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Printing - Bhaktivedanta VedaBase 2003.1

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meaning and they lead to such succinct spiritual conclusions that a preacher<br />

need only recall the simple lines of songs like Bhajahü Re Mana, Çré Rüpa<br />

Maïjaré Pada, Ohe Vaiñëava Öhäkura, or the Çré Manaù-çikñä, and every point<br />

of Kåñëa consciousness will be covered in detail. Çréla Prabhupäda is<br />

constantly quoting from these lines in his lectures and books, and here also in<br />

this book his commentaries are given. Wherever Çréla Prabhupäda has<br />

translated a song, no separate translations have been given, for his are<br />

complete in themselves.<br />

This is the first time that these transcendental vibrations have appeared in<br />

the English language, and to introduce them I am including herewith a life<br />

sketch of Çréla Bhaktivinoda Öhäkura.<br />

A Glimpse into the Life of Öhäkura Bhaktivinoda<br />

Öhäkura Bhaktivinoda led a life of incessant labor and activity for Çré<br />

Kåñëa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He effected such immense good<br />

in the world that his work is only to be compared with the unbounded works<br />

of Çré Caitanya Himself and the Gosvämés. It was the spiritual attempts and<br />

divine writings of this individual that turned the scale and led the intelligent<br />

and educated community to believe in the noble precepts and teachings of<br />

Lord Caitanya.<br />

If we look back one century, we cannot but be astonished to find how<br />

degraded was the condition of the Vaiñëava faith which had its pure origin in<br />

the deep and majestic spiritual philosophy of Caitanya Mahäprabhu. Even<br />

vastly learned paëòitas could not fathom the superexcellent precepts of Lord<br />

Caitanya's philosophy, yet due to incredulity born of the ignorance of<br />

uncultured men, the Vaisëava faith had been degraded and was considered a<br />

beggar's excuse for living at the expense of society. It was by sheer love for the<br />

Godhead that Öhäkura Bhaktivinoda expounded the deep philosophy which<br />

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