Vaktrtavali: Garland of Divine Discourses
Author: His Divine Grace Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupada
Edited by Isvara Dasa
Compiled by Sripada Sundarananda Vijayavinoda
Translated by Bhumipati Dasa
Publisher: Touchstone Media
Format: Paperback
Vaktrtavali, or Garland of Divine Discourses, is a collection of lectures by His Divine Grace Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupada. Known for his deep knowledge of Vedic scriptures, Srila Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupada was a dedicated devotee of Lord Krishna who cleared up many doubts about the Absolute Truth for countless listeners.
Srila A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the founder of ISKCON, praised his teacher’s work, saying in a poem that Srila Sarasvati Thakura showed that the Absolute is conscious and moved beyond impersonal views, bringing a fresh perspective on life.
Although Srila Sarasvati Thakura spoke extensively until his death in 1937, his lectures were rarely recorded because his disciples were so focused on listening. However, his devoted disciple, Sripada Sundarananda Vidyavinoda Prabhu, took the time to transcribe and compile these teachings into books.
Vaktrtavali contains forty-three of these lectures, organized into three sections. These are not essays, but direct transcriptions of Srila Sarasvati Thakura’s words, mostly published in the Gaudiya magazine, which Sripada Sundarananda Vidyavinoda also edited.
Some find Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati’s teachings hard to understand, but those sincerely seeking the Absolute Truth should not be deterred by complex language. This book is a valuable resource, especially today when many misunderstand what true devotion is. It helps clarify what real bhakti is and is essential reading for serious devotees.
