Śrīla Saccidānanda Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura
Śrīla Saccidānanda Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura appeared in this world in 1836 and is considered to be the pioneer of the modern Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava movement. The Thākura was a respected district magistrate and despite his busy schedule, he wrote volumes of books, articles and commentaries on Vaiṣṇava philosophy in Bengali, English and Sanskrit. He began a monthly journal named Sajjana Toṣaṇī and began the Nāma-haṭṭa (‘marketplace of the Holy Name’) programme of preaching in rural villages as well as in the metropolis of Kolkata. Bhaktivinoda also rediscovered the original birthplace of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu in Śrīdhāma Māyāpura. After accepting the renounced order of life in 1908, he left this world in 1914.
