Ominous Example of Vipina Vihari Goswami

Among pro-FDG arguments there often appears example of Vipina Vihari Goswami’s lineage. There were three women there, not counting Jahnava Mata herself. Should we consider it as bogus and useless because of the presence of these female gurus? The answer might be a precursor of things to come if FDGs are introduced in ISKCON.

First of all, diksa initiation of Bhaktivinoda Thakura certainly wasn’t bogus. In his Svalikita Jivani  autobiography he tells us that Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu Himself had given him a hint in a dream and a couple of days later Vipina Vihari Goswami wrote him a letter, informing him that he would come and give him initiation. We certainly can’t dismiss this narrative as bogus, nor can we dismiss initiation itself. It was real, divya jnana was transferred, material sufferings were relieved – diksa happened. Without authorized translation of Svalikita Jivani I’m hesitant to definitely state which exactly, but Bhaktivinoda Thakura mentions that certain undesirable propensities disappeared from his heart after initiation.

The case could be made that association with Vipina Vihari brought several other important developments in Thakura’s life, such as bestowal of the title “Bhaktivinoda” itself. Of course it was his own accomplishments that were the primary cause but it was Vipina Vihari’s acceptance, recognition and initiative that had opened him the doors to the vaishnava sanga which awarded the title.