Bijoy Krishna Goswami

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Śrī
Bijoy Krishna Goswami
Personal
Born
Bijoy Krishna Goswami

2 August 1841
Shikarpur village, Nadia district, British India
Died4 June 1899(1899-06-04) (aged 57)
Puri, British India
ReligionHinduism
Parents
  • Ananda Kishore Goswami (father)
  • Swarnamoyee Devi (mother)
Known forExpounded Gaudiya Vaishnavism, Bhakti yoga
Other namesJatia Baba, Achyutananda Paramahamsa, Gosaiji
PhilosophyBhakti yoga, Achintya Bheda Abheda
Religious career
GuruBrahmananda Paramahamsa (mantra guru)
DisciplesBipin Chandra Pal, Ashwini Kumar Dutta, Satish Chandra Mukherjee, Swarnakumari Devi and others
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Bijoy Krishna Goswami (

IAST: Vijaya-kṛṣṇa Gosvāmī; 2 August 1841 – 4 June 1899),[1] also known by the honorific Gosaiji, was a Hindu social reformer and religious figure in India during the British period.[2]

Gaudiya Vaishnava Sampradaya.[5]

Bijoy Krishna Goswami belonged to the "Advaita parivar" (family), as the 10th-generation descendant of Advaita Acharya, personal teacher and associate of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.

Prophecy of appearance

The prophecy of the birth of Bijoy Krishna Goswami can be found in the text, Chaitanya Mangala written by Lochana Dasa and in the text, Adwaitya Abhisaap written by Paramananda Dasa. It is written by Lochana Dasa and Paramananda Dasa that during his Leela at Nabadwip, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was travelling towards Vrindavan in ecstasy, Nityananda Prabhu, however, diverted Chaitanya from Vrindavan and took him to Sripad Advaita Acharya's residence, in Shantipur. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu stayed in Shantipur for ten days and then ignoring the tearful eyes of Shantipur's residents and grief-stricken requests from his mother Sachi Devi, he left Shantipur for Jagannath Temple.

Advaita Acharya could not bear the pangs of separation from Mahaprabhu, and in anticipation of parting, Adwaitya Achary cursed Mahaprabhu saying - "You have stayed here for ten days, but in this incarnation, your work will remain incomplete, you have to re-incarnate in my family as my tenth generation."

Gosaiji appeared in Shantipur as a tenth generation successor of Sripad Adwaitya Acharya.

Early life

Bijoy Krishna Goswami was born on 2 August 1841 Shikarpur (

Gautama Buddha was born in Lumbini garden likewise Bijoy Krishna too was born in a colocasia
thicket at Shikarpur (Nadia).

The family deity worshipped in the Goswami household was Sri Shyamsundar. Gosaiji later recounted that as an infant, Shyamsundar would appear before him and became his playmate. This sakhyabhāva (the attitude of a friend) with Shyamsundar would remain with Gosaiji throughout in his life.

Ananda Kishore Goswami passed away on 1844 AD, entering into

Calcutta Sanskrit College
, during this time he married Ramchandra Bhaduri's eldest daughter Yogmaya Devi.

It was a tradition in the Goswami family of becoming hereditary spiritual preceptor of devoted families. In keeping with the culture, Gosaiji once visited the family of a disciple, who begged him for redemption. Gosaiji was shocked; he thought - "How can I provide salvation when I am myself bound to

British India. Infuriated by the racist comments made by a British professor, Gosaiji organised the first student strike in British India. The mediation of Sri Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar brought the situation under control, but a disillusioned Gosaiji left his studies at the medical college and instead became a homoeopathy medicine practitioner. During his wanderings as a homoeopathy doctor, Gosaiji's religion fervour grew and under the influence of Acharya Devendra Nath Tagore, he renounced his Hindu heritage and joined the Brahmo Samaj
.

Life as a Brahmo preacher

Gosaiji was an Acharya of the Adi Brahmo Samaj by the year 1864. As the Brahmo movement began to spread, there was a clash between the elderly conservative Adi Brahmo Samaj members led by Acharya Devendranath Tagore and the fresh members of the samaj led by Keshub Chandra Sen. As a result, Gosaiji resigned the position of acharya of the Adi Brahmo Samaj and joined Keshub Chandra Sen's new samaj called the Brahmo Samaj of India. As a member of the new Brahmo Samaj, Gosaiji took upon the duties of education of women and the abolition of child marriage. During this time he worked with Iswarchandra Vidyasagar to achieve the prohibition of child marriage. Aiming to educate the women of India, he started contributing to Bengali magazines like Bamabodhini (edited by Umesh Chandra Dutta), Tattwabodhini, Dharmatattwa etc. His writings in Bamabodhini magazine, under the pseudonym "Ashabati" received recognition; these writings were compiled later in a book called "Asahabatir Upakhan".

The year 1874 saw the emergence of the Sankirtan movement in Brahmo Samaj premises, due to the efforts of Gosaiji. Gosaiji composed numerous Brahmo songs during this period. In this period Gosaiji started preaching the Brahmo way of worship throughout India, he visited interior parts of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Assam and Punjab.

The years between 1874 and 1878 was trying timee in Gosaiji's life. As a preacher, he walked length and breadth of India, sometimes sustaining himself by only drinking water and eating the mud from river banks. There was a second schism in the Brahmo Samaj in May 1878, when

Navavidhan Brahmo Samaj led by Keshub Chandra Sen and Sadharan Brahmo Samaj which included Sivnath Shastri, Ananda Mohan Bose
, Gosaiji and others. This split in Brahmo Samaj caused deep anguish to Gosaiji. He realised that the Brahmo method of approach towards God-realisation through logic and reasoning was insufficient.

Once while sermonizing in a province of

mahatma also reassured Gosaiji by saying that his Guru is preordained and will reveal himself when the time comes. Thus encouraged, Gosaiji started searching for his divine preordained Guru
.

Initiation into Ajapa Sadhana

Idol of Sri Bijoy Krishna Goswamiji

In his search for a Guru, Gosaiji joined various sects and schools of Hindu spiritualism. He associated with disciplines as diverse as Baul, Kapalik, Kartabhaja etc. He met Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa in Dakshineswar during this period on 27 October 1882 AD. On seeing Gosaiji, Sri Ramakrishna remarked, "When the soul soars high in the sky, why to keep the body in a cage?" - The indication was that it was time for Gosaiji to resign from the duty-bound job of a priest of Brahmo Samaj and lead a free life of an ascetic. He also met other saints of that time including Yogiraj Gambhir Nath, Siddha Caitanya Das Babaji of Nabadwip, Siddha Bhagavan Das Babaji of Kalna and Mahatma Trailanga Swami.

Caitanya Das Babaji on being asked by Gosaiji about how to obtain Bhakti became ecstatic and replied - "Gosai, what did you say? You are the purveyor of Bhakti, and you ask how to get Bhakti? Whatever you may do now, I can see the marks of a devout Vaishnavite in you."

None of these mahatmas agreed to become Gosaiji's Guru, they instead stated that his Guru is waiting for the opportune moment to reveal himself.

Gosaiji then met

mahatma revealed that although he had initiated him, he was not his Guru. These mantras would help draw Gosaiji's Guru
towards him, shortening his waiting time.

Finally, in the year 1883 AD, Gosaiji arrived at Akash Ganga hill at

Brahmachari, he received Sannyasa from Swami Hariharananda Saraswati in the year 1885 AD. Brahmo Bijoy Krishna Goswami thus made a complete reversal to Hinduism as the monk
Achyutananda Saraswati.

Manifestation as Sadguru

Return to society as Acharya Bijoy Krishna

Brahmachari Kuladananda

Gosaiji spent a year of his life as an itinerant monk. According to the memoirs in the book - শ্রী শ্রী সদগুরু সঙ্গ (Shree Shree Sadguru Sanga), Gosaiji started experiencing irritation accompanied by a burning sensation while practising Ajapa Sadhana. This affliction resulted in the singeing of his androgenic hair. Gosaiji asked his Guru to relieve this affliction; Brahmananda Paramahamsadeb consequently asked him to relocate to Jawalamukhi in Himachal Pradesh and continue his practices there. Gosaiji thus travelled from place to place for a year, before his Guru finally asked him to return to society as a householder saint and take up the work of an acharya - preaching the Sri-Naam kirtan and initiating suitable candidates with the Ajapa Naam Sadhana.

Gosaiji thus returned to society and rejoined the Kolkata Brahmo Samaj as an acharya. All the incidents after that from 1886 AD to 1893 AD is recorded by Srimad Kuladananda Brahmachari[8] in his Bengali journal - শ্রী শ্রী সদগুরু সঙ্গ (Shree Shree Sadguru Sanga).[9]

The spiritual experiences and practice of the Ajapa sadhana had changed Gosaiji. He refused to conduct the duties of an acharya following the sectarian Brahmo samaj process, thus resulting in antagonism within the samaj power structure. According to the letters by Gosaiji's disciple Srimat Kiranchand Darvesh (later collected and collated as Darvesh Darshan[10]) during this time there was an assassination attempt on him by Trailokyanath Sanyal (Sadhu Chiranjeeb Sharma) of the Kolkata Brahmo Samaj. The assassination attempt failed, and subsequently, on 24 March 1886 AD, Gosaiji resigned his position from the Kolkata Brahmo Samaj and on the invitation of the members of the Dhaka Brahmo samaj travelled to Dhaka, Bangladesh to take over the duties of an acharya.

Gosaiji's mission as SadGuru began at

divine love he would cry in ecstasy and would get immersed in maha bhava samadhi. Gosaiji's lectures during this time were later collected and published under the title বক্তৃতা ও উপদেশ (Baktritā Ō upadēśa). Gosaiji also wrote books like করুণাকণা (Karuṇākanā) during this period. Shyama Kanta Pandita became the first disciple of Gosaiji, and the number of initiates increased. Gosaiji's also initiated his spiritual successor Srimat Kuladananda Brahmachari in Dhaka
during this time.

Meeting with
Yogiraj
Lokenath Brahmachari

While a Brahmo Acharya, Gosaiji travelled to

Brahmachari, in his journal, writes that while travelling from Goalundo Ghat to Darbhanga; Gosaiji's son Yogjeeban Goswami spotted Lokenath Brahmachari drifting in the air towards Darbhanga. Many other disciples of Gosaiji saw Lokenath Brahmachari, Brahmananda Paramahamsa (Gosaiji's Guru) and other anonymous saints appear and disappear spontaneously near the bedside of the ailing Gosaiji. Against all speculations of Gosaiji's demise, Gosaiji regained full health; He arrived at Baradi, Narayanganj
on 14 June 1887 A.D to pay his respects to Lokenath Brahmachari.

Foundation of Dhaka Gendaria Ashram

Gendaria Ashram

Gosaiji's non-sectarian method of conducting the

Brahmachari
Kuladananda described Gendaria Ashram in his diary as a clearing made on the edges of a wild animal infested wilderness. The ashram consisted of a collection of sheds - used as living spaces and kitchen. Gosaiji inscribed the following sermon on the wall of the hut where he resided:

ওঁ শ্রীকৃষ্ণ চৈতন্যায় নমঃ। ( Salutations to Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu )

এইছা দিন নাহি রহেগা। (Such a day will not remain)

আত্মপ্রশংসা করিও না। (Do not speak highly of yourself)

পরনিন্দা করিও না। (Do not slander others)

অহিংসা পরম ধর্ম। (Non-violence is a supreme virtue)

সর্ব জীবে দয়া কর। (Be kind to all living beings)

শাস্ত্র ও মহাজনদিগকে বিশ্বাস কর। ( Trust the holy scriptures and saints)

শাস্ত্র ও মহাজনের আচারের সঙ্গে যাহা মিলিবে না তাহা বিষবৎ ত্যাগ কর। ( Reject as poison anything that does not comply with the behaviour of the holy scriptures and saints )

নাহংকারাৎ পরাে রিপুঃ। ( Pride is the greatest foe)

From this stage of his life, Gosaiji followed Akash Vritti (i.e. not making effort to earn, beg or borrow and depend on God's mercy). Haridas Basu, in his book - মহা পাতকীর জীবন সদ্‌গুরু লীলা writes that some resident disciples had no income and depended on the ashram for food and shelter. Describing the divine events that occurred in the ashram,

Brahmachari Kuladananda writes - "honey used to drop from the leaves of the mango tree under which Gosaiji used to sit. At times it used to ooze out of his matted hair too. A sublime perfume permeated the ashram area. A cobra used to live in a hole inside his hut. At night Gosaiji remained in samadhi; sometimes, that snake would come out of the hole and climb on top of his matted hair and stay there." In this regard, answering the query of a disciple, Gosaiji said, "When pranayam continues through the central nerve of the spinal cord, it generates a pleasant sound. It spreads its hood near the nose or above the forehead and listens to the sound. At times it draws pleasure by mixing its whistle to that sound. The snake that you see on the neck and head of Lord Shiva
is nothing unusual."

Death

Bijoy Krishna Goswami breathed his last on 22 Joishtho 1306 BS (4 June 1899 in the Gregorian calendar) in Puri.[11][12]

List of major works

  • যোগ সাধন সন্মন্ধে [13]
  • ব্রাহ্মসমাজের বর্ত্তমান অবস্থা এবং আমার জীবনে ব্রাহ্মসমাজের পরীক্ষিত বিষয় [সংস্করণ-২]
  • সঙ্গীত-সুধা
  • জীবনে ব্রাহ্মসমাজের পরীক্ষিত বিষয় ও কয়েকটীউপদেশ
  • আশাবতীর উপখান

See also

References

  1. ISBN 978-0-521-24986-7
    . Retrieved 6 July 2012.
  2. ISBN 978-0-87481-024-0
    . Retrieved 6 July 2012.
  3. ^ "Official Brahmo website". Brahmosamaj.in. Retrieved 15 October 2012.
  4. ^ "Bangladesh Law Commission" (PDF). Retrieved 15 October 2012.
  5. ISBN 9780810134249
  6. ^ "Century-old Nadia school with major contribution in Bangladesh Freedom Movement". Get Bengal. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  7. ^ Gupta, Amitabha (3 March 2021), English: Plaque on Main Memorial inside Bijoy Krishna Goswami Memorial Temple at Shikarpur of Nadia district. Bijoy Krishna Goswami was a prominent Hindu social reformer and religious figure in India during the British period who was born on 2 August 1841 at Shikarpur (Nadia district). A temple has been built here in his memory. Displayed In the photograph is closeup of the plaque on stone memorial which describes Shikarpur as the birth place of Bijoy Krishna Goswami., retrieved 7 January 2022
  8. ^ "Shree Shree Kuladananda Brahmachari". Archived from the original on 15 June 2011.
  9. ^ "শ্রী শ্রী সদ্ধগুরু সাঙ্গ". Archived from the original on 15 June 2011.
  10. ^ "দরবেশ দর্শন". 17 February 1964.
  11. ^ "গোস্বামী, বিজয়কৃষ্ণ". Banglapedia (in Bengali).
  12. ^ "পঞ্জিকা ১৩০৬ বঙ্গাব্দ". usingha.com. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
  13. ^ "যোগ সাধন সন্মন্ধে" (in Bengali).

External links

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