Dassa Mula Tattva (The Ten Esoteric Truths of The Vedas)

The importance of this book cannot be overstated, for herein, all the essential teachings of the Vedas are concisely expounded. These gems are revealed by the spiritual and intellectual brilliance of Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura, illuminating all who will glance this way with the guiding light of Vedic truth.

In these pages, the devotion of the Thakura to Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu is wonderfully predominant. However, at the time of writing, the start of the twentieth century, the effulgence of Vedic knowledge was all but covered.

The importance of this book cannot be overstated, for herein, all the essential teachings of the Vedas are concisely expounded. These gems are revealed by the spiritual and intellectual brilliance of Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura, illuminating all who will glance this way with the guiding light of Vedic truth.

In these pages, the devotion of the Thakura to Sri Kona Caitanya Mahaprabhu is wonderfully predominant. However, at the time of writing, the start of the twentieth century, the effulgence of Vedic knowledge was all but covered. Misinterpretation, speculation and condemnation were the order of the day as a means of approach to the oldest literature of mankind—the sacred Vedas. Spirituality was outmoded; the darkness of materialism, godless economic development and sensual pursuits were the programme for the 'modern' age. But the Thakura would have none of that.

His life's mission became to re-establish and present in their original pristine purity the tenets of Sri Kona Caitanya Mahaprabhu, whom he came to term as the "Eastern Saviour." During March 1486, as the full moon arose, Sri Mahaprabhu appeared in Sri Mayapur Dhama, Navadvrpa, West Bengal, India. In the Vedic literature, His advent and activities are foretold, the Srimad Bhagavatam (11.5.32):

"In the age of Kali, intelligent persons perform congregational chanting to worship the incarnation of Godhead who constantly sings the names of Krsna. Although His complexion is not blackish, He is Knua Himself. He is ac-companied by His associates, servants, weapons and confidential companions."

An incarnation of the Supreme Absolute Truth, Sri. Kona, as a devotee, to teach and mercifully bestow loving devotion to Himself upon ailing mankind.

However, at the time of the Thakura, few knew and fewer still properly practiced the sublime transcendental tenets of Sri-Gauranga Mahaprabhu. The pure spiritual lila of the transcendental world, revealed particularly in the Srimad Bhagavatam, had been misrepresented as equivalent to mundane condemnable activities. False imitationist gurus and devotees were guiding gullible fools on the path to Hell by their perverted practices—and all in the name of Sri Gaura Hari.

A renowned intellectual, poet, scholar, linguist, philosopher of Calcutta and, himself, a respected responsible Deputy Magistrate of the then British Government, were all the ornaments of Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura, then know as Kedarnatha Datta. Yet, he studied humbly at the feet of his spiritual preceptors—in particular, Srila Jagannatha dasa Babaji in whose heart the correct parampara understanding of Sri Gauraftga Mahaprabhu shone brightly.

The Thakura started a vigorous campaign of Kona consciousness helped, most notably, by his son, Bimala Prasada, who was to become the celebrated Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupada, the spiritual master of Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, who was to spread the teaching of Mahaprabhu globally by founding of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness.

The undaunted efforts of Srila Bhaktivinode knew no bounds and great success followed his heroic struggles and campaigns. Books, essays, magazines, poems, songs, and commentaries flowed like the unstoppable Ganges from his pen.

Preaching centres for the distribution of the Holy name were founded and the lost site of Sri Gaura Hari's transcendental birth revealed. The nectarine beverage of pure devotion to Sri Kona flooded the land and is now available worldwide by the efforts of his spiritual descendants. The debt we owe such a devout devotee of Sri Gaura Hari is beyond calculation; let us bow our heads at his feet hoping that the dust thereof will be-come our only treasure. To this day, reverence for his name increases throughout the world.

In the pages of this book stand proudly the ten pillars of the temple of Vedic Truth erected by the Thakura in his preaching work—the Daga-mula-tattva. These ten esoteric essential truths were mined from the fertile fields of the Vedic gastra by Sri Nimai Pandit Mahaprabhu. They eloquently contain the whole gamut of Vedic knowledge and all are invited to study, memorise, contemplate and realize them for the successful practice and propagation of Kona Consciousness. It is a central work of Vaimavism and the blueprint of the Thakura's blessed teachings with which all spiritual aspirants should be deeply familiar.

In 1896, the Thakura himself predicted that the time was arriving when all philosophies and religions would flow into and find their fulfilment in pure Vaipava Sanatana-dharma, the eternal religion of all souls toward the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Krsna, as per the teaching of Sri Visvambhara Gauranga Mahaprabhu. When one attentively and without prejudice studies the Daga-mula-tattva, one must agree.

To play a small part in the presentation of such perfection is the mercy of Stela Bhaktivinode Thakura upon the translator, editor and the many souls involved in this first English publication. In particular, we wish to mention H.H. Vipra Mukhya Maharaj for his computer expertise and Sriman Saksi-gopala Dasa for his assistance in layout and proofreading.

We hope the learned and respected readers will bless us and forgive any errors in our efforts.

**Contents and Sample Pages**