Whenever there is a decline in religious principles and a rise of irreligion, Lord Krishna Himself or His empowered representative appears. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura appeared to dispel false religious beliefs and re-establish the principles of pure devotional service through his own example. He dedicated his entire life to spreading the mission of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.
No one dared to challenge him on the science of devotional service, and even the Mayavadis feared engaging in debate with him. Through his profound scholarship, fearless preaching, and pure devotion, he powerfully revived the teachings of Gaudiya Vaishnavism.
Mercy Representation of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu
On 6 February 1874, a blessed child was born in the house of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura. He was named Bimala Prasada, who would later become renowned as Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura. He is called the mercy representation of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. A well-known pastime reveals why he was no ordinary child but an empowered representative of the Lord.
After the disappearance of the Goswamis, followers of Lord Chaitanya, religious principles deteriorated. The actual teachings were lost, and the so-called devotees (prakrit sahajiya) tried to mislead the general masses of people. The situation was that they were doing irreligious practices in the name of bhakti.
Bhaktivinoda Thakura felt deep pain seeing this situation, because a devotee is para dukh dukhi. With great compassion for the conditioned souls, he earnestly prayed to Lord Chaitanya to send someone to revive the movement. And the prayer of a pure devotee was answered by the Lord.
Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura and his wife were blessed with a son. During the Rath Yatra festival in Jagannath Puri, the grand chariot stopped in front of Bhaktivinoda Thakura’s house. The six-month-old child was put in front of the Lord’s lotus feet by his mother, and immediately a flower garland fell upon the child.
This incident indicates the Lord’s special mercy on him. Bhaktivinoda Thakura could understand that this child was not ordinary; the Lord had sent this child to him.
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Pranam Mantra
nama om vishnu-padaya krishna-preshthaya bhu-tale
srimate bhaktisiddhanta-sarasvatiti namine
Translation: I offer my respectful obeisances unto His Divine Grace Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, who is very dear to Lord Krishna, having taken shelter at His lotus feet.
sri-varshabhanavi-devi-dayitaya kripabdhaye
krishna-sambandha-vijnana-dayine prabhave namah
Translation: I offer my respectful obeisances to Sri Varshabhanavi-devi-dayita Dasa [another name of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati], who is favoured by Srimati Radharani and who is the ocean of transcendental mercy and the deliverer of the science of Krishna.
Why was Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura called the Lion Guru?
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura is renowned as the Lion Guru because of his fearless preaching and bold personality. Just as the roar of a lion makes everyone in the forest fearful, his preaching made all the Mayavadis and atheists flee in fear.
Once in Calcutta, a big Mayavada Vedanta society invited him for a debate on the condition that he would not quote from Srimad-Bhagavatam, and so he agreed to come. After some time, they called him again and said he could not speak from any of the Puranas, such as Mahabharata and Ramayana, and he again agreed to come.
After a short time, they again called him and said that he could not quote from any of the Vedas, Upanisads, or Smriti texts but could speak only from the Vedanta-Sutras, and he agreed to that also. Finally, they asked him not to come at all.
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Goswami often says that one who is conversant in the science of Krishna can become a guru regardless of caste.
kibā vipra, kibā śūdra, nyāsi kene naya
yei kṛṣṇa-tattva-vetta, sei 'guru' haya
~ Cc. Madhya 8.128
For this reason, he had to face many protests from the so-called brāhmaṇa-class gosvāmīns.
These people wanted to kill him; they collected 25,000 rupees and tried to bribe the police officer. But the police officer said, “I cannot dare to take a bribe for a sādhu.” Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura did not care for his own life, but he presented the actual teaching to us.
Establishment of Gaudiya Math
On 7 March 1918, on the occasion of Gaura Purnima, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura took the renounced order of life (Sannyasa). On the same day, he established the Chaitanya Math in Mayapura, which later emerged as the central institution of the Gaudiya Math branches.
Later, an influential religious leader became deeply impressed by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura's purity and begged to become his disciple. He arranged a house for him in Calcutta, which became known as Bhaktivinoda Asana. On Krishna Janmashtami, 6 September 1920, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura formally established the Sri Gaudiya Math at the same house.
He installed Sri Sri Guru Gauranga and Sri Sri Gandharvika Giridhari as the presiding Deities. Soon, many devotees, scholars, and zamindars began to visit, and the mission's rapid growth created the need for a larger establishment. Before leaving this mortal world, he had established a total of 64 Gaudiya Math centres.
By his mercy, people can follow the real teachings given by Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. He often said, “There is no scarcity of anything within this world. The only scarcity is of Krishna consciousness”. Everything will be arranged if one tries to sincerely follow the path of bhakti.
Srila Prabhupada Fulfilled His Desire
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura wanted this Krishna Consciousness movement to be preached to the Westerners. He sent his disciples to the West, but no one could transform their hearts. Srila Prabhupada, after being initiated by him, took his instruction as his life and soul. On 13 August 1965, Srila Prabhupada began his journey to the West with just 40 rupees and a trunk of books in his hands.
At the age of 69, he faced two heart attacks during the voyage. But Lord Krishna came in his dream and personally took charge of the ship, assuring him. The Jaladuta first reached Boston Harbour on 17 September 1965. Two days later, Srila Prabhupada arrived in New York and began his preaching mission. At that time, he did not have any followers to help in his mission.
Srila Prabhupada had firm faith that his Guru Maharaj was always with him, as he was executing his orders. Instead of beginning with philosophical discussions, he picked up a pair of karatālas (hand cymbals) and began chanting the Hare Krishna maha-mantra in public parks and on sidewalks. Many of the young people who attended found happiness and began to sing and dance.
An early student and well-wisher, Michael Grant, helped him rent a small storefront at 26 Second Avenue in Manhattan. There, he held daily kirtans and lectures, laying the foundation for what would soon become the worldwide Hare Krishna movement. Srila Prabhupada fulfilled his spiritual master’s desire, circulated the globe 14 times within 10 years, and made them devotees of the Lord.
Key Contributions
The Brihat Mridanga
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura called the printing press the Brihat Mridanga (great drum), as its message could be heard for miles. To expand the preaching mission, he established four printing presses: Bhagavat Press (Krishnagar), Gaudiya Printing Works (Calcutta), Nadiya Prakash Printing Works (Mayapur), and Paramarthi Printing Works (Cuttack).
Revival of Sannyasa in the Gaudiya Vaishnavism
For centuries after Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's disappearance, the sannyasa order had virtually vanished from the Gaudiya tradition. On 7 March 1918, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura accepted sannyasa before a photograph of his spiritual master. He then initiated eighteen sannyasi disciples who became the backbone of the Gaudiya Math, preaching across India.
Gaudiya Math
He established a total of 64 Gaudiya Math centres globally, laying a strong foundation for the organised propagation of Gaudiya Vaishnavism, setting standards for deity worship, scriptural education, and the practice of pure devotional service.
Rejecting the Hereditary Guru System
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura taught that only a person conversant in the science of Kṛṣṇa can become a guru. He rejected the idea of becoming a guru by birth or family lineage without having any qualification. For this reason, the so-called Brahmanas protested and tried to kill him, but he never became afraid of anyone.
Conclusion
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura lived a life of a staunch brahmachari and enlightened people with the true knowledge given by Lord Chaitanya. With fearless preaching, he rejected all the unauthorised sampradayas and set standards of pure bhakti. By following his footsteps, one can reach the ultimate goal of life, which is the abode of Lord Krishna.
