Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur Avirbhava Tithi special -
Original works of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur
Hare Krsna. All glories to HIs Divine Grace A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.
All glories to His Divine Grace Sree Srimad Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur Prabhupada
We are pleased to present a compilation of "The Harmonist As It Is" on the occasion of the appearance day of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur.
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The original version of The Harmonist appeared in Bengali under the name Sree Sajjana Toshani in 1879, published by Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Thakura. After his departure, his son, Śrīla Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura established a printing press and began his preaching mission, the Shri Gaudiya Math. In 1927, he launched the Harmonist magazine, an English version of the original Bengali magazine, Sree Sajjana Tosani. This he did until 1936, the year of his passing from this world.
The Harmonist is the reservoir of all clear conclusions of our predecessor acharyas (Vaisnava Masters), regarding the most important philosophical subjects any devotee would care to know. The magazine addresses essential philosophical topics, such as jiva-tattva, guru-tattva, Krishna-tattva, rasa-tattva, the history of the Vedic and Gaudiya Vaishnava traditions, Vaishnava Literature, comparative religion, Vaishnava behaviors and etiquettes,historical events, articles on social, economical and political issues, and divine poetry.The Harmonist Magazine
It seems miraculous that the rare and dilapidated copies of The Harmonist magazine are now brought to life again with the publication of this collection. This complete collection is printed at the Radha Press in New Delhi. Radha Press has already a historic relevance for innumerable Gaudiya Vaishnavas, the followers of the incarnation of God known as Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Who appeared in Gauda Desh, West Bengal, India in 1486 AD. On this same printing press, my spiritual master, the world-acharya, Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, printed his first English versions of Srimad Bhagavatam (The Sweet Pastimes of Lord Sri Krishna), and his Back to Godhead Magazine, before departing to the USA in 1965. The Gaudiya Vaishnava philosophy has now spread throughout the entire world, most particularly because of the impetus given by Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the founder-acharya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness.
Previous to this edition, a number of new magazines using the name The Harmonist have appeared in the Eastern and the Western world. Therefore, in the mood of Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, who named his translation of the Bhagavad-gita as the ‘Bhagavat-gita As It Is’, we have decided to name this reprint as The Harmonist As It Is to indicate that this publication is of the original magazines. Actually, this effort is the first exact replica of the original publications.
The Harmonist is the reservoir of all clear conclusions of our predecessor acharyas (Vaisnava Masters), regarding the most important philosophical subjects any devotee would care to know. The magazine addresses essential philosophical topics, such as jiva-tattva, guru-tattva, Krishna-tattva, rasa-tattva, the history of the Vedic and Gaudiya Vaishnava traditions, Vaishnava Literature, comparative religion, Vaishnava behaviors and etiquettes,historical events, articles on social, economical and political issues, and divine poetry.The Harmonist Magazine
It seems miraculous that the rare and dilapidated copies of The Harmonist magazine are now brought to life again with the publication of this collection. This complete collection is printed at the Radha Press in New Delhi. Radha Press has already a historic relevance for innumerable Gaudiya Vaishnavas, the followers of the incarnation of God known as Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Who appeared in Gauda Desh, West Bengal, India in 1486 AD. On this same printing press, my spiritual master, the world-acharya, Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, printed his first English versions of Srimad Bhagavatam (The Sweet Pastimes of Lord Sri Krishna), and his Back to Godhead Magazine, before departing to the USA in 1965. The Gaudiya Vaishnava philosophy has now spread throughout the entire world, most particularly because of the impetus given by Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the founder-acharya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness.
Previous to this edition, a number of new magazines using the name The Harmonist have appeared in the Eastern and the Western world. Therefore, in the mood of Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, who named his translation of the Bhagavad-gita as the ‘Bhagavat-gita As It Is’, we have decided to name this reprint as The Harmonist As It Is to indicate that this publication is of the original magazines. Actually, this effort is the first exact replica of the original publications.
The original versions in Bengali were known as Sajjana Toshani and were first published in 1879 by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur, the spiritual preceptor of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta. After the departure of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur in 1914, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati, the spiritual master of Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami, established a printing press and began his preaching mission, known as the Sri Gaudiya Math.
The monthly publication of The Harmonist magazine began in June of 1927 in Kolkata, Bengal, India, under the direction of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Goswami Prabhupada. The foreword of the first English edition reads as follows “The Sajjana-toshani made her first appearance in the year 1879 in the modest form of a Bengali spiritual monthly edited by Thakur Bhaktivinoda. The paper remained under his editorship for seventeen years. She was later made over to the present editor who conducted the paper ‘till she attained her twenty-fourth year of publication.”
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati started the English version of the same publication in June of 1927 continuing until June 1936, before his departure from this world on January 1, 1937. He continued in Roman numerals the sequential order of the original Bengali editions; thus, the English version began as Volume XXV and ended as Volume XXXII. The full collection of The Harmonist comprises eight volumes, and each volume contains twelve monthly magazines. To better facilitate the readers’ reference, we have decided to designate each volume of The Harmonist As It Is from No.l to No.8. In brackets the readers will also find the Roman numerals of the original Bengali edition. To facilitate a comprehensive and easy reference to the main subjects contained in the magazines, we have compiled a simple index to each volume. The same general index was then compiled for the complete collection, which was printed as a separate booklet.
The general index addresses essential philosophical topics, such as jiva-tattva, guru-tattva, Krishna-tattva, rasa-tattva, the history of the Vedic and Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition, Vaishnava Literature, comparative religion, Vaishnava behavior and etiquette, historical events, articles on social,economical and political issues, and divine poetry.
General Index - 21 pages.
No. 1 (Vol XXV, June 1927 - May 1928) - 430 pages.
No. 2 (Vol XXVI, June 1928 - May 1929) - 382 pages.
No. 3 (Vol XXVII, June 1929 - May 1930) - 432 pages.
No. 4 (Vol XXVIII, June 1930 - May-June 1931) - 434 pages.
No. 5 (Vol XXIX, July 1931 - June 1932) - 470 pages.
No. 6 (Vol XXX, July 1932 - June 1933) - 436 pages.
No. 7 (Vol XXXI, Sept 1934 - July 1935) - 582 pages.
No. 8 (Vol XXXII, Sept 1935 - June 1936) - 558 pages.
The monthly publication of The Harmonist magazine began in June of 1927 in Kolkata, Bengal, India, under the direction of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Goswami Prabhupada. The foreword of the first English edition reads as follows “The Sajjana-toshani made her first appearance in the year 1879 in the modest form of a Bengali spiritual monthly edited by Thakur Bhaktivinoda. The paper remained under his editorship for seventeen years. She was later made over to the present editor who conducted the paper ‘till she attained her twenty-fourth year of publication.”
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati started the English version of the same publication in June of 1927 continuing until June 1936, before his departure from this world on January 1, 1937. He continued in Roman numerals the sequential order of the original Bengali editions; thus, the English version began as Volume XXV and ended as Volume XXXII. The full collection of The Harmonist comprises eight volumes, and each volume contains twelve monthly magazines. To better facilitate the readers’ reference, we have decided to designate each volume of The Harmonist As It Is from No.l to No.8. In brackets the readers will also find the Roman numerals of the original Bengali edition. To facilitate a comprehensive and easy reference to the main subjects contained in the magazines, we have compiled a simple index to each volume. The same general index was then compiled for the complete collection, which was printed as a separate booklet.
The general index addresses essential philosophical topics, such as jiva-tattva, guru-tattva, Krishna-tattva, rasa-tattva, the history of the Vedic and Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition, Vaishnava Literature, comparative religion, Vaishnava behavior and etiquette, historical events, articles on social,economical and political issues, and divine poetry.
General Index - 21 pages.
No. 1 (Vol XXV, June 1927 - May 1928) - 430 pages.
No. 2 (Vol XXVI, June 1928 - May 1929) - 382 pages.
No. 3 (Vol XXVII, June 1929 - May 1930) - 432 pages.
No. 4 (Vol XXVIII, June 1930 - May-June 1931) - 434 pages.
No. 5 (Vol XXIX, July 1931 - June 1932) - 470 pages.
No. 6 (Vol XXX, July 1932 - June 1933) - 436 pages.
No. 7 (Vol XXXI, Sept 1934 - July 1935) - 582 pages.
No. 8 (Vol XXXII, Sept 1935 - June 1936) - 558 pages.
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Comments
In the very beginning of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, in its middle and at its end, we have been repeatedly advised about the efficacy of śrī nāma-saṅkīrtana. The principle of śrī nāma-bhajana (loving service to the holy name) is deeply set at the root of the limb of devotion called Mathurā-vāsa, or śrī dhāma-vāsa - residence in the places of Śrī Bhagavān’s pastimes - for these holy places are frequently visited by sādhus who are always engaged in śrī nāma-saṅkīrtana. Furthermore, the principle of chanting the holy name accompanies the service of śrī mūrti, the transcendental deity, for it is conducted with mantras (incantations) framed with Śrī Bhagavān’s names. Thus śrī nāma-saṅkīrtana is glorified above all, and all success is available through it.
We also have the statement from Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta (Antya-līlā 4.70):
bhajanera madhye śreṣṭha nava-vidha bhakti
‘kṛṣṇa-prema’, ‘kṛṣṇa’ dite dhare mahā-śakti
Among all forms of bhajana (loving service to Śrī Kṛṣṇa) the nine limbs of bhakti are best, for they have the great power to bestow both kṛṣṇa-prema and Krsna.
The foremost of these nine types of bhajana, again, is nāma-saṅkīrtana. One who chants the holy names without making spiritual offences (aparādhas) is sure to gain the wealth of transcendent love.
In the Bhakti-sandarbha (273) we find the following statement:
Even if, in Kali-yuga, there is some other form of devotion ordained as duty, that duty should be performed along with the limb of bhakti known as kīrtana.
No kind of bhakti – such as residence in Mathurā, association with holy saints, service to sri murti or hearing the message of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam – is complete without śrī kṛṣṇa-nāma-kīrtana. Only one who gives importance to śrī kṛṣṇa-nāma-kīrtana above everything else has access to the fruit it bears.
In Śrī Hari-bhakti-vīlāsa (11.137), a verse from an ancient scripture is cited:
yena janma-sataiḥ purvam vāsudevaḥ samārcitaḥ
tan-mukhe hari-nāmāni sadā tiṣṭhanti bhārata
The holy names of Śrī Hari are always present on the lips of a person who has been properly worshipping Him – Śrī Vāsudeva Kṛṣṇa – for hundreds of lives.
Indeed, among all spiritual practices, saṅkīrtana is the best and foremost means of attaining the grace of the Supreme Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa. Other types of sādhana, or devotional practices, are only worthy of being called sādhana if they favourably assist the performance of saṅkīrtana; otherwise they should be known as obstructions to actual sādhana. Whether one is a child or an old or young man, male or female, learned or illiterate, rich or poor, beautiful or ugly, pious or sinful – regardless of the condition of life someone may be in – there is no spiritual practice for him other than śrī kṛṣṇa-nāma-kīrtana.
Kirtana is called saṅkīrtana when many people perform it together. But will it be worthy of the name saṅkīrtana if some worthless people, without any ardour for Śrī Bhagavān's service, come together to shout in unison? It will be true hari-saṅkīrtana when we join the saṅkīrtana of true devotees who are serving Śrī Bhagavān according to the principles established in the Vedas and allied śāstras. Contrastingly, it is not hari-saṅkīrtana when it is conducted for the prevention of the epidemics of cholera or pox, for prosperity in trade, for gain or for respect and fame. This kīrtana is māyā-kīrtana – chanting within the jurisdiction of the illusory potency.
As long as we do not join the perfect kṛṣṇa-kīrtana conducted by genuine devotees, māyā will delude us in various ways. And if we join the kīrtana of the blinded self-deceivers who are not anxious for their true well-being then surely we will not attain our own true well-being. If we follow people who never receive instructions from the true Vaiṣṇavas but just imitate them by decorating their bodies with tulasī beads and other marks, and who shout out what appears to be names of God in external sound alone, we will not find śrī harināma-saṅkīrtana.
Adapted from The Gaudiya Volume 23, Issue 10
by the Rays of The Harmonist team