The following discourse is a translation of an article written in Bengali, entitled Pañca-saµskåra, by ˇhåkur Bhaktivinoda. The article was originally published in his journal, Sajjana Toßa∫î, (vol. 2/1) in 1885. I have added portions, indicated by square brackets, from a supplementary article of the same title also from Sajjana Toßa∫î, (vol. 4/1) published in 1892. I present this translation with the hope that it will encourge a deeper understanding of the initiation process by both teacher and student within our Vaiß∫ava tradition. Pañca Saµskåra– The Process of Initiation by Kedarnath Dutt Bhaktivinoda Êhåkur A Translation by Shukavak dasa ©1989 Shukavak Das/ Brian D. Marvin It is said in the Ωåstras that a person who receives pañca-saµskåra can practice two kinds of devotion1 and gain permanent happiness in the eternal abode of ¸rî Hari: avåpta-pañca-saµskåro labdha-dvi-vidha- bhaktika˙/ såkßåt k®tya hariµ tasya dhåmni nityaµ pramodate//2 Persons who read this instruction with faith will want to understand the meaning of the expression pañca-saµskåra. In order to help them, we will first explain the conventional understanding of the term and then give its deeper significance. The sm®ti Ωåstras explain pañca-saµskåra in the following manner: tåpa˙ pu∫∂raµ tathå nåma mantro yågaΩ ca pañcama˙/ amî hi pañca-saµskårå˙ paramaikånti-hetava˙// . Devotion is of two kinds, namely viddhi–bhakti, devotional service performed according to rules and regulations and rågånuga–bhakti, devotional service performed by following the moods of K®ß∫a's Vrindavan associates. .Prameya Ratnåvali (by Baladeva Vidyåbhußa∫a) 8/5.
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