BVT 8 :: Initiation from Bipin Bihari Goswami
This is again a rehashing of a previous article, Bhaktivinoda and Bipin Bihari Goswami , with added material that I also published earlier, Bipin Bihari Goswami's testimonial to his best disciple, Kedarnath Dutt Bhaktivinoda . Some additions and revisions have been made for the purpose of finalizing the introduction to the Jivani . We have already made a couple of references to Bhaktivinoda Thakur's initiation by Bipin Bihari Goswami in 1880. Since for the most part, Bipin Bihari Goswami (1850-1919) is unknown to many who claim to follow Bhaktivinoda Thakur, we will here give some background information about this great soul. Born 3 Śrāvaṇa of the Bengali year 1357, Bipin Bihari was twelve years Bhaktivinoda’s junior. He was born in the family of Goswamis whose seat is in Baghna Para, situated between Kalna and Nabadwip in the Burdwan district. This center was established by Ramachandra Goswami in around 1600 CE. Ramachandra Goswami or Ramai Thakur was the grandson of...