Disappearance Day of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura

What is the Disappearance Day of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura?

Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura left this world and entered the Lord's eternal pastimes in 1914. Devotees honour his disappearance day on Sunday, 4 July 2027. In Srila Prabhupada's disciplic succession he is the acarya who comes just before Srila Gaura Kisora Dasa Babaji and Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura.

Significance

Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura raised a family and served the government as a magistrate. Alongside that work he wrote about a hundred books, among them Jaiva-dharma and the songs of Kalyana-kalpataru, and he brought to light the place where Lord Caitanya appeared at Mayapur. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura (his son) built his own mission on these books and carried their message forward. Through him it reached Srila Prabhupada and the West. Srila Prabhupada said of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura:

Bhaktivinoda Thakura is an ideal guru. He was not a sannyasi; he was grihastha, householder, living with family, wife, children. Still, he was guru.

Lecture, Appearance Day of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, London, 3 September 1971

How to observe it

Spend the day with his teachings. Read a chapter of Jaiva-dharma, sing a song from Kalyana-kalpataru or hear about his life from a devotee. His example shows that Krishna consciousness fits into a working family life, so a few extra rounds of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra at home make a fitting offering. The same date is also Gundica Marjana and the disappearance day of Sri Gadadhara Pandita.