Articles by Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura
Prabhupāda Śrīla Sarasvatī Ṭhākura’s Visit to Ayodhyā
With the forthcoming observance of Śrī Rāma Navamī, we present 'Prabhupāda Śrīla Sarasvatī Ṭhākura’s Visit to Ayodhyā' written by Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura Prabhupāda from The Gaudīyā magazine, Vol 3. Issue 21/ In December 1924, after visiting Benares and Prāyāga, Sarasvatī Ṭhākura visited the birth-site of Śrī Rāmācandra in Ayodhyā.
A Lecture on Śrī Nityānanda Trayodaśī
This talk by Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura Prabhupāda was given on the evening of Śrī Nityānanda Trayodaśī at the Yogapīṭha in Śrīdhāma Māyāpura on 5th February, 1936. It was first published in The Gauḍīya, Vol. 16, issue 39.
Bhāi Sahajiyā (Part Two)
The second part of Bhāi Sahajiyā was first published in Sajjana Toṣaṇī Vol. 20, issue 1. In this section, Śrīla Sarasvatī Ṭhākura continues to point out the defects of various sahajiyā groups. While some of his points are generic criticisms, he also seems to be taking a jab at particular unnamed persons or groups from that era who remain unknown to us. In some cases, we have included footnotes for the readers clarification.
Bhāi Sahajiyā (Part One)
This is the first part of a famous two-part article 'Bhāi Sahajiyā' written by Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura Prabhupāda which was first published in Sajjana Toṣaṇī, Vol. 19, Issue 11 in 1917. The article addresses the general sahajiyā community and their various kinds of deviancy, but Sarasvatī Ṭhākura writes it in the form of a letter to an individual whom he calls 'bhāi sahajiyā' (‘brother sahajiyā’). Sarasvatī Ṭhākura’s exposé of the peddlers of so-called ‘rasa’ is filled with scathing sarcasm and acts as a warning against cheap spiritual pursuits.
A Devotee is the Epitome of Truth (Sajjana – Satya-sāra)
Sajjana – Satya-sāra (A Devotee is the Epitome of Truth) was written by Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura Prabhupāda and published in Sajjana Toṣaṇī, Vol. 20, Issue 4 in 1917. Continuing with his elaboration on the twenty-six qualities of a devotee, Sarasvatī Ṭhākura discusses what is relative and absolute truth.
A Devotee Does Not Engage in Violence (Sajjana – Akṛta-droha)
Sajjana – Akṛta-droha (A Devotee Does Not Engage in Violence) was written by Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura Prabhupāda and published in Sajjana Toṣaṇī, Vol. 20, Issue 3 in 1917. Continuing from his previous article (Sajjana – Kṛpālu), Sarasvatī Ṭhākura explains how a true Vaiṣṇava is never violent to others in thought, word or deed.
A Devotee is Merciful (Sajjana – Kṛpālu)
‘Sajjana-Kṛpālu’ (A devotee is Merciful) was the first in a series of articles by Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura Prabhupāda on the twenty-six qualities of a Vaiṣṇava in 1917 and published in Sajjana-Toṣaṇī magazine, Vol. 20, Issue 2. This article explores mercy, the primary quality of a devotee, and illustrates its significance for the followers of Śrī Caitanya.
Guru-Bruva (The Pseudo-Guru)
This article ‘Guru-Bruva (The Pseudo-Guru)’ was first published in 1923 in The Gauḍīya Vol.2 Issue 5. Herein, Prabhupāda Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura exposes the cheating business of imitation gurus who simply collect disciples for money and prestige. This Bengali article has been translated for the first time into English by Swami B.V. Giri and Sanātana Dāsa.
Bhakti Siddhānta (Devotional Conclusions)
In this article 'Bhakti Siddhānta (Devotional Conclusions)' Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura delineates the foundational elements of bhakti (sambandha, abhidheya and prayojana) drawn from the vedic conclusions and establishes the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam as the ripened fruit of these literatures. This article was originally published in Bengali in Vol. 21, Issue 10 of Śrī Sajjana Toṣaṇī, January 1919 and translated by Sanātana Dāsa.
Hari-kathā in Puruṣottama-kṣetra
In 'Hari-kathā in Puruṣottama-kṣetra' Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura speaks in Jagannātha Purī about the necessity for hari-kātha (topics of Kṛṣṇa) and the constant chanting of the Lord's Name. He also explains what is actual kīrtana and what is not. This article was first published in The Gauḍīya, Volume 14, issue 37, and translated from Bengali by Swami B.V. Giri and Sanātana Dāsa.