Tattva-Viveka Tattva-Sutra Amnaya-Sutra

The three books published in this volume are the masterly and monumental works of Srila Bhakti Vinode Thakur in the field of spiritual literature. By churning the scriptural ocean, Srila Thakur has brought out the very cream of spiritual essence by following in the footsteps of the great followers of Supreme Lord Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and presented them to the world. The first book' TATIVA VIVEKA' helps the readers to have an acquaintance with principle of the Reality by a thoughtful comparison of the prevailing phenomenal doctrines as against the absolute spiritual realisation of the eternal soul. this book serves as an entrance to the spiritual study. The second book 'SHRI TATTVA SUTRAM' is a comprehensive and logical collection of the principles of Reality in the form of fifty aphorisms beautifully explained with scriptural evidences and with a fine commentary. It provides the readers with a matured knowledge about the Tattva of the Supreme Lord, Jiva-souls, Maya, Bhakti, the knowledge of relationship, scriptural conclusions etc., The Third book ' SRIMAD AMNAYA SUTRAM' is strictly an orthodox classical work completely based upon the revealed scriptures and presented in the traditional style in the form of one hundred and thirty aphorisms alongwith a short commentary of each aphorism in Sanskrit, quoted from the various ancient scriptures. It helps the aspirants in engaging their life in the devotional practices by imparting them an intrinsic knowledge of all the esoteric principles of reality which should be necessarily studied in the Bhajan life by all the inquisitive aspirants after Bhakti.

Srila Bhakti Vinode Thakur's lifetime in this world was between 1838 to 1914 A. D. He was born in the village called Ula in the district of Nadia in West Bengal, in an aristocratic family of the land-lords of Govindpur. In his public life, he was a renowned government official and a member of many reputed cultural organizations.

He was a perfectly realistic follower, writer and preacher of the great Gaudiya-Vaishnavism propounded by Lord Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. If we observe at the brilliant life and innumerable writings of Srila Thakur, we will be sincerely compelled to conclude that, he was a super-human personality well-acquainted with the spiritual and mystical secrets of the Reality.

Apart from the present writings of Srila Thakur, Sri Chaitanya Shikshamritam, Sri Jaiva Dharma, Sri Krishna Samhita etc., are the most important ones among his many other books. The religion preached by Lord Sri Chaitanya was being misunderstood and mishandled by various ignorant people in the 18th and 19th centuries and it was entirely forgotten and misconstrued by the learned people Thakur Bhakti Vinode revived the Gaudiya Vaishnavism to its intrinsic purity and presented the same to the world alongwith his immortal writings which serve as a continuous beacon-light to the aspirants who are after the search and realisation or the Supreme Reality.

Prema-Bhakti or the Transcendental Divine-Love is the intrinsic character of the soul and therefore, any type of unrealistic endeavours cannot help the manifestation of it. We sincerely appeal to the readers to adopt the realistic course for the understanding and the realisation of the Reality, which has been elaborated in these valuable literature. A worthy reader of this book should be entirely free from the various evil opposites like fanaticism and atheism, material attachment and dry-abnegation, argumentativeness and mundane sentimentalism etc., then only one will be able to understand the subject-matter of this spiritual literature of the Thakur. All the sincere religious performances get fructified in the constant company of the holy souls. Therefore, the aspirants should always try to secure the holy company by discarding all that is evil and irreligious.

The causeless mercy of my Divine Master Sri Srimad Bhakti Vilasa Tirtha Gosvami Maharaj alone has enabled this ignorant self to get this book translated into English and I hope, this may be helpful to the readers to understand the spirit of the original works of Srila Thakur in certain respect.

A sincere endeavours has been made here in presenting the writings of Srila Thakur, which were originally available in Bengali language. As a translator although I am utterly incompetent in either handling the brilliant works of Thakur Srila Bhakti Vinode or in presenting the same in befitting English still, I am tempted to present it in this book form.

It is a quite natural in this world that, whenever any auspicious work is undertaken, one has to come across innumerable obstacles. As Srila Prabodhananda Sarasvatipada puts it,-the path of Bhakti is beset with crores of thorns in this world. An aspirant can walk over such a tedious path, only by the causeless grace of the Supreme Lord Sri Krishan Chaitanya.

I beg for the blessings of my senior god-brothers H. H. Sri Bhakti Prajnana Yati Maharaj, H.H. Sri Bhakti Prasuna Sadhu Maharaj, Sri Nityananda Brahmachari and other Vaishnavas who imparted me with necessary inspiration, encouragement and assistance in all my literary works. I am thankful to Sri T. S. Narasimhan, Advocate, the proprietor of the liberty Press who took great pains in printing this book. Also I should mention here about the service rendered by Sri Balu in various ways to bring out this book. Finally I beg the pardon of the learned readers for the inevitable printing mistakes and other shortcomings of mine.