Jagat

Another Side of Thakura Bhaktivinoda Pariśiṣṭa (An Additional Topic):  "What Changed the River’s Course?" By Gadadhar Pran Das  Email: gadadhar_das000@yahoo.co.in  After completing thirty chapters and assuming that our writing task was done, one reader put forward a good question: “Although the guru parampara of Thakur Bhaktivinoda that is described in your book appears to be genuine, why don’t more of his followers know about this?” Yes, we considered, he is right. Here is a matter that merits explanation. But before we attempt to uncover the Thakur's legacy, we should say a few words about what was going on in the beginning. Because from Gauranga Mahaprabhu’s time there was a traditional system in our Gaudiya Sampradaya that was much more in practice in Bhaktivinoda’s period than it is today: Vaishnavas were accustomed to take diksha from a Goswami parivara, a family line of Vaishnava Acharyas that descend from one of Gauranga’s eternal associates. Not only does Thakur

  am slowly feeling the changes that are taking place in me due to living in the Dham. The main thing is a slow indifference to all things non-Vrindavan. I am quite far from that goal, but the lesson of the past couple of years has been just how far I am. I think the lesson is humility. The best laid plans of mice and men, as it is said. I seem to have settled into a very nice place, sadhana wise, by virtue of being committed to an annual program, and moreover being committed to the Dham itself. The best thing for me this year is that I have a class of 15 or more students to study Sanskrit. I have put a lot of energy into developing the course and it is very gratifying to have a small group of students who are willing to take this journey with me. It is very strange that this is really the first time that I have ever had a class of students like this, who are coming to learn something from me that is my own creation, in a sense, and to share my life's experience with Sanskrit.