Bhaktivinode Thakur (en anglais)
Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur (September 2, 1838 - June 23, 1914), a prominent figure among the Gaudiya Vaishnavas of Bengal, was born Kedarnath Datta in the town of Birangara, Bengal, India. He was the son of Raja Krsnananda Datta. Bhaktivinode married and had several children, including Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura (birth name Bimala Prasad), the founder of the Gaudiya Math and guru of A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Bhaktivinode was also the father of Lalita Prasad Thakur. Bhaktivinode was the first Vaishnava scholar to present the teachings of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and the principles of Gaudiya Vaishnava Theology to the English speaking world.
Bhaktivinode's diksha guru was Bipin Bihari Goswami, a bhakta who claimed his lineage from Sri Gadadhara Pandit (one of the eternal associates of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. There is one story that on the day of Bhaktivinode's initiation, Bipin Bihari Goswami placed his foot upon Bhaktivinode's head. His son Bhaktisiddhanta reportedly became angry and chastized Bipin Bihari Goswami for his actions.
Many adherents of Gaudiya Vaishnavism believe that Bhaktivinode later accepted siksha (instruction) from Srila Jagannath dasa Babaji, who is said to have lived for 125 years. Bhaktivinode accepted the babaji vesh in 1908, leaving household life to become a full renunciate. He continued to travel between Calcutta and Puri until June 23, 1914, when he passed away approximately noontime in Puri. His remains were interred at Godruma, one of the nine islands of Navadwip.
Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur (September 2, 1838 - June 23, 1914), a prominent figure among the Gaudiya Vaishnavas of Bengal, was born Kedarnath Datta in the town of Birangara, Bengal, India. He was the son of Raja Krsnananda Datta. Bhaktivinode married and had several children, including Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura (birth name Bimala Prasad), the founder of the Gaudiya Math and guru of A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Bhaktivinode was also the father of Lalita Prasad Thakur. Bhaktivinode was the first Vaishnava scholar to present the teachings of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and the principles of Gaudiya Vaishnava Theology to the English speaking world.
Bhaktivinode's diksha guru was Bipin Bihari Goswami, a bhakta who claimed his lineage from Sri Gadadhara Pandit (one of the eternal associates of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. There is one story that on the day of Bhaktivinode's initiation, Bipin Bihari Goswami placed his foot upon Bhaktivinode's head. His son Bhaktisiddhanta reportedly became angry and chastized Bipin Bihari Goswami for his actions.
Many adherents of Gaudiya Vaishnavism believe that Bhaktivinode later accepted siksha (instruction) from Srila Jagannath dasa Babaji, who is said to have lived for 125 years. Bhaktivinode accepted the babaji vesh in 1908, leaving household life to become a full renunciate. He continued to travel between Calcutta and Puri until June 23, 1914, when he passed away approximately noontime in Puri. His remains were interred at Godruma, one of the nine islands of Navadwip.