Chhoti: The Native Place of Śrīla Ṭhākura Bhaktivinoda

New book written by Dr. Fakir Mohan Das

Summary

The Hidden Sacred Village: Chhoti, a small village in Kendrapara District, Orissa, holds extraordinary spiritual significance as the native place of two great saints – Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura (1838-1914) and his son Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura (1874-1937). Despite their massive global influence through movements like ISKCON and Gauḍīya Mission, this sacred birthplace remained virtually unknown to the world until Dr. Fakir Mohan Das, a Sanskrit professor and devotee, spent decades researching and revealing this hidden treasure. The irony is profound: while millions visit the birthplace of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu (which Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura revealed to the world), almost no one knew about Chhoti – the native place of the very person who made that revelation possible.

Historical Roots and Family Legacy: The spiritual significance of Chhoti traces back to the 16th century when Kṛṣṇānanda Datta, a disciple of Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu and forefather of Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura, left Bengal and settled in this village at the invitation of the King of Aul. The King established the Dutta family as landlords of 9/16ths of the village and donated lands for worship of their family deities Śrī Śrī Rādhā-Mādhava and Dadhi Baman (a form of Jagannātha). This royal patronage and spiritual foundation set the stage for the birth of two revolutionary saints who would transform the spiritual landscape of the modern world through their teachings, writings, and global preaching missions.

Two Spiritual Giants: Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura, known as the “Seventh Gosvāmī” of Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇavism, revolutionized spiritual life by publishing over 70 books in Sanskrit, English, and Bengali, founding the World Vaiṣṇava Society in 1885, starting the village-to-village Nāma Haṭṭa preaching movement, and discovering the birthplace of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. As Orissa’s first law graduate, he balanced spiritual leadership with professional service as Deputy Magistrate while founding multiple schools including Kendrapara Government High School. His son Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī fulfilled his father’s vision by establishing 64 maṭhas throughout India and London, chanting 300,000 names daily for nine years (completing 1 billion names), founding Gauḍīya Mission, and becoming the spiritual master of A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, who later established ISKCON and spread Kṛṣṇa consciousness worldwide.

Modern Recognition and Future Vision: Today, Chhoti houses over 3,000 residents across 15 hamlets in Kendrapara District, known as Tulasī-kṣetra and the place of Lord Baladeva, serving as the second center of Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇavism in Orissa after Purī. Key landmarks include Baluadiha (the ancestral residence area), Uāsa Pokhari (the family pond), ancient temples, and Ṭhākura Bhaktivinoda Saraṇī (a road named in his honor in 1998). Annual festivals in September and February celebrate both saints’ appearance days, with ISKCON devotees from around the world now visiting this sacred village. Dr. Fakir Mohan Das’s persistent efforts over decades have gradually overcome initial local unawareness and financial constraints to bring international recognition to this hidden spiritual treasure, with the ultimate vision of establishing Chhoti as a world pilgrimage destination where devotees can honor the sacred dust of the lotus feet of these great ācāryas who gave the world the gift of universal spiritual brotherhood.