the harmonic school of religionists

[Guest guest]

The following appears to be from a Harmonist article. If anyone has the

reference (date, issue no.) please send it to me.

 

NB the original text would be in a slightly different style: Toshani

instead of Tosani, etc.

 

 

 

The Sajjana Tosani as edited by Thakura Bhaktivinoda was mainly in Bengali

with occasional separate English numbers. The start was with articles on

current topics congenial to the harmonic school of religionists to which

were later added original texts of the four Vaisnava sampradayas with the

object of gradually familiarizing the public with the vocabulary and

technicalities of the four schools. Thakura Bhaktivinoda as the pioneer

preacher of the pure devotion in Bengal in the present age had to serve a

public which was at the time unprepared to receive his message in its

entirety. Although at that period even his supporters failed to grasp the

full meaning of his message, his writings made the general public acquainted

with the principles of the Vaisnava religion in the measure of the capacity

of each individual.

 

The professors of Vaisnavism or the harmonic school are by tradition divided

into three classes according to the quality of their devotion. Those whose

devotion is unalloyed are suddha-bhaktas. The misra-bhaktas, the next class,

consist of those whose devotion is alloyed. The third class, that of

viddha-bhaktas, practice a form of devotion which is almost wholly

perverted. In the days of Thakura Bhaktivinoda the number of devotees

professing suddha-bhakti in Bengal were very few. His appeals had to be made

to the class of misra-bhaktas and viddha-bhaktas among whom he found

supporters and sympathizers. The Sajjana Tosani of that period did not

altogether escape the influence of the views of these supporters. Thakura

Bhaktivinoda, himself the pioneer suddha-bhakta, found it absolutely

necessary to tolerate more or less this influence of misra-bhaktas and

viddha-bhaktas within the movement. By the will of our Supreme Lord the

Sajjana Tosani became subsequently strictly the organ of the suddha-bhakti

movement and it is a proof of the fact that Bhaktivinoda Thakura's object is

being carried out that a large number of highly educated and sincere souls

have been accepting the principle of suddha-bhakti.