject by Satishchandra De, dean of Narasingh College in Howrah, and Professor Ranada Charan Chakravarti. On the 8th, Saraswati Thakur went to Sri Mayapur to celebrate Nityananda’s appearance day, Vyasa Puja and the appearance day of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. 

Sending envoys to European countries to spread the message of Sriman mahaprabhu.

Link To – https://prabhupadglories.com/prabhupadglories_s1/Videsh Prachar.php 

         On Mahaprabhu’s appearance day, 1933, Prof. Nishikanta Sannyal’s English-language book, Shri Krishna Chaitanya, was released for distribution. After this event, Saraswati Thakur decided that it was now time to preach Mahaprabhu’s message in Europe. He selected three leading disciples for the service: H. H. Bhakti Pradip Tirtha Maharaj, H. H. Bhakti Hridoy Bon Maharaj, and Sambidananda Das, M. A., Bhakti-Shastri. On March 18, in a meeting presided over by Jatindranath Basu, M.L.C [Member of Legislative Council], Saraswati Thakur gave a farewell speech called “My Message” (Āmār kathā), in which he praised these three disciples, bidding them bon voyage before they left to carry out the European mission.

The success of the campaign in London

Link To – https://prabhupadglories.com/prabhupadglories_s1/Videsh Prachar.php 

The first news of results of their preaching in London was received at the beginning of May: a centre had been opened at 39 Drain Gardens, Kensington, and S.W. 10. On May 31, Saraswati Thakur answered inquiries on spiritual matters sent from London by the Marquess of Ludian and Lord Zetland, a former governor of Bengal. On June 15, Lord Zetland presided over a meeting of the Society for the Study of Religion at Bedford Square, in which Saraswati Thakur’s disciples spoke on the glories of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.

Seminar on Bhakti Vinode Thakur in London

Link To – https://prabhupadglories.com/prabhupadglories_s1/Videsh Prachar.php 

On June 23, a meeting was held at the London Gaudiya Math in honor of Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur. Many distinguished guests, including the Honorable Justice Bistrow, came there to hear about Bhaktivinode’s teachings. In the month of July, Saraswati Thakur received letters from several distinguished British citizens thanking him for the great work the Gaudiya Math had undertaken in Great Britain. They included Lord Irwin’s private tary, Mr. R. A. Butler, the Marquis of Ludian, Sir Stanley Jackson, and Times editor, Mr. Brown.

Emperor George V and Empress Mary 

Link To – https://prabhupadglories.com/prabhupadglories_s1/Videsh Prachar.php 

On July 5, former Viceroy of India Lord Irwin, his wife and representatives of the Joint Select Parliamentary Committee heard from the Gaudiya Math missionaries about their objectives in preaching Mahaprabhu’s message in Europe. At 4 P.M. on July 20, the Secretary of State for India, Sir Samuel Hoare, introduced the Gaudiya Math preachers to Emperor George V and Empress Mary. The preachers had the opportunity to offer their respects to the emperor and tell him the purpose of the Gaudiya Mission. On July 14, they met with the head of the Church England, the Archbishop of Canterbury, and the Most Reverend Cosmo Gordon Lang. 

Meeting in Oxford University

Link To – https://prabhupadglories.com/prabhupadglories_s1/Videsh Prachar.php 

Then on October 7 and 8, a large meeting was held for the professors and students of Oxford University, in which the Gaudiya Vaishnava doctrine of the Holy Names was explained.

Lectures on Eastbourne Theosophical Society, Deutsch Akademi in Munich, Germany and Humboldt House in Berlin.

Link To – https://prabhupadglories.com/prabhupadglories_s1/Videsh Prachar.php 

The Gaudiya Math’s European preachers gave lectures on Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s gospel at Eastbourne Theosophical Society on November 24-25, then at the Deutsch Akademi in Munich, Germany, on December 10; at Humboldt House in Berlin on December 12; Koningsburg on the 14th, at the Institut de la Civilisation Indienne in Paris.

Preaching Activity in BombayOn March, he opened Gaudiya Math’s Mumbai office in the Jangu Villa on BabulNath Road. While staying there, he made great efforts to preach Mahaprabhu’s message in the large city. 

On May 20, in response to a question by a distinguished relative of Dadabhai Naroji, he gave his resolution of the problem of the movement for the admission of untouchables into Hindu temples.

Solar eclipse, a spiritual diorama exhibition was held for the second time at Kurukshetra

Link To – https://prabhupadglories.com/prabhupadglories_s1/satsikshapradarshini.php

In August, on the occasion of a solar eclipse, a spiritual diorama exhibition was held for the second time at Kurukshetra.

Established Sri Chaitanya Padapith

Link To – https://prabhupadglories.com/prabhupadglories_s1/chaitanyapadapeeth.php

On 2nd April, 1934, he set up “Sri Chaitanya Padapith” at Chhatra Bhog on a place sanctified by foot prints of the Lord Chaitanya Dev. He delivered a lecture to the local people who welcomed him with an address.

London

Link To – https://prabhupadglories.com/prabhupadglories_s1/Videsh Prachar.php 

On 24th April, 1934 in a public meeting held at Westminster Caxton Hall, London, with Lord Zetland in the chair, the Gaudiya Mission Society was set up and publicly declared.

At PuriFrom 14th May to 7th June the following persons had interviews with Srila Prabhupad who preached Hari Katha to them:-

1. Ananda Mahapatra

14th May – Sri Ananada Mahapatra, Kavya Vyakaran Tirtha, Senior Professor, Ayurved Dept, Sanskrit College, Puri

1. S.C Chattopadhyay

18th May 1934 – Sri Sachischandra Chattapadhya. a renowned Novelist.

1. G.R. Das

20th May – Sri Gadadhar Ramanuj Das, Mohanta of Emar Math and Sri Hanuman Khutia.

1. R.S.G.S. Mahanti

21th May 1934 – Rai Shaheb Gour Shyam Mahanty and Sri Radha Shyam Mahanty.

1. Mr. Junakar

23rd May – Mr. Junakar, Professor, Dacca University.

1. R.Chatterjee. RB.N.N.Dutta

24th May – Sri Rebati Nath Chottopadhya, Dt. Magistrate and Rai Bahadur Narendra Nath Dutta, Magistrate of Puri.

1. R.Chatterjee. RB.N.N.Dutta

24th May – Sri Rebati Nath Chottopadhya, Dt. Magistrate and Rai Bahadur Narendra Nath Dutta, Magistrate of Puri.

1. G.P. Mukherjee

2nd June – Sri Girija Prasanna Mukhopadhya, founder of Bodhan Ashram.

1. R.B.K.N. Mitra

7th June – Rai Bahadur Khagendra Nath Mittra, Professor, Presidency College, Calcutta.

Preaching in German Universities.Link To – https://prabhupadglories.com/prabhupadglories_s1/Videsh Prachar.php 

From the 3rd week of October 1934, he directed and organised with his preachers in Europe to deliver lectures in the different Universities of Germany.

Sri Gaudiya Math, GayaOn 19th April he visited the places of Gaya sanctified by the foot prints of Sri Chaitanya Dev and preached Harikatha incessantly to the learned audience at Gaya.

The former Acharya of the Gaudiya Mission Tridandi Swami Srimad Bhakti Srirup Bhagavad Maharaj, then a Brahmachari student surrendered to the lotus feet of Srila Prabhupad hearing Hari-katha from his divine lips.

Cooch Behar Maharani and others Madam MaximianiOn 28th June at Calcutta Gaudiya Math the following personages met him and attended to his Harikatha and discourse on Vaishnava Philosophy viz.:-

1. Srijukta Indira Devi, Maharani of Cooch Behar.

2. Srijukta Ila Devi

3. Srijukta Gayatri Devi.Daughter of Maharaja.

4. Srijut Indra Jitendra Narayan Bahadur Maharaj Kumar.

5. Madam Maximiani Potters, Ph, D. French Scholar.

Broadcast Radio in Annual utsav at Gaudiya MathThrough Radio the following ceremonies of the Gaudiya Math annual utsav were broadcast every sunday-viz:

1. Procession with chanting and singing in different localities of Calcutta.

2. Janmastami.

3. Nanda-utsav.

4. Radhastami.

5. Advent of Thakur Bhaktivinoda.

Braj Dham Pracharini Sabha

Link To – https://prabhupadglories.com/prabhupadglories_s1/assembly-circle.php#Nabadwip

On 9th October He inaugurated Braj Dham Pracharini Sabha for bettering the condition of Braj Mandal.

New Delhi7th Nov 1935 goes to Delhi via Sheshashayi in Braj Mandal.

10th Nov 1935 Harikatha at New Delhi.

Exhibition at Allahabad

Link To – https://prabhupadglories.com/prabhupadglories_s1/satsikshapradarshini.php

30th December preached Sri Chaitanya Dev’s Sermon to Sri Rupa Goswami at Allahabad. 

On 7th January he opened an exhibition of Spiritual Teachings at Allahabad and delivered a lecture in English to a large elite gathering of the city.

Founded Thakur Bhaktivinoda research institute & Vyasa PujaFrom 12th February on 

1. He founded the Thakura Bhaktivinoda Research Institute or Anukul Krishnanusilanagar at Sri Mayapur.

2. Vyas Puja was celebrated at Srivas Angan.

Exhibition at Kurukshetra

Link To – https://prabhupadglories.com/prabhupadglories_s1/satsikshapradarshini.php

A “Sat Shiksha Exhibition” was opened at Kurukshetra for edification and enlightenment of lacs of people assembling on the occasion of Solar Eclipse on the teachings of Sri Chaitanya Dev.

Bhakti Saranga Prabhu’s departure for London

Link To – https://prabhupadglories.com/prabhupadglories_s1/Videsh Prachar.php 

On 23rd October 1936, He vested Srimat Bhakti Saranga Prabhu with the mission of preaching Harikatha in England and America and tutored him on the rites of worshipping “Gomati”, “Gandaki” and “Govardhan” Shilas on the eve of his departure for London and delivered a lecture at Saraswat Sravan Sadan of Calcutta Gaudiya Math.

Puri Chatak ParbatOn 24th October 1936, He proceeded to Puri where at Chatak Parbat, which is no other than Giri Govardhan of Braja dham, he celebrated the Advent ceremony of Sri Madhwa, worshipped Govardhan with mantras chanted by Srila Rupa and Raghunath and celebrated the Disappearance ceremony of his preceptor Srila Gour Kishore Das Goswami

During his stay in Purushottam (Puri) he very often warned his devotees saying – “With all sincerity go ahead with Hari bhajan. Beware! The time is short”. Particularly, the following words of Sri Rupa and Raghunath were now & then on his lips – Govardhan, consummate my longing ah! Govardhan, grant me my rest by your side!

His last wishesHe expressed his wishes and directions thus :-

1. Sripad Kunja Behari Vidyabhushan, Superintendent of Sri Gaudiya Math, Calcutta, will be in management of all the Maths for life.

2. That a committee in combination of 10/12 devotees be formed and all of them will earnestly execute their duties for the pleasure of the Lord.

3. That the construction of the Lecture Hall of Swananda Sukhada Kunja already commenced, should be completed.

His acknowledgements, thanks & blessings

4. He eulogised the intelligence of Sri Kunja B. Vidya Bhushan Prabhu and the sympathetic attitude shown to all by Sevabigraha Sripad Narhari Prabhu and himself being sympathised by all.

5. He passed an order that Sri Vidyabhusan Prabhu be duly respected by all.

6. He told Paramananda Vidyaratna that Vidyabhusana Prabhu will be particularly sympathetic to him

Governing Body proposed, next Acharya nominated

7. On 23rd December, in presence of Sripad Sreedhar Maharaj, Sripad Hayagrib Prabhu, Dr. Sripad Krishna Kanti Bhakti Kussum, Sripad Narhari Sevabigraha, just arrived from Cuttack in the morning and other devotees attending him at the time, he enquired about the health of M. M. Sripad Ananta Vasudev Vidyabhusan and expressed his blessings on him with the duty to carry on Haribhajan, unconcernedly to the world averse to Sri Hari, placed for ever under tutelage of the Ashraya Vigraha Sri Rupa and Raghunath.

8. On the last day i. e. on 16th Pous (31st December) in the forenoon he declared and advised Sripad Ananta Vasudev Prabhu to preach and propagate Harikatha and Sri Sundarananda Vidyavinode as well as Srimat Bhakti Sudhakar Prabhu to assist the Acharya in spreading and fulfilling his wishes.

9. He expressed his satisfaction and gratefulness to Sri Bhaktisudhakar Prabhu for his devoted services.

10. He expressed that Sripad Brajeswari Prasad of Patna should be encouraged for services. 

The last day

On 31st December 1936,

 11. In the afternoon at about 4 P.M. he sent for Sripad Sakhi Charan Roy Bhakti Bijoy and acknowledged to him that he has rendered immense services for Sri Mayapur and as such he is blessed.

Bharati Maharaj.

12. He spoke to Sripad Bharati Maharaj -“You are a practical man, please look after the Mission”. Further said, “Love and rupture – both should have the same end in view. Thakur Narottam lived on the principles of Rupa-Raghunath. It is good to follow that path.”

In an address to all who were present at the time or absent, he said, “Please accept my blessings to you all, present and absent. Please bear in mind, our sole duty and religion is to spread and propagate services of the Lord and of His Devotees”.