Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura [1874–1936] was the son of Bhaktivinoda Thakura and from birth showed signs of a pure devotion to Krishna.
He was a life-long celibate and he was a powerful preacher of bhakti, and was extremely learned in math, astrology, Sanskrit and other languages. He tutored the royal family of Tripur for 10 years and then retired with a full pension. The University of Calcutta offered him a chair, but he declined so he could dedicate his life to continuing his father’s work of spreading Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s message.
To spread the Vaishnava teachings, he established the Gaudiya Matha (a large preaching institution with hundreds of followers and locations all over India); published books, magazines, and articles; sent disciples outside India to preach; organized large walking and chanting groups (parikrama and sankirtana>/em> groups) to spread the chanting of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra; and fought strong opposition from caste-conscious people and psuedo-Vaishnavas who had brought disrepute to Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s teachings.
He asked his disciple A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada to go to the West to preach and to print books. Srila Prabhupada came to New York in 1965 on the order of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, and carried on Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati’s life mission on a grand scale.
Bhaktivinoda Thakura enlisted the qualified help of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, and Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura enlisted the qualified help A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Thus these three great acharyas worked hand in hand to reestablish the pure, merciful teachings of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and give those teachings and practices to everyone around the world.
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