Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura Room

 

A Collection of books & Bhajans written by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura at Surabhi Kunj

Books
Jaiva Dharma
Hari-nama Chintamani
Bhajana-Rahasya
Sri Krsna Samhita
Sri Navadvipa-dhama Mahatmya
Sri Navadvipa Bhava-taranga

Notable Bhajans
Nadiya Godrume Nityanand Mahajan
Jiva Jago Jiva Jago
Bhaja Bhakata Vatsala
Suddha Bhakata Carana Renu
Gay Gaur Madhur Sware

Bhaktivinod Thakur has written this song Nadiya Godrume Nityanand Mahajan. This song is taken from the book Gitavali Gitamala (Section: Yamuna Bhavavali Song 10). Bhaktivinoda Thakura says that Nitya nanda prabhu has spread Hare Krishna Mantra all over Nadiya. Krishna and His names are ultimate and taking His names should be our goal in life. We should spread the essence and importance of this name all over the world so that even the afflicted souls get benefited.

(1)
nadiya-godrume nityananda mahajana
patiyache nama-hatta jibera karana
 
(2)
(sraddhaban jana he sraddhaban jana he)
prabhura ajnaya bhai magi ei bhikha
bolo krishna bhajo krishna koro krishna-sikha
 
(3)
aparadha-sunya hoye loha krishna-nama
krishna mata krishna pita krishna dhana prana
 
(4)
krishnera somsara koro char anacara
jibe doya krishna-nama sarba-dharma-sara
 
TRANSLATION
 
1) In Nadiyas Godruma the great soul Lord Nityananda has opened a marketplace to sell the holy name to the conditioned souls.
 
2) (O faithful people, O faithful people,) O my brothers, by the Lord’s command I ask this charity of you: Please chant, Krishna!”, worship Krishna, and learn and teach about Krishna.
 
3) Chant Krishna’s name without offense. Accept Krishna as your mother. Accept Krishna as your father. Accept Krishna as your wealth and your life.
 
4) Give up all sins. Make Krishna your whole world. Be merciful to all souls. Chant Krishna’s names. That is the essence of all religion.

Bhaktivinod Thakur has written this song Jiva Jago Jiva Jago”. The official Name for this song is Arunodaya Kirtana 2 (Kirtana songs to be sung at dawn). This song is taken from the book Gitavali. Bhaktivinoda Thakura says that Maha prabhu is so humble that He has come down to this material world to deliver all the fallen souls. Sri Caitanya is very merciful He wants all His children to wake up and come with Him to His spiritual abode. He doesn’t want us to suffer so He gave us the special Hare Krsna mantra. Just chant and be happy, remember Sri Krishna, Love Him and then go back to His abode. It is so simple yet we fools don’t relish it.

(1)
jīv jāgo, jīv jāgo, gauracānda bole
kota nidrā jāo māyā-piśācīra kole

(2)
bhajibo boliyā ese saḿsāra-bhitare
bhuliyā rohile tumi avidyāra bhare

(3)
tomāre loite āmi hoinu avatāra
āmi binā bandhu āra ke āche tomāra

(4)
enechi auṣadhi māyā nāśibāro lāgi’
hari-nāma mahā-mantra lao tumi māgi’

(5)
bhakativinoda prabhu-caraṇe pariyā
sei hari-nāma-mantra loilo māgiyā

TRANSLATION

1) Lord Gauranga is calling, “Wake up, sleeping souls! Wake up, sleeping souls! How long will you sleep in the lap of the witch called Maya?
 
2) You have forgotten the way of devotional service and are lost in the world of birth and death.
 
3) I have descended just to save you; other than Myself you have no friend in this world.
 
4) I have brought the medicine that will wipe out the disease of illusion from which you are suffering. Take this maha-mantra—Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/Hare Rama, Hare Rama Rama Rama, Hare Hare.”
 
5) Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura says: “I fall at the Lord’s feet, having taken this maha-mantra.”

 

Bhaktivinod Thakur has written a song Bhoga Arati and the Official Name for this song is Bhoga Arati (at Ṭhākura Bhaktivinoda’s home at Surabhi-kuñja in Godruṁa-dvīpa). This song is taken from the book Gitavali (Section: Arati Kirtan Song 4). Bhaktivinoda Thakura talks about the different delicacies prepared by Sri Radhey. There are various delicacies both sweet and sour prepared for Sri Krishna , Balaram and His sakha’s. The remnants of the food is thoroughly enjoyed by Shree Radhe and her sakhis. Eating those remnants their heart is filled with bliss and satisfaction.

(1)
bhaja bhakata-vatsala śrī-gaurahari
śrī-gaurahari sohi goṣṭha-bihārī
nanda-jaśomatī-citta-hari
(bhaja govinda govinda gopāla)
(2)
belā ho’lo dāmodara āisa ekhano
bhoga-mandire bosi’ koraho bhojana
(3)
nandera nideśe baise giri-bara-dhārī
baladeva-saha sakhā baise sāri sāri
(4)
śuktā-śākādi bhāji nālitā kuṣmāṇḍa
dāli dālnā dugdha-tumbī dadhi mocā-khaṇḍa
(5)
mudga-borā māṣa-borā roṭikā ghṛtānna
śaṣkulī piṣṭaka khīr puli pāyasānna
(6)
karpūra amṛta-keli rambhā khīra-sāra
amṛta rasālā, amla dwādaśa prakāra
(7)
luci cini sarpurī lāḍḍu rasābalī
bhojana korena kṛṣṇa ho’ye kutūhalī
(8)
rādhikāra pakka anna vividha byañjana
parama ānande kṛṣṇa korena bhojana
(9)
chale-bale lāḍḍu khāy śrī-madhumaṅgala
bagala bājāy āra deya hari-bolo
(10)
rādhikādi gaṇe heri’ nayanera koṇe
tṛpta ho’ye khāy kṛṣṇa jaśodā-bhavane
(11)
bhojanānte piye kṛṣṇa subāsita bāri
sabe mukha prakhāloy ho’ye sāri sāri
(12)
hasta-mukha prakhāliyā jata sakhā-gaṇe
ānande biśrāma kore baladeva-sane
(13)
jambula rasāla āne tāmbūla-masālā
tāhā kheye kṛṣṇa-candra sukhe nidrā gelā
(14)
biśālākha śikhi-puccha-cāmara ḍhulāya
apūrba śayyāya kṛṣṇa sukhe nidrā jāya.
(15)
jaśomatī-ājñā pe’ye dhaniṣṭhā-ānīto
śrī-kṛṣṇa-prasāda rādhā bhuñje ho’ye prīto
(16)
lalitādi sakhī-gaṇa avaśeṣa pāya
mane mane sukhe rādhā-kṛṣṇa-guṇa gāya
(17)
hari-līlā ek-mātra jāhāra pramoda
bhogārati gāy ṭhākur bhakativinoda

TRANSLATION

(1) Just worship Sri Gaurahari, who is always affectionate toward His devotees. He is the same Supreme Godhead, Krishna, who sported in the cowherd pastures of Vraja and stole the hearts of Nanda and Yasoda.
(2) Mother Yasoda calls to Krishna, “My dear Damodara, it is very late. Please come right now, sit down in the dining hall, and take Your lunch.”
(3) On the direction of Nanda Maharaja, Krishna, the holder of Govardhana Hill, sits down, and then all the cowherd boys, along with Krishna’s elder brother, Sri Baladeva, sit down in rows to take their lunch.
(4) They are then served a feast of sukta and various kinds of green leafy vegetables, then nice fried things, and a salad made of the green leaves of the jute plant. They are also served pumpkin, baskets of fruit, small square cakes made of lentils and cooked-down milk, then thick yogurt, squash cooked in milk, and vegetable preparations made from the flower of the banana tree.
(5) Then they receive fried squares of mung dahl patties, and urad dahl patties, capatis, and rice with ghee. Next, sweets made with milk, sugar, and sesamum; rice flour cakes; thick cooked-down milk; cakes floating in milk; and sweet rice.
(6) There is also sweet rice that tastes just like nectar due to its being mixed with camphor. There are bananas, and cheese which is nectarean and delicious. They are also served twelve kinds of sour preparations made with tamarinds, limes, lemons, oranges, and pomegranates.
(7) There are puris made with white flour and sugar; puris filled with cream; laddus; and dahl patties boiled in sugared rice. Krishna eagerly eats all of the food.
(8) In great ecstasy and joy Krishna eats the rice, curried vegetables, sweets, and pastries cooked by Srimati Radharani.
(9) Krishna’s funny brahmana friend Madhumangala, who is very fond of laddus, gets them by hook or by crook. Eating the laddus, he shouts, “Haribol! Haribol!” and makes a funny sound by slapping his sides under his armpits with his hands.
(10) Beholding Radharani and Her gopi friends out of the corners of His eyes, Krishna eats at the house of mother Yasoda with great satisfaction.
(11) After lunch, Krishna drinks rose-scented water. Then all of the boys, standing in lines, wash their mouths.
(12) After all the cowherd boys wash their hands and mouths, in great bliss they take rest with Lord Balarama.
(13) The two cowherd boys Jambula and Rasala then bring Krishna pan made with betel nuts, fancy spices, and catechu. After eating that pan, Sri Krishnacandra then happily goes to sleep.
(14) While Krishna happily takes His rest on an excellent bedstead, His servant Visalaksha cools Him with a fan of peacock feathers.
(15) At mother Yasoda’s request the gopi Dhanishtha brings remnants of food left on Krishna’s plate to Srimati Radharani, who eats them with great delight.
(16) Lalita-devi and the other gopis then receive the remnants, and within their hearts they sing the glories of Radharani and Krishna with great joy.
(17) Thakura Bhaktivinoda, whose one and only joy is the pastimes of Lord Hari, sings this Bhoga-arati song.

Bhaktivinod Thakur has written a song “Suddha Bhakata Carana Renu”. This song is taken from the book Saranagati (Section: Bhakti Anukula Matra Karyera Svikara Song 3). Bhaktivinoda Thakura describes the association with Sri Krsna’s devotees very important. He also speaks about the importance of the Holy Dhams where pastimes of Sri Krishna Caitanya were performed. He speaks about the importance of observing fasts like ekadashi and janmashtami. In this song the importance of prasadam is stated. Offering what we eat to the Lord is an integral part of bhakti-yoga and makes the food blessed with spiritual potencies. Then such food is called prasadam, or the mercy of the Lord. Krishna’s potency is absorbed in that food. In this way material substance becomes spiritualized, which then affects our body and mind in a similar way. This is His special mercy for us. Thus, the devotional process becomes an exchange of love between us and God, which includes food. And that food not only nourishes our body, but also purifies our consciousness.

(1)
suddha-bhakata-carana-renu,
bhajana-anukula
bhakata-seva, parama-siddhi,
prema-latikara mula
(2)
madhava-tithi, bhakti-janani,
jetane palana kori
krishna-basati, basati boli’,
parama adare bori
(3)
gaur amara, je-saba sthane,
koralo bhramana range
se-saba sthana, heribo ami,
pranayi-bhakata-sange
(4)
mridanga-badya, sunite mana,
abasara sada jace
gaura-bihita, kirtana suni’,
anande hridoya nace
(5)
jugala-murti, dekhiya mora,
parama-ananda hoya
prasada-seba korite hoya,
sakala prapanca jaya
(6)
je-dina grihe, bhajana dekhi,
grihete goloka bhaya
carana-sidhu, dekhiya ganga,
sukha sa sima paya
(7)
tulasi dekhi’, juraya prana,
madhava-toshani jani’
gaura-priya, saka-sevane,
jivana sarthaka mani
(8)
bhakativinoda, krishna-bhajane,
anakula paya jaha
prati-dibase, parama-sukhe,
swikara koroye taha
 
(1) The dust of the lotus feet of pure devotees, enthusiatic devotional service, and service to the pure devotees of the highest order are the roots of the creeper of devotion.
(2) The holy days like Ekadasi and Janmashtami are the mother of devotion for those devotees who respect them. Let the holy places of Krishna’s pastimes be my places of worship, and bless me.
(3) May I always visit all the holy places associated with the lila of Lord Caitanya and His devotees.
(4) When I hear the sound of the mridanga in my heart I always desire to join in kirtana; and when I hear the bonafide songs decribing Lord Caitanya’s pastimes, my heart dances in ecstasy.
(5) Whenever I see the transcendental sri-vigrahas of Radha-Krishna I am in bliss, for by taking Their Lordships’ prasada we can conquer over the material elements.
(6) One day while performing devotional practices, I saw my house transformed into Goloka Vrindavana. When I take the caranamrita of the Deity, I see the holy Ganges waters that come from the feet of Lord Vishnu, and my bliss knows no bounds.
(7) By seeing the tulasi tree my heart feels joy and Lord Madhava (Krishna) is also satisfied. When I eat the prasada favored by Lord Caitanya it is a new life’s experience. (Lord Caitanya was very fond of a green vegetable preparation called sak, and there is another song in this book that tells of the amazing effects of this type of prasada.)
(8) Bhaktivinoda concludes by saying: “Whosoever attains the stage of enthusiasm for these devotional practices will be supremely blissful wherever he may be.”

Bhaktivinod Thakur has written this song Gay Gaur Madhur Sware. The official name for this song is Sri Nama. This song is taken from the book Gitavali (Section: Sri Nagara Kirtana Sri Nama Song 2). Bhaktivinoda Thakura says that life is unpredictable. Why not make efforts to chant the Hare Krishna Mantra given by Maha prabhu to deliver all of us from the material afflictions. You can drink this nectar any time, in happiness or in distress. Just relish the nectar of the holy names.

(1)
gāy gorā madhur sware
hare kṛṣṇa hare kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa hare hare
hare rāma hare rāma rāma rāma hare hare
(2)
gṛhe thāko, vane thāko, sadā ‘hari’ bole’ ḍāko,
sukhe duḥkhe bhulo nā’ko, vadane hari-nām koro re
(3)
māyā-jāle baddha ho ‘ye, ācho miche kāja lo ‘ye,
ekhona cetana pe’ye, ‘rādhā-mādhav’ nām bolo re
(4)
jīvana hoilo śeṣa, nā bhajile hṛṣīkeśa
bhaktivinodopadeśa, ekbār nām-rase māto re

TRANSLATION

1) Lord Gaurasundara sings in a very sweet voice, Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

2) Whether you are a householder or a sannyasi, constantly chant “Hari! Hari!” Do not forget this chanting, whether you are in a happy condition or a distressful one. Just fill your lips with the hari-nama.

3) You are bound up in the network of Maya and are forced to toil fruitlessly. Now you have obtained full consciousness in the human form of life, so chant the names of Radha-Madhava.

4) Your life may end at any moment, and you have not served the Lord of the senses, Hrsikesa. Take this advice of Bhaktivinoda Thakura: “Just once, relish the nectar of the holy name!”