Vinoda was a brilliant boy and swiftly progressed through school. On his own volition, he devised a brahmacārī union with his fellow classmates, explaining to them, “The purpose of human life is to dedicate oneself in service to God; not to pursue sensual pleasures. Anyone who joins our union must vow to remain a lifelong celibate and to help further the spiritual prosperity of our country.” Many young men joined Vinoda’s union, attracted by his charismatic nature. In college, Vinoda challenged and defeated the impersonal conceptions of his teachers, but he did so in such a considerate manner that all were pleased with him.
In India it is common to find professional paid orators of the Bhāgavatam. Vinoda was grieved to see that the majority of these scholars not only recited scripture for money, but they did not practice any of the precepts they taught. He contemplated, “Many so-called followers of Mahāprabhu preach the Bhāgavata; however, as they are unable to relinquish intoxicants and sinful behavior, they are the slaves of their bad habits. Mahāprabhu instructed that He would not accept anything from one who does not chant at least 100,000 holy names daily. Where can I find a saint who truly follows Mahāprabhu’s instructions?”
The first women disciples of Śrīla Sarasvatī Ṭhākura happened to be Vinoda’s paternal aunts, Śrīyuta Sarojavāsinī-devī and Priyatama-devī. Vinoda heard from them the glories and ideal character of their spiritual master, and, in 1915, during the time of Navadvīpa-dhāma Parikramā, he set out on pilgrimage with them to personally honor the great saint. Śrīla Sarasvatī Ṭhākura had recently begun widely preaching and his disciples respectfully conferred upon him the title Prabhupāda, meaning: (1) he who offers others at the lotus feet of Prabhu, the Lord, and thus gives everyone the chance to serve Prabhu and, (2) who personally always serves the lotus feet of his Prabhu and, (3) at whose feet many great personalities reside. Meeting Prabhupāda Sarasvatī Ṭhākura for the first time, Vinoda was impressed by his saintly qualities and vowed to serve him for the rest of his life. Prabhupāda Sarasvatī Ṭhākura expressed his determination before Vinoda’s aunt, Sarojavāsinī-devī, to open temples on each of the nine islands of Navadvīpa-dhāma, as well as branches of the Gauḍīya Maṭha all over India and the rest of the world, and through these centers, to publish and distribute spiritual literature for the benefit of all.
Sarojavāsinī-devī humbly inquired, “Śrīla Prabhupāda, how will you maintain so many temples? There are not even enough brahmacārīs to play the instruments during ārati.”
Prabhupāda pointed to her nephew and said, “Vinoda will do everything. He will manage all my temples and will engage everyone in the blissful service of Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa and Mahāprabhu.”
Vinoda Bihārī then received initiation from Prabhupāda. Later that year, Prabhupāda sent him to receive the mercy of his spiritual master, Gaura-kiśora dāsa Bābājī Mahārāja, who had locked himself inside a public latrine in Kuliyā, being weary of the stench of materialistic people who frequently disturbed his bhajana. Śrīla Bābājī Mahārāja was pleased with Vinoda Bihārī’s firm faith in his guru and blessed him, “I have now taken responsibility for you and have removed all the obstacles in your life. Fearlessly serve your Guru Mahārāja, preaching the glories and message of Caitanya Mahāprabhu.” Vinoda Bihārī wept upon hearing this blessing from his spiritual grandsire and fell at the feet of Śrīla Bābājī Mahārāja, taking the saint’s foot dust on his head.
On November 17, 1915, Śrīla Gaura-kiśora dāsa Bābājī Mahārāja returned to the spiritual world. Prabhupāda Sarasvatī Ṭhākura placed his transcendental body in samādhi. In 1918, Prabhupāda Sarasvatī Ṭhākura formally accepted the renounced order of sannyāsa and became known as Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura Prabhupāda. With great enthusiasm, he began an unprecedented mission to propagate the heart’s desire of his divine masters. That year he established Śrī Caitanya Maṭha in Māyāpura. In the same year he also established a public center in Kolkata from where he published spiritual literature.
In 1920, he registered the Gauḍīya Maṭha and the mission gathered momentum. At the same time as people throughout India were struggling for freedom from the British in Mahātmā Gāndhī’s non-violent movement or in the guerrilla resistance headed by Subhash Candra Bose, a spiritual revolution began with thousands joining the mission of the Gauḍīya Maṭha, where Prabhupāda Sarasvatī Ṭhākura taught how to transcend all worldly obstacles by freeing the soul from bondage to material existence. Educated men from all over India surrendered to Prabhupāda and he transformed them into genuine Vaiṣṇavas. He bestowed the sannyāsa-mantra to qualified men and sent them, accompanied by brahmacārīs, to expand Mahāprabhu’s saṅkīrtana movement.
Prabhupāda’s preaching agitated Kali Mahārāja, the king of the age of quarrel, for he curtailed the sinful practices going on in the name of religion. On the west side of the Gaṅgā, Kali Mahārāja opened centers to divert aspirants from pursuing the true goal of life. He dressed them as mendicants, taught them to chant speculative mantras not found in scripture, and preached: “Love has no rules. Eat fish, drink alcohol, make merry. The more promiscuous you are the happier you will be.” Meanwhile, Prabhupāda enforced rigorous rules and regulations; those who deviated from the appointed method gravitated toward various pseudo bābājīs who engaged in sense gratification on the pretense of solitary bhajana. One who investigates Vaiṣṇavism to the slightest degree will find it is completely intolerant of such debauchery.
Regardless of Kali’s attempts, Prabhupāda’s movement expanded rapidly with the wide circulation of a daily spiritual newspaper, and weekly, fortnightly, and monthly periodicals in multiple languages.
The cultured society regarded Prabhupāda as a long-awaited voice of purity and truth amidst a thicket of quasi-religious charlatans. Exposed for their depravity, the bābājīs and smārtas burned in envy at the growing success of Prabhupāda. Their vexation increased yearly and they plotted to thwart Prabhupāda’s preaching and to take his life.
During the peaceful Navadvīpa-dhāma Parikramā of 1925, a vengeful horde attacked the pilgrimage party at Kuliyā-dvīpa, throwing stones, bricks, and glass bottles at the vulnerable devotees. Chaos ensued. Seeing the life of his Gurudeva endangered, Śrī Vinoda Bihārī (Śrīla Keśava Gosvāmī Mahārāja) immediately acted to save him as all others fled to protect themselves. He escorted Prabhupāda into a nearby house and exchanged his own white cloth for Prabhupāda’s sannyāsa cloth, then sent Prabhupāda safely back to Māyāpura while he faced the assailants.
Over the next ten years Prabhupāda established 64 temples, monasteries, and centers, and initiated tens of thousands into the line of pure bhakti during his tours and pilgrimages throughout India. He also sent distinguished representatives abroad, who opened centers in Burma and England. All these temples were like hospitals for the ailing souls in this world. Many who pose as religious leaders focus solely on the betterment of society. Without emphasizing spiritual development, they engage their followers in works of welfare such as building hospitals and schools. These institutions only alleviate physical and mental disorders without treating the real malady—ignorance of one’s true nature and the disease of trying to be the master of creation.
Prabhupāda Sarasvatī Ṭhākura presented the method of achieving perfection by instructing the world, “As it is transcendental to the body and mind, the soul is not related to any social designation or caste. Stay aloof from the poisonous snake of material sense gratification. Know yourself to be the servant of the servant of the servant of Kṛṣṇa, the ultimate shelter, the abode of transcendental bliss, and the beloved of Śrīmatī Rādhārānī. Thus you will be liberated and attain your true form as the loving servant of Śrīmatī Rādhārānī and Kṛṣṇa, under the guidance of the Vraja-devīs.”
Vinoda Bihārī Brahmacārī managed many centers in India, along with the periodicals, and the Bhaktivinoda Institute School. In 1934, during the large assembly held every year after Gaura Pūrṇimā, Prabhupāda Sarasvatī Ṭhākura recognized the outstanding contribution of Śrī Vinoda Bihārī Brahmacārī, and conferred on him the title Kṛtiratna, which means a jewel (ratna) of all endeavors (kṛti). Prabhupāda glorified his dear servant as not only a jewel of all action in this world, but as the jewel of his heart. Śrī Vinoda Bihārī had the special quality that, like a touchstone, he would transform anyone who came in his company into a jewel-like devotee.
In December 1936, Prabhupāda Sarasvatī Ṭhākura indicated that he would soon depart from this world. He summoned his prominent disciples to Kolkata and instructed them, “Never cease your vocation as bearers of the message of the spiritual realm, even if the masses oppose you and innumerable obstacles arise. Simply embrace the sentiment of Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī and Śrīla Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī and inculcate this in everyone you meet. Coveting the foot dust of the devotees in the line of Śrī Rūpa is our highest aspiration. I will always be present assisting those who have respect and faith and who cherish the service of Śrīmatī Rādhārānī and wish to enter Her group under the guidance of Śrī Rūpa.”
Śrīla Prabhupāda composed 108 maxims for his votaries at large and vouchsafed all his properties to leading brahmacārīs and householders. To the numerous sannyāsīs he stated, “You have entered the renounced order. Why should I bequeath you property and wealth? I don’t want you ensnared in something so insignificant. The whole world is for you to preach in. Publish books and travel everywhere propagating the glory and message of Mahāprabhu.”
On the early morning of December 31, 1936, Śrīla Prabhupāda entered the pastimes of Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa. When the illustrious preceptor departed, controversy surfaced over inheritance, and many of the outreach activities halted. To renew the preaching effort, Śrī Vinoda Bihārī started a printing press in Bospāḍā, Kolkata, and founded the Gauḍīya Vedānta Samīti in April of 1940, with Abhaya Caraṇa Bhaktivedānta Prabhu, Sajjana-sevaka, and Nārāyaṇa Chattarjee as founding members and signees. He established the Samīti on Akṣaya Trītīyā, which is considered the most auspicious day in the Vedic calendar to begin a venture. He next established Devānanda Gauḍīya Maṭha in Navadvīpa.
One night, Prabhupāda came in his dream and told him, “Now you must take sannyāsa. Your name will be Bhakti Prajñāna Keśava Mahārāja.” Prabhupāda had tried to give him sannyāsa many times, but senior devotees said, “If Vinoda becomes a sannyāsī who will maintain all the maṭhas?” Prabhupāda had therefore waited. In 1940, Śrī Vinoda Bihārī accepted sannyāsa on Viśvarūpa Pūrṇimā in the town of Katvā, Navadvīpa, amongst the support of his godbrothers. Now known as Śrīla Bhakti Prajñāna Keśava Gosvāmī Mahārāja, he began powerfully spreading the ideology of his Gurudeva.
Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura unleashed the current of pure devotion from the blockage of misconceptions that had arisen after the disappearance of Caitanya Mahāprabhu. With the potency gathered by way of his intense bhajana, he delineated the message of vraja-bhakti with profuse immaculate writings. He had a deep desire for an empowered personality to accept the responsibility of spreading the nectar of vraja-bhakti. Śrīla Prabhupāda Sarasvatī Ṭhākura opened Vraja-pattana and the Gauḍīya Maṭha training centers where people could come and awaken to their service in transcendental Vraja—and he curtailed the movements of the absolute monists, cheap imitationists, and supercilious caste brāhmaṇas. Ācārya Kesarī maintained and expanded the mission of Prabhupāda and he nurtured and cultivated the future distributors of vraja-bhakti-rasa. His godbrother and sannyāsa disciple, Śrīla Bhaktivedānta Svāmī Mahārāja, spread the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement to every corner of the Earth. He then bequeathed the preaching mantle to Śrīla Gurudeva. Śrīla Gurudeva developed the mission in an unprecedented manner, propagating vraja-bhakti worldwide, thus fulfilling the desires of the Guru-varga.