23.07.2013 Views

Printing - Bhaktivedanta VedaBase 2003.1

Printing - Bhaktivedanta VedaBase 2003.1

Printing - Bhaktivedanta VedaBase 2003.1

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

although the Öhäkura was not a man of ostentation and did not allow people<br />

to know his true qualities and spiritual strength, he easily cut down the<br />

demoniac power of the impostor. With the fall of Biñikiñeëa there rose an<br />

impostor Balaräma at another village, and there were also other so-called<br />

incarnations of God, but their plans were similarly frustrated.<br />

During his stay at Jagannätha Puré, Öhäkura Bhaktivinoda devoted much<br />

of his time to the discussion of spiritual works and prepared notes on the<br />

Vedänta-sütras which were published with the commentaries of Baladeva<br />

Vidyäbhuñaëa. He also composed the Kalyäëa-kalpataru (from which<br />

Vibhävaré Çeña, one selection, appears in this book). This may very truly be<br />

termed an immortal work, and it stands on the same level as the divine<br />

writings of Narottama däsa Öhäkura. In 1877 he left Puré on government<br />

service, and in 1881 he started a well-known spiritual journal called the<br />

Sajjana-toñaëé ("The Satisfaction of Pure Devotees"). He also published the Çré<br />

Kåñëa-saàhitä, which revealed to the world the underlying philosophy<br />

explaining the spiritual existence of Kåñëa. This book opened the eyes of<br />

educated people to teach them their true relationship with God. It also<br />

attracted the admiration of many German scholars, for although the public<br />

regarded Kåñëa as a poetic creation of erotic nature, Çréla Bhaktivinoda<br />

revealed Kåñëa as Parabrahman, the Supreme Transcendental Person, the<br />

Absolute Being, on the basis of Vedic evidence.<br />

At the close of his stay at the village of Naräil, he visited Våndävana.<br />

There he had to encounter a band of dacoits known as Kaïjharas. These<br />

powerful bandits spread all over the roads surrounding the holy place and used<br />

to attack innocent pilgrims. Bhaktivinoda Öhäkura brought this news to the<br />

government and after many months of struggle extirpated the bandits from<br />

Våndävana forever. From this time on, Öhäkura Bhaktivinoda preached<br />

extensively in large gatherings, explaining all of the precepts of the saìkértana<br />

of the holy names, Hare Kåñëa, Hare Kåñëa, Kåñëa Kåñëa, Hare Hare/ Hare<br />

Räma, Hare Räma, Räma Räma, Hare Hare.<br />

While staying at Bäräsat, Öhäkura Bhaktivinoda met the famous Bengali<br />

10

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!