Why Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura re-established the movement started by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu

Today is the day to remember Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, a great vaisnava acharya, who re-established the movement started by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. He appeared around 200 years ago in1838. Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu personally sent him to this world to teach us the glory of practicing devotion to Krishna.

Krishna says in Bhagavad Gita, that whenever there is decline of religion, he appears to re-establish it. And many times, Krishna sends his chosen devotees also to show people the path which will take us back to him.

Krishna as Chaitanya Mahaprabhu appeared 500 years ago, to propagate the chanting of Hare Krishna Mahamantra and to teach the necessity of taking shelter of Krishna. But after Mahaprabhu disappeared, slowly his teachings too began disappearing. Not just that there were unscrupulous people who began misinterpreting his teachings.

These pseudo devotees donning the dress of a vaisnava began indulging in irreligious activities like smoking, drinking, keeping illicit relationship with women, eating fish and other non-vegetarian food. These so-called followers called sahajiyas did great harm to the movement of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Because of them many people became averse to practicing devotion to Krishna.

After Mahaprabhu’s disappearance, his birthplace was also lost, and it was natural too. If people start going against the wishes of Mahaprabhu, then why will he reveal himself to others.

But being the Lord who resides in our heart, he always thinks how to give best to us. So, he decided to send his dear devotee, Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura to this world.

Mission of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura

His mission was to expose the pseudo devotees and re-establish the original teachings of Mahaprabhu. And the great acharya achieved all this with flying colours.

He worked tirelessly to revive Krishna Consciousness movement started by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Today, we see people all over the world chanting the names of Krishna. This became possible only because of this great acharya. He was an erudite scholar, prolific writer and a great preacher.

During his lifetime he wrote around 100 books, many vaisnava songs and preached far and wide. He even began preaching to the western world. He wrote a book, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu: His Life and Precepts, and sent it to the western universities in 1896.

It is quite telling that the same year Srila Prabhupada, the founder acharya of Iskcon also appeared, who established Krishna Consciousness movement in the western world. Prabhupada revered Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura and always glorified him.

Rediscovering birthplace of Mahaprabhu

Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura also rediscovered the birthplace of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Maharapbhu gave him divine vision to see his birthplace. When Mahaprabhu’s birthplace was rediscovered then thousands of genuine vaisnavas thronged to Mayapur to touch the dust where once Lord Chaitanya walked and danced and sang.

Seeking his blessings

Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura wasn’t a sannyasis, he was grihasta, having a wife and almost a dozen children. But while taking responsibility of his family and doing his work of a high court judge dutifully, he took out time to practice and propagate Krishna Consciousness.

He achieved for what he came to this world. The great acharya, Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, successfully re-established the movement which was started by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu 500 years back.

Today is his disappearance day. The pure devotees of the Lord may physically depart but they are always with us through their teachings and through the contribution they make in helping us to advance in our devotion to Krishna.

Let us pray to Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura to give us intelligence to distinguish between genuine devotion and pseudo devotion and give us determination to practice devotion to Krishna with great dedication.

Three Reflections

After Chaitanya Mahaprabhu disappeared, his teachings too disappeared and his birthplace too.
Pseudo devotees called sahajiyas began misinterpreting his teachings and began indulging in irreligious activities.
Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura wrote many books and preached vigorously and finally successful re-established the original teachings and movement of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. He also found the birthplace of Mahaprabhu which in Mayapur.