BVT 6 :: Bhaktivinoda Thakur in Jagannath Puri
Old photo of Jagannath Vallabh Garden in Puri. P.C. Iskcon Desire Tree. It was during his stay in Jagannath Puri [149-154] that Bhaktivinoda Thakur got the golden opportunity to observe Gaudiya Vaishnava culture from a very privileged position in one of its most prominent centers. As Deputy Magistrate, he had the great responsibility of overseeing the affairs of the great temple. "I blissfully served Lord Jagannath for almost five years," he writes. [154] This was the time when he was able to undertake an intense and comprehensive course of study in the bhakti shastras. Moreover, he himself became something of a teacher of Vaishnava scripture, even holding public Bhāgavata classes in the Jagannath Vallabh garden and on the Jagannath temple grounds, classes that were attended by many brahmins and Vaishnavas. The Thakur gave special attention to learning Sanskrit and made great strides, so much so that he even composed his first Sanskrit work, Datta-kaustubha , in 18...